Where Dreams Really Do Come True
February 27th – Ritz Carlton, Washington, D.C.
“Big things
come in small packages”. “It takes a whole village to raise a child”.
“Dreams do come true”.
All of these
are phrases that describe, and speak to, the amazing spirit of Susie Kay and The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund
(HDSF).
Founded in 1996,
Hoop Dreamswas established to assist deserving young students of H.D. Woodson Senior High School in Washington, D.C. with obtaining
funding for college.
Not only does
the scholarship fund assist students with the cost of college, it also offers mentoring programs, college and SAT preparation,
and internships with local corporations.
It’s founder,
a former H.D. Woodson High-School American government teacher who became discouraged that many of her students were missing
the opportunity to attend college because they lacked the financial resources to do so, did something about it.
With the desire
to help her students, Susie Kay founded one of the largest non-profit organizations of its kind, by simply organizing a 3-on-3
basketball game. By soliciting a few friends from big-named corporations like
EDS, Freddie Mac, and others, what started as a mere pick-up street game turned into an event that has grown ten-fold. The
HDSF, ten years later, now assists students of DC public schools in Wards 7 and 8, and has helped more than 800 students
since its inception.
Friends and colleagues
attribute Susie Kays’ passion, drive, and caring attitude to the success of the HDSF.
Over the years,
many more friends and corporations, the likes of which include Citi Group, Lockheed Martin, Washington Mystics co-owner and
this year’s Hoop Dreams co-chair, Sheila Johnson; The Tiger Woods Foundation, and others have joined the HDSF phenomenon,
giving of their time, money, and support.
Ted Leonsis,
Vice Chair of AOL, part owner of the Washington Capitals, and also this year’s Hoop Dreams co-chair,
told the audience, “of all the charities that I’m asked to donate my time and money to, Hoop Dreams is one of
my favorites.”
Susie Kay, while
giving her remarks of the evening, told the audience that she was not doing justice if she did not honor to the legacy of
her mother and father who instilled in her to give her all, never quit, and to give as much love and care as she could to
help those who need it.
The organization
solicits help from the community to mentor students of the HDSF. It is through
its mentoring program that the fund has seen it’s greatest reward. Through
mentoring, every day students not only become college graduates, but are given life lessons, support, and the encouragement
needed to succeed. Graduates, in turn, give back to the program
by mentoring students who come after them.
One such mentor,
and the evening’s Keynote speaker, is Jessica Rucker. Ms.
Rucker, one of the first HDSF students, and a Georgetown University graduate, provided DC Urban LifeStyle magazine an exclusive
interview where she shared how her family, and Susie Kay’s Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund has helped
her succeed. Ms. Rucker says she “uses her life to be the best she can be”, and employs all of us to do the same.
One of the advertisers
listed in the HDSF Anniversary’s program used this phrase: “Leadership
isn’t knowing the way. It’s finding a way”.
To its credit, the HDSF found a way to break down barriers between communities East and West of the Anacostia
River, and has brought people together from all across the Washington, D.C. metro area for one initial cause - but in
essence, does so much more.
_______________________
The evening’s Anniversary Celebration was hosted by Jim Vance of Channel 4 News.
