The I Have a Dream Foundation- Los Angeles (IHADLA) mission is to help at-risk youth and their families become empowered members of society by providing a long-term program that includes: academic support, college and career readiness, life skill development, parent engagement, and social-emotional support, plus the offer of an $8,000 scholarship for higher education to assure the best outcomes for employment and life success.

The Need

51% of students in U.S.
 public schools—that’s 
25 million—are low-income.

Only 9% of low-income 
students earn a Bachelor’s 
degree—compared to 77% 
of their high-income peers.

While the college graduation rate for high income students has nearly doubled in the past 40 years, the graduation rate for low income students has stagnated.

The Impact

90% of our students 
complete high school,
 compared to 74% of 
low-income students 
nationally.

Our students are 3x more 
likely to earn a bachelor’s 
degree than their 
low-income peers.

College graduates 
earn, on average, 
an additional $1 Million 
in lifetime earnings.

Our LA Students

Most Dreamer Scholars are
 the first in their families to 
graduate college—77% do 
not have a parent or guardian
 with a four-year degree.

We have served nearly 
11,500 Dreamer Scholars since 
1987.

The majority of 
Dreamer Scholars come from 
low-income families,
 with 91% qualifying for 
free or reduced lunch.