U.S. Dream Academy News

NFL Players Step Up: Custom Cleats for a Cause

Kenny Clark selects US Dream Academy

Join the Movement: Discover how NFL players, coaches, and staff are using custom-designed cleats to shine a spotlight on issues close to their hearts with the My Cause My Cleats initiative. From youth wellness programs to social justice and mental health, each step taken on the field supports a different cause. Learn more about the impactful stories behind their cleats and how you can get involved in making a difference.

A special shout out to Kenny Clark, defensive end for the Green Bay Packers for selecting US Dream Academy as his cause. He will wear his custom designed cleats to support US Dream Academy during games in Week 13-14 of the season. Click READ MORE here to learn more about this initiative

2023's Better Neighbor Report by Giant Food

Giant Food has demonstrated its commitment to being a "Better Neighbor" by making substantial contributions aimed at fostering positive change within the community. In 2023 alone, the company generously donated over $1 million to various local organizations dedicated to addressing health and economic disparities, as well as supporting local farmers. This has been made possible, in part, by the company's innovative initiative that allows customers to round up their purchases at the register, thereby directly supporting these vital community programs.

Furthermore, Giant Food has proudly continued its long-standing partnership with the U.S. Dream Academy, supporting essential mentorship programs that have a profound impact on young lives.

To learn more about its community efforts, you may read the latest  Better Neighbor Report, a testament to Giant Food's unwavering dedication to making a meaningful difference.

Giant Food: Celebrating Over Half a Million Dollars Raised for Social Equity and Equality

The Giant Food's Social Equity and Equality Round Up Campaign has successfully raised $524,040.17, which was equally distributed among six notable organizations committed to empowering communities - including US Dream Academy. 

The funds were raised through customers rounding up their purchase amounts, demonstrating the significant impact of collective small contributions. 

We express our heartfelt gratitude to Giant Food for their support and generosity, which enables us to continue making a positive difference in the communities we serve.

Celebrating Success: Derrell Frazier Named Next100’s third class of Policy Entrepreneurs 

Congratulations to Derrell Frazier, one of our Board Fellows, who is one of the seven individuals who emerged victorious in the Next 100’s third cohort of Policy Entrepreneurs! Your dedication and innovative approaches are sure to make a significant impact on shaping a better future for all.



In Memoriam: Dr. Benjamin Reaves - A Remarkable Leader and Visionary

U.S. Dream Academy honors Black History Month by honoring one of its own, Founding Board Director Dr. Benjamin Reaves. A leader par excellence, an inimitable orator, a godly voice of wisdom for the ages, and one who through his abundant life work, extraordinarily enhanced countless lives across the diverse disciplines of religion, academia healthcare, and media. Whether serving as a university president, or leading a healthcare corporation through the crosswalk of mission and ministry, or cultivating reading skills through hosting a children’s television program, Dr. Reaves was ever the proponent for every child of God to have the opportunity to live their best life.

Dr. Reaves was a long time advisor to the U.S. Dream Academy and served on our board of directors for many years. Dr. Reaves was unanimously voted as an Emeritus Board Member for his long standing service to the U.S. Dream Academy.

Sadly, Dr. Reaves passed to his eternal rest earlier this month. We will truly miss Dr. Reaves, an esteemed history-maker for all people.

2023 Highlights

Our 2023 in Photos portfolio is now live and we've got all the best moments captured. Don't miss out on reliving some of the most unforgettable moments of the year and view exclusive photos!

2022 Highlights

We're excited to share our 2022 Highlights newsletter with you!

Click below to read a recap of our accomplishments last year and a peek at what's coming next.

Inspire Change: We See You, Mentors

U.S. Dream Academy's mentor and mentee from Salt Lake City are featured in NFL commercial to support mentoring.

This commercial will air throughout the NFL season on the NFL Network channel and during various NFL games this season.

U. S.  Dream Academy Partners with Percy "Master P" Miller  & Monarch Magazine to Inspire and Empower Youth To Achieve Their Dreams

U.S. Dream Academy partners with Monarch Magazine for the Dream Builders initiative. This will kick off during the Emerging Leaders Roundtable at the 51st Annual CBCF Legislative Conference featuring rapper, music mogul and businessman Percy Miller.

NFL Extends Support for 21 Social Injustice Grant Partners in Ongoing Mission to "Inspire Change"

June 1, 2022

The NFL is taking its “Inspire Change” campaign a step further. It has announced today the renewal of its 21 national grant partners, including U.S. Dream Academy.

League contributes $6.5 million to more than 20 organizations who are driving measurable change in their communities, renews grants for all 32 NFL Clubs to further combat the ‘digital divide’.

