Dreams for Kids
Programs
Holiday for Hope
Holiday for Hope began as the first Dreams for Kids event on December 24, 1989. A group of roughly a dozen volunteers travelled to Clara’s House, a shelter home to fifty-four children and their families. Not only were the children presented with gifts and a Christmas dinner, Santa himself delivered it! The children were overjoyed to have such a rare celebration loaded with food, songs, smiles, and gifts.
As the volunteers prepared to depart, Clara Kirk cast a somber look towards the group and said “I am not sure you really understand…if you had not come, these kids would not have even known it was Christmas.” Over the years many parents had discovered that it was often easier on everyone to simply let the holiday season pass unmentioned rather than suffer their children’s disappointment.
Clara’s words inspired us to continue and expand the mission the next year. Each year this special holiday party grew to include more and more kids who would be denied the spirit of the Season. Today, Holiday for Hope brings over 1,200 homeless and underprivileged children to celebrate with the largest party of its kind in the state. Every child is treated to a day filled with a hope and joy they will carry into the New Year.
This beautiful celebration has accompanied Dreams for Kids in its global expansion. In communities across the world individuals and groups will be planning Holiday for Hope events, from simple visits to homeless shelters to grand parties for underprivileged and homeless youth.
Please join us on the day of the Winter Solstice, December 13th 2008, as we bring these children together to celebrate life, each other, and hope for a new year better than the last. Let us come together, people of all faith and culture, to honor and celebrate children of all abilities and give each of them every reason to believe their future will be bright.
Please contact us to find out information on events in your area, or to plan an event of your own! Download the Holiday for Hope Planning Guide.
To read more about how and where Dreams for Kids began this amazing day, and be inspired by the stories of joyful children, download of Chapters 8 and 9 of the acclaimed book, Kiss of a Dolphin.