Two years ago, an opportunity presented when Churchill’s mom was able to come to Austin to complete a master’s degree in public health at UT Texas. A year later, Churchill and little sister Tracy joined her. Churchill enrolled at McCallum High School, and made an immediate impact in his senior class.  His classmates, teachers, and athletic coaches were immediately drawn by his grace, joyous demeanor, and quiet confidence. He also demonstrated humility and kindness towards others. His teachers have noted how his respectful manners influenced other students to be respectful of themselves and others.  Churchill also worked hard academically, at one time taking on twice the normal academic load, and yet completing the semester with high grades.  He is also an excellent cross country and track athlete, and helped McCallum High School achieve the best cross country record ever in school history.

Churchill is now set to go onto college. He has already been admitted to McMurry University in Abilene, TX on a partial scholarship. He is also being seriously considered by Wabash College, an excellent liberal arts college in Indiana. Churchill’s dream is to earn a bachelor degree in liberal arts, and then go on to engineering school.  His goal in life is to help others, community, and the world at large with his skills and talents.  There is no doubt that he will have a tremendous impact wherever he goes.

The great challenge for Churchill now is paying for college room and board at and a portion of the tuition which partial scholarship will not cover. The Dream Come True Foundation has stepped up to help him financially, in addition to mentoring, academic and career guidance, etc.

I would like to invite you become a part of Churchill’s dream because I feel that it is not a matter of whether he will succeed but whether we want to be a part of this impressive young man’s dream and the impact he will go on to have in this world. Dear friends, you surely can live this dream yourself by supporting and partnering with the Dream Come True Foundation.

Eric’s perseverance is absolutely inspiring. When he was told he would never make the high school basketball team, he practiced tirelessly until he was one of the best players in the school. When he was told he wasn’t smart enough to go to college and succeed, he proved the skeptics wrong. And despite being told that he would never be able to get his poetry published, he diligently pursued his passion for writing and was published in 2011.

Eric has worked very hard to get within a year of graduating from Concordia University with a double major in Business/Marketing and Kinesiology. His professional goal is to use his combined majors and his sports/fitness background to get into the business end of fitness as an athletic director or similar role. Long-term, he’d like to use athletics to help people grow personally and spiritually, and he already does so as a volunteer.

The Dream Come True Foundation is providing financial resources and mentoring for Eric so he can focus on his studies and graduate within a year. Eric desires to use his talents to help others who are experiencing circumstances similar to his own, and we know that his tenacious pursuit of his dreams in spite of so much adversity will inspire many.

(c) Jay C. Herman www.zoompetphotograpy.com

The Dream Come True Foundation has been truly good to me and my family. With you all’s support I have been able to move closer to my dream of being a nurse. It certainly has not been an easy road but one worth taking nevertheless.

Heather Bailey has been a friend and confidante to me and I appreciate her for that. Carol Kallendorf and Jack Speer are truly inspirational and I am glad that they went forward with their vision because teamwork has truly made this dream work. I came into the program nearly two years ago struggling to get into the school of nursing. I had doors closed in my face on multiple occasions but despite doors closing I chose to keep pressing forward.

I had to move to Houston because of my daughter’s medical condition. When I got here, I know the board members were extremely nervous. I know that it would have been easy to dismiss me as a client , but someone believed in me and because of that I was reconsidered. I really appreciate you guys not giving up on me, because shortly after moving here I was accepted into the school of nursing. I experienced tears of absolute joy. This has been a very bumpy, challenging road but because I have the support of the foundation and I refuse to give up I believe this is going to work out just fine.

Karen Zeidan lent her brain power to me and helped change my way of thinking while in the school of nursing. I have been doing well! Heather has shown genuine concern to me while going through these challenges and because of everyone being so supportive I can now look at my dream and grasp it in the very near future. I have had a very challenging life, many obstacles I have overcome, most of them I had to conquer on my own. It feels great to have an organization that is willing to stand behind you 100% to help you get to the place in life you desire to be. Self-sufficiency is my goal and as each day goes I get closer. I could not have done any of this without your support and I can’t say thank you enough. You guys are truly an inspiration and despite this fluttering economy you have still managed to continue to support me. Thank God for you all!!! Love, Love and lots more love ( Carol and Jack) you make me smile!! Love you with my heart Calandra Lockett, Dream Come True Recipient

I had the honor of watching these guys perform a couple of years ago and I have been hooked ever since. I often find myself recommending their stuff on youtube like I’m about to now.

If you like swing, bluegrass and a fiddle player who could kick both Johnny and the devil’s behind, I would strongly recommend grabbing the dog and heading to the 2^nd Annual South Austin Pitch and Pooch fundraiser to be held on April 28^th, 2012 from Noon to 8pm at Butler Park.

The band will be playing an afternoon set around 3pm. Seating is limited and admission is free to this all ages and breeds event. I’m sure Elana’s dog Eva will be there handling security and the stage as usual.

Thank you so much to Elana James, Whit Smith and Jake Erwin for coming to play for us! This donation means so much to us and it is thanks to your generosity that the Dream Come True Foundation fundraiser will be a huge success helping people “on the edge of success.”

Check Hot Club of Cowtown’s site for tour dates and news. Once you’re hooked too, make sure and tell your friends about them through their youtube channel.

Also a special thanks to you guys for finally uploading that Bob Wills tribute I’m sure your fans have been begging you to do for years now.

It is through the generosity of organizations and individuals like P. Terry’s that the Dream Come True Foundation is able to fulfill its mission to help families move from poverty to a life of sustainable success.