NFL nears $250 million commitment with more than $244 million in contributions since 2017.

Giant Food Pledges $500,000 to DMV-Area Organizations That Support Racial Equality

Oct. 12, 2020

The U.S. Dream Academy has been selected as one of the recipients.

Wintley Phipps helps heal the nation in song at Congressman John Lewis' Memorial Service

July 28, 2020

Wintley Phipps Sings "Amazing Grace" At John Lewis Memorial Service.

Global Grand Challenges: Changing the National Conversation About Poverty and Economic Mobility

June 29, 2020

U.S. Dream Academy awared a $100,000 Grand Challenge Grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation along with 7 other philanthropic partners who are funding 28 organizations from 18 states.  U.S. Dream's Chief Strategy Officer, Diane Wallace Booker will lead the innovative project.

AFRO Exclusive: U.S. Dream Academy Gala Inspires to “Dream Forward”

July 15, 2019

Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker co-host the U.S. Dream Academy's 18th Annual Power of a Dream Gala  with this year’s theme, “Dream Forward” as they honored Ndaba Mandela from South Africa, Judge Greg Mathis and Kay Cole James.

U.S. Dream Academy Student Re-designs XS Energy Gum for Amway

January 22, 2019

“We were asking ourselves, ‘How can we help some of the DreamKids develop a Dream Academy board member.

U.S. Dream Academy Receives $1M donation at 20th Anniversary Gala from Oprah Winfrey

June 7, 2018

Celebrating 20th Anniversary, U.S. Dream Academy honored Award-Winning Icon Cicely Tyson, MENTOR CEO David Shapiro, and Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Alumna, Mpumi Nobiva. Gala event hosted by actor Larenz Tate.

Orlando Learning Community Impact

December 4, 2016

Over our pilot program’s first three years, Orlando DreamTeens have a 94% on-time high school graduation rate.

US Dream Academy awarded mentoring grant from U.S. Department of Justice

September 1, 2016

In September 2016, we received the exciting news that we were awarded a highly competitive national grant for $2 million from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to enhance our mentor program with increased mentor recruitment training and support, further adoption of the Developmental Relationship Framework, as well as the development of a new race and equity module for mentor training. This three-year grant also allows for further evaluation of our programs, improvement of our cloud-based database, and continued partnerships with The Search Institute and the American Institute of Research.

Wintley Phipps Helps Youth Plan For and Achieve Their Dreams

May 3, 2016

Wintley Phipps performs with the Dream Kids and the Takoma Academy Chorale at the U.S. Dream Academy's 15th annual Power of a Dream Gala on May 3, 2016, in Washington, D.C.

15th Annual Power of a Dream Gala: Growing Dreams

May 3, 2016

The U.S. Dream Academy focuses on impacting the lives of children with incarcerated parents thru an after school mentoring, tutoring and technology program in 7 cities, including Washington, D.C. and Baltimore and this is their biggest fundraiser of the year.

The Oprah Winfrey Network Features Wintley Phipps

November 10, 2015

The Oprah Winfrey Network Featured Wintley Phipps on SuperSoul Sunday on Sunday, November 22 at 7:00 PM EST. Pastor Wintley Phipps, education activist and founder of the U.S. Dream Academy, discussed how faith and character can help to create a life of value, meaning, purpose and fulfillment. He shared with Oprah how viewers can step into their best lives by adopting and strengthening the eight essential pillars of God's ethos, which he details in his most recent book, Your Best Destiny: Becoming The Person You Were Created To Be. He also talked about embracing your dreams, finding the sacred in music and that our greatness shines from the inside out. Finally, he shared his belief that by working to resemble, reflect and reveal the character of God - while embracing our strengths and improving our weaknesses - we will discover our supreme, God-given destinies.

Wintley Phipps, US. Dream Academy Founder to Release New Ground Breaking Book

October 16, 2015

U. S. Dream Academy founder, President and CEO, Wintley Phipps will release his highly anticipated newest book “Your Best Destiny”, a powerful and insightful expedition into Becoming The Person You Were Created to Be with James Lund. It will be released on October 15, 2015 by Tyndale Momentum. Wintley, a beloved pastor and Oprah Winfrey Use Your Life Award recipient, aims to use his newest book to help you Become the Person You Were Created to Be. Phipps unique approach will include the book and a groundbreaking Your Best Destiny Personal Assessment Tool and Workbook entitled “Perfecting Me”, in addition to an interactive website for readers to delve deep into their personal growth with tangible tools to improve your character and achieve success. The book and workbook is available at GoodSamaritanMall.com; Amazon.com; Barnes & Noble; BAM!; christianbook.com and Parable.

