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DREAMLETTER: October 2025

In this edition…

October was a Treat for Dreamer Scholars!

Watch on InstagramIt's been a lively and productive month as Dreamer Scholars have been out and about! 

From fun outings to corn mazes and pumpkin patches and a Halloween parade to volunteering at animal rescues to science projects at CU and touring Regis University, our scholars made the most of the month! 

IHDF staff, volunteers, and students had a great time connecting with potential volunteers and community members at the Día de Muertos celebration in Longmont. 

And, maybe slightly less fun, but super important, college-bound seniors rocked it as they took advantage of Free Application Day for Colorado schools!

Watch our fun video recap of a spectacular October...and follow us while you enjoy!

▶️ Watch on Instagram

▶️ Watch on Facebook

▶️ Watch on LinkedIn

▶️ Watch on YouTube

 

 

Coming Soon!

Let's turn generosity into opportunity!

Last year, more than 95,000 donors, including many of our friends, family members and associates, gave $54.8 million for Colorado Gives Day. This year, the "I Have A Dream" Foundation of Boulder County needs your support to as we collaborate with students and families in realizing their dreams.

Giving through our Colorado Gives page is open year-round but special matches and incentives run November 1 through 11:59 pm on December 9, 2025. Every donation is boosted by a $1 million+ Incentive Fund, helping us compete for $100,000 in prizes from Colorado Gives Foundation and FirstBank. We'll send you alerts throughout the giving period when special incentive hours are available to maximize your impact.

Your donation supports afterschool programming, college readiness workshops, summer enrichment, and scholarships for Dreamer Scholars.

Here are some great ways to join with us in this effort to enter 2026 with financial strength for our work:

> Create and share your own IHDF Fundraising Page through Colorado Gives! Colorado Gives makes it easy for us to create a simple fundraising page to activate our own networks for our cause.

  1. Visit our page right now and click on the "Fundraise" button.
  2. Follow the instructions to quickly set up your own page that says you believe in Dreamer Scholars and the work of IHDF.
  3. Share the link to your page via email or social media.
  4. Smile as you see donations come in and know that you've made a difference!

> Set up a Recurring Donations. Initiate a monthly gift on ColoradoGivesDay.org and get your first month matched up to $100.

> Remember the Tax Credit! Gifts of $250 or more typically qualify for the 50% Colorado Child Care Tax Credit, which multiplies the impact of your donation along with the available matches.

Visit Colorado Gives page today to learn more. Together, we're investing in dreams.

> Business Leaders: Join the Good for Business Challenge

Boulder County businesses can be one of 25 companies to have their $1,000 donation matched with another $1,000. Consider the incentive: your $1,000 becomes $2,000 for local students while positioning your business as a champion for educational equity and workforce development in our community.

 

Learn more about our Elementary Programs!

Join us for a light lunch and an inspiring conversation at our Spotlight on Elementary Programming event on Wednesday, November 5, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

Our elementary team will share how we foster literacy and math skills while celebrating the cultural and linguistic heritage of Dreamer Scholars—helping them build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.

Join us to see the impact of our work and connect with others who believe in the power of education! 

 

New Endowed Scholarship for Dreamer Scholars

We’re excited to announce the Dreamers Elevated Scholarship Fund, a new endowed scholarship created by the Local Change Foundation to support “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County Dreamer Scholars in pursuing post-secondary education.

Dreamer Scholars will be eligible to apply in early 2026 and this scholarship can be added to IHDF scholarship funds for one or more award recipients per year.

This fall, you can make twice the impact! Thanks to a generous commitment from Elevations Credit Union, every dollar donated will be matched up to $50,000 through Dec. 31. 100% of contributions go directly to the scholarship fund—helping turn students’ dreams into reality.

To donate to the Dreamers Elevated Scholarship Fund, click here.

 

Analycia Smith: Giving Back While Looking Ahead

This semester, the “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County is proud to feature Analycia Smith as a CU in the City intern. A senior at CU Boulder, Analycia is majoring in Political Science with minors in International Affairs and Leadership, and she’s also earning a Certificate in Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies. She plans to attend law school after graduation and has already taken the LSAT.

Originally from Colorado Springs, Analycia graduated from the small, rural Ellicott School District—one of just 64 students in her senior class. Her experience in pre-collegiate programs that helped first-generation and rural students explore higher education deeply shaped her perspective. “I saw the opportunity to work with IHDF as a way to give back to a community I was once part of, while also gaining insight into how an organization like this operates from the inside,” she shares.

At IHDF, Analycia divides her time between the Volunteer Department and the Altitude site. She supports volunteer coordination and record-keeping while also mentoring students directly. Carla and Tina from the Volunteer Department say, “Having Analycia as a CU in the City intern has increased accuracy in our records and data. Her work ethic, commitment, and consistency have allowed us to focus on program needs and goals. We’re lucky to have her on our team.”

Stephanie, Program Manager at the Altitude site, adds: “Shoutout to Analycia for hitting the ground running. She helps with both administrative work and with the kids. She knows what to do, takes initiative with parents, and shows up fully present every day.”

For Analycia, working with the Altitude students has been the highlight of her internship. “Volunteering with them has deepened my understanding of IHDF’s mission and shown me firsthand how the work done at Central directly impacts the kids you all strive to support,” she says.

We are grateful for Analycia’s dedication, curiosity, and heart for service—qualities that make her an outstanding part of the team this semester!

 

Many of us enjoy giving fun, tangible and meaningful gifts to enrich Dreamer Scholars' experiences at our various program sites. The holidays are a great time to do that! 

From school supplies that support academic excellence to resources that nurture well-being, each contribution strengthens our holistic support system and shows our Dreamers of all ages that they don't walk this path alone. 

How to Send Gifts from Our Wishlist:

  1. Visit our Amazon Wishlist at https://a.co/99u8OhL
  2. Browse or search for items:
    • Scroll through the list to see all items—the requesting site name appears in the comments for each item
    • Use the search box to filter items by specific site (enter "Alicia," "Carbon Valley," "NoBo," or "Postsecondary" to see items requested by that site)
  3. Select an item you'd like to donate and click "Add to Cart"
  4. During checkout, our organization's delivery address will appear as the default shipping address—simply select it (you won't need to enter it manually). It's also at the end of this email, should you need it.
  5. Complete your order and Amazon will ship the item directly to us
  6. Optional: You can include a gift message to encourage our Dreamers!

Your donation is tax-deductible. Please keep your receipt for your records, and feel free to email us at info@ihaveadreamboulder.org if you have any questions.

Thank you for investing in our Dreamers' futures!