Every kid deserves someone in their corner.
Dreaming with Hope pairs children from single-parent homes in NYC with mentors who show up — one kid, one volunteer, one unforgettable day at a time.
Two missions
For the kids:
To feel deeply loved, supported, and formed in values that guide their lives.
For volunteers:
To encounter God through service, generosity, and giving themselves to others — and to let that experience transform their own lives.
How it works
Every event has a purpose.
Each event is built around one value — courage, gratitude, forgiveness — and every activity reinforces it.
One to one.
At the start of every event, each child is paired with one volunteer for the entire day. No one is left alone. Every kid is seen.
Play, create, reflect.
Sports to burn energy, a hands-on project to make something together, and a closing moment to bring the lesson home.
Parents belong too.
While the kids are with their mentors, parents gather for coffee, conversation, and faith-based support with people who understand their situation.
A day with us
8:00 AM
Welcome & Connection
9:00 AM
Move, Play & Connect
10:00 AM
Snack Break
11:00 AM
Create & Reflect
12:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
Closing Moment
The place matters. But how we make them feel matters even more.
Who we serve
We focus on children from single-parent households in the years before high school — when a consistent, caring adult can change the trajectory of a life. We work with families through partner parishes and community organizations, starting with Old St. Patrick's Basilica in Nolita.
[confirm age range: roughly ages 9–13]
- kids served
- [X]kids served
- volunteers
- [X]volunteers
- events
- [X]events
Safety first
Every volunteer completes a background check and the Archdiocese of New York's Safe Environment training before working with children.
Volunteers never take a child anywhere alone, never enter a restroom with a child, and follow a strict no-photos-without-consent policy.
Every child and volunteer wears a Dreaming with Hope shirt at every event, especially in public spaces.
We confirm allergies, dietary needs, and anything else we should know before every event.
“It is Jesus you seek when you dream of happiness.”Ready to be part of this?
Want to support us another way? Email [email].