Starbucks Donates $2 Million from Teavana Oprah Chai Sales to Benefit Young Leaders

October 9, 2014

Learning to “dream big” – U.S. Dream Academy Stephon Littles and his niece Dahmierah Baker were in elementary school when their fathers were incarcerated in unrelated incidents. Both children felt alone and were unsure of their futures. They didn’t have supportive adults around to help guide them during a painful time in their young lives. Then they found U.S. Dream Academy, one of the beneficiary nonprofit organizations.

Congressman Fattah Promotes Bill Funding STEM Programs U.S. Dream Academy Supports

November 26, 2013

U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah used a stop in Philadelphia late last week to promote a measure that would divert monies recouped from federal seizures and not used for victim restitution toward three broad programs, including funds for programs related to science, technology, engineering and math, also known as STEM.

Read to Achieve: Giving High-Risk Kids Hope

November 7, 2013

Renowned vocalist and pastor Wintley Phipps has performed for American presidents and dignitaries around the world, but it was singing for prison inmates that perhaps touched him most—particularly seeing the dearth of hope in the eyes of children visiting their incarcerated parents.

Salt Lake City Tribune - Utah Jazz starsMo Williams and Derrick Favors host basketball clinic for Dream Academy

October 24, 2012

And they said the Jazz don't allow headbands. One girl wore a pink one to hold back her hair, and another had a flower tucked behind her ear. The Jazz hosted 38 at-risk local youths from the U.S. Dream Academy for an afternoon clinic Wednesday at Zions Bank Basketball Center. The children worked on basketball skills with point guard Mo Williams and forward Derrick Favors and listened to coach Tyrone Corbin talk about his own childhood, growing up in a single-parent home in the projects of Columbia, S.C.

Dream Academy partners with software developer Ancile

April 11, 2011

ANCILE (pronounced an-SIGH-lee) just held the grand opening for its world headquarters on Marshalee Drive. The company, which broke off from RWD Technologies last year, provides online help and products for employee training.

The U.S. Dream Academy, mentioned in NY Times Op Ed piece by Nicholas Kristof

June 13, 2010

The author Wes Moore escaped partly because of family support and partly because he was helped by mentors at his military school. Not surprisingly, Mr. Moore believes passionately in mentoring, partly because so many boys in poor families have no father at home and lack male role models. He mentors boys and girls in Baltimore and New York and is directing some of the profits from his book to two organizations that provide mentoring. Two Men and Two Paths: One is City Year, which supports young people taking a year of public service to work in impoverished neighborhoods. Another is the U.S. Dream Academy, which supports children whose parents are in prison (and who are consequently at great risk themselves of tumbling into trouble).

Podcast with Louis Gossett, Jr., Politico.com

May 25, 2009

Gossett Jr. was in town for last week's "Power of a Dream" gala, which provides support for the children of prisoners. Click and listen to the full podcast to find out what Gossett hopes Obama will do on the issue of criminal justice, and how he thinks D.C. has changed over the years.

Wintley Phipps, Religion & Ethics Newsweekly

April 10, 2009

Grammy-nominated Gospel singer Wintley Phipps is a familiar voice at big national events. At President Barack Obama’s National Prayer Service following his Inauguration, Phipps’s rendition of “Amazing Grace” brought the entire National Cathedral audience, including the new president and first lady, to their feet. But he says it’s just as meaningful to him when he sings in places like prisons.

U.S. Dream Academy to expand in D.C. area, Washington Business Journal

November 25, 2008

U.S. Dream Academy will double the size of its after-school mentoring and technology training programs for at-risk youth in D.C. and nine other cities. Plans to add 15 new centers by 2013 will be made possible through a $2 million donation from The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Conference Wrap-Up: NABCJ in Orlando, Corrections.com

August 4, 2008

The four-day event was kicked off by legendary gospel singer Dottie Peoples who performed for the crowd. Recording artist Wintley Phipps sang and spoke as well, focusing on the importance of family, unity and togetherness. Phipps founded the U.S. Dream Academy, a national non-profit that mentors children of inmates as well as those failing in school.

IBOAI Lauds Quixtar’s Support of the U.S. Dream Academy Says Jody Victor; WebWire

November 28, 2005

Jody Victor of the Independent Business Owners Association International (IBOAI) announced the trade association’s enthusiastic support for Quixtar’s sponsorship of the U.S. Dream Academy.

Orlando hotelier one of five national honorees at Dream Academy banquet, Orlando Business Journal

May 2, 2005

Orlando hotelier Harris Rosen is among five honorees to be recognized by the U.S. Dream Academy Inc. at a gala fund-raising dinner to be held May 24 in Washington, D.C.