History

Dreams for Kids was founded by Tom Tuohy, at the request of his mother, Patricia Tuohy. Mrs. Tuohy was a single parent who dedicated her life to raising her four young children and to overcoming any adversity that stood in the way of her family’s personal welfare.

The organization was born on December 24, 1989 in a small room inside a homeless shelter in Englewood Illinois. A few weeks prior, Tom’s dear friend Clara Kirk expressed to him her grief that the fifty-four children in her homeless shelter would not be receiving anything for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, a dozen volunteers, including Santa, showed up at “Clara’s House” with Tom and delivered gifts and food to every child in the shelter. When Clara told the volunteers that the kids would never have even known it was Christmas, a commitment was made to reach out further each and every year.

Every year the annual Holiday for Hope party grew until it became the largest of its kind in the state of Illinois, bringing over 1,200 homeless and underprivileged kids of all abilities together for a special day of giving.

In 1996, Dreams for Kids was introduced to the world of those with physical and developmental challenges and our eyes were opened to another faction of isolated children. Thus began Extreme Recess, a program dedicated to bringing children from the sidelines of life and giving them the opportunity to be a star.

Since it’s founding, Dreams for Kids programs have impacted the lives of over 27,000 children.

Kiss of a Dolphin, written by Tom Tuohy and published on November 28, 2006, tells the magical story of the organization as well as the stories of the inspiration and generosity that has made Dreams for Kids the organization it is today.