Our Impact
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.
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.