We at the Dream Come True Foundation are enthusiastic supporters of P. Terry’s mission of being “anti-fast food.” According to their mission statement,

“The whole idea for opening a hamburger stand actually started as a reaction to reading the book Fast Food Nation. We decided that if we ever had the opportunity to start our own burger place, we’d do things the way they should be done. But it’s not just about the food. We wanted to change the way things are cooked, the ingredients, the way customers are treated, and the level of care given to employees. ‘Anti-Fast Food’ is who we are.”

For the best burger in Austin and 2008 Rare Magazine’s winner of Best Fries, join us at Butler Park on April 28th, 2012 for the South Austin Pitch and Pooch fundraiser or step into one of their five Austin area locations.

We say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are big fans of what you do!

“I’ve come to believe that in life no one is dealt a winning hand. The hand is only what one makes of it. I was born with a disease called Sickle Cell Anemia. Although others may believe otherwise, I think that growing up with this disease has been rewarding to me in more ways than one. It has made me very strong and very determined. I live my life always thinking that I own the disease and it does not own me. I can never allow it to win.”
Keisa, Dream Come True Recipient

Please Help Us Today With a High Impact Opportunity

Rarely do we have an opportunity to make a huge impact on the life of a person in two months. Keisa is two months away from a nursing degree at Concordia University. She has struggled through sickness and limited resources to earn a nursing degree after years of work in cosmetology, as a student at Baylor, and as the mother of two children. She’s almost there—except for the $5,600 cost for her last semester of study. The Dream Come True Foundation is her last hope.

Dr. Joy Penticuff, head of the nursing program at Concordia, was meeting with her staff and agonizing over the fact that Keisa had exhausted every financial channel available to get aid for her studies, when someone had the idea to reach for a file they had made on the foundation. They believe Providence itself was in that moment—the Dream Come True Foundation would be the vehicle that would carry Keisa to graduation, a true dream come true and an unlikely miracle.

Keisa is from Austin and early showed promise in spite of being born with Sickle Cell Anemia. Keisa has a 3.82 GPA at Concordia School of Nursing and is on the Dean’s List.

The Dream Come True Foundation could not pass up the opportunity to turn to its friends and allies and ask if you would be a part of enabling this dream. Keisa has, with faith, lifted herself high. Will you help her in the final steps? You can donate online now, or you can call Jack Speer at 512-417-9428.

Lana and Bob Newlander recommend Chef Jeff.  You can book your party by contacting Chef Jeff.  He’ll create a night to remember!

Lana and Bob Newlander, donors to the Dream Come True Foundation, were the winners of a dinner with Chef Jeff Brown of Stirring Sensations in the highly successful 2011 Pitch and Pooch Celebrity Golf Tournament and Dog Extravaganza silent charity auction.  Friends who donated to the Silent Auction helped make possible the work of the Dream Come True Foundation, to help people who are “on the edge of success,” people who have taken steps to come a life of limitation to a life of possibility.

Bob and Lana’s prize?  Amazing!   Chef Jeff came to their house to put on a dinner party extravaganza complete with wine selection included.  According to Lana, “Chef Jeff was an incredible chef; the food was organic. The evening was educational as he demonstrated the cooking techniques and provided us with the recipes. He was entertaining and we enjoyed talking to him as he cooked. He served and also cleaned up afterward. It was a phenomenal evening. I wanted to thank Chef Jeff so much for his amazing donation to the Dream Come True Foundation.”

Take a look at Bob and Lana’s menu.

• French Brie Cheese with traditional mixed-berry chutney
• Salad-Mixed Greens with Feta, Walnuts, and Sliced Strawberries with a Raspberry Vinaigrette|
• Rustic Chicken pan seared in Olive Oil; infused with Balsamic and Rosemary and stuffed with Prosciutto, Mushrooms, and Swiss Cheese
• Creamy Parmesan and Kalamata olive Risotto
• Grilled Balsamic Asparagus
• Italian Cream cheese filled chocolate cake decorated with homemade chocolate truffles
• There were wine parings provided – a French Bordeaux, Pinot Noir and a Syrah.

So give Chef Jeff a try!  For a special evening or event treat yourself to a culinary experience like no other. Stirring Sensations offers all natural and organic meals prepared in your home with exceptional flare. An experienced gourmet chef will demonstrate how to prepare a menu of your choice from our menu library of over 75 different meal preparations. Whether it is Chilean Sea Bass or a Kobe beef steak the selection is yours. This is perfect to invite some friends over for a night that will not soon be forgotten.

Stirring Sensations is great for business clients as well. Your personal gourmet evening will make you and your guests the center of attention. National wine distributors also pair their wines complimentary with each and every meal. Our professional sommelier will also approve the selection to make sure your evening is flawless down to the last detail. They specialize in keeping their menus affordable, so everyone can experience the finer culinary arts in a unique and unforgettably entertaining way.

Calandra Locket, one of our Dream Come True recipients, is on her way to realizing her dream!  She just got word last week that she has been accepted into the San Jacinto college school of nursing RN program.  We are so proud of Calandra and her accomplishments.  It has been a long process getting to this point and she has overcome many hurdles, including  having to relocate to  a city that can provide specialized medical services for her daughter who suffers from seizures.   Calandra exemplifies the Dream Come True mission,  as a single mother raising four children, she never gave up and is on her way to being a nurse and following her dream of a career and financial independence.

Calandra has been a Dream Come True “Dream Achiever” for over a year now.  Calandra overcome a difficult childhood of poverty and very challenging circumstances as a child and young person.  She has shown a great deal of resilience in successfully pursuing her education before she received help from the foundation.  She attended college in Austin in 2011 and moved to Houston, where she could receive better attention for one of her children who faces serious medical challenges.  Calandra is a person who has been upbeat in the most difficult circumstances.  She is articulate, and a very inspiring speaker.  She has done great work in presenting the Dream Come True Foundation mission of helping people “on the edge of success.