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Dreams to Action Breakfast 2016: Opening Doors to Possibilities

April 21, 2016

On Tuesday, April 19, both old and new friends of Project Success came together to start their day with joy and inspiration, and supported our work at the Dreams to Action breakfast.

Thank you to nearly 600 guests for being a part of the fourth annual event, which was a powerful morning and a tremendous success.

Special thanks to our generous individual donors who donated a leadership match of $125,000 – Sara and Jock Donaldson; Karla Ekdahl and Peter Hutchinson; Penny and Bill George; Julie and Charlie Zelle; and Wayne Zink.

We are excited to announce that, with the match, together we raised $460,000, in cash and future pledges, to ignite a world of possibilities for our students, and help them discover the potential within themselves to reach their dreams.

“One person can make a difference in a child’s life.”

We kicked off with an energetic performance by high school school students who starred in “And So I Did,” our student-created musical which has had an incredible year performing for hundreds of students in both Minneapolis and St. Paul, and even touring Mexico, sharing their story with students and leaders in Mexico City and the Minneapolis sister city of Cuernavaca.

Following the performance, local philanthropist and entrepreneur Wayne Zink emceed the event.

Wayne began by introducing the animated trailer which gives an overview of both the work Project Success has done over the last 23 years, as well as the continued need for programs that serve and inspire youth.

“You have to have big dreams, but it’s all in the details.”

Following the trailer, three speakers shared their perspectives on Project Success: Executive Director Adrienne Diercks, Project Success alumnus and current facilitator, Marc Bromaghim-Oropeza, and Project Success alumnus, David Rollen.

We debuted our newest video, “Opening Doors to Possibilities,” generously produced by Lifetouch Media Productions:

Opening Doors to Possibilities

“What inspires me is how much transformation I see in my students.”

As Marc Bromaghim-Oropeza took the stage, he outlined for the audience what “One Day at Project Success” truly looks like and the breadth and depth of the services we provide students in just one day:

Marc went on to humble the crowd with the story of his own Project Success journey: beginning as a student facing a lack of direction and purpose, to becoming an active Project Success alum, volunteer and now, dedicated staff member and facilitator who sees himself in each of the 1,500+ students he serves each month: “I know I am doing what I was meant to do. I didn’t get these students to where they wanted to go, rather, I helped them unlock what was inside of them all along.”

“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, you will be successful.”

To wrap up the morning, Project Success alumnus and last year’s keynote speaker, David Rollen, returned to the stage. He shared an update on his progress towards his dream of opening a group home to serve troubled youth in Arizona. “I could have become a gang member,” David said, “but instead I became who I am today — a counselor working to change the lives of troubled youth.”

To relive the breakfast and hear another perspective on the event from a MinnPost education reporter, check out “Celebrating youth enrichment through theater, goal setting and experiential learning.”

Thank you to all of our supporters for sharing in such an uplifting morning with us!

Photos, top to bottom:
Top: The cast of “And So I Did” pose outside of the Metropolitan Ballroom before their performance.
Middle: South High School facilitator, Marc Bromaghim-Oropeza, with current South High School student, Fanta Diallo.
Bottom: Marc Bromaghim-Oropeza, Wayne Zink, Adrienne Diercks and David Rollen.