Have Dreams aspires to help individuals with autism improve their abilities to learn, function independently and socialize so that they may realize their full potential and develop into contributing members of their communities.
To support our mission we provide after-school programs, family and professional services and a vocational program.
History
Have Dreams was founded in 1996 by a small group of parents and educators in northwest suburban Park Ridge seeking autism programs for their children extending beyond the school day... Read More>>
Thank You!
Thank you to all of our generous contributors who help support Have Dreams in so many ways!
Night of Dreams 2013 Gala - Growing Together
Over 300 guests attended this year’s Night of Dreams and helped raise over $300,000 to benefit children, teens and adults with autism and their families served through Have Dreams. A special thank you to our Gala Committee chairs, Michelle and Ted DeGaetano and Ariel and Jonathan Towers, and the entire Night of Dreams Gala Committee for their many hours of work to make this event so successful. Read more.
3rd Annual Special Olympics Fundraiser
Have Dreams parents Christine and Patrick McDonough hosted their 3rd Annual Special Olympics fundraiser on May 18, at the Irish Heritage Center in Chicago. More than 120 guests joined the festivities while raising money for the Have Dreams Special Olympics Track & Field and Aquatics teams. Over the past three years, the fundraiser has raised $40,000 to help the Special Olympic athletes buy new uniforms, pay for the practice facilities and cover the costs of the meets, among other things. We are so grateful to the McDonoughs for their ongoing support of this wonderful event.
Dream Big for Have Dreams
All the way from Dallas, Texas, Highland Park High School students formed Dream Big for Have Dreams in 2009, when Highland Park student Alexi Norton was looking for a way to honor her cousin Sam who had autism. Sam attended programs at Have Dreams and Alexi became interested in learning more about autism and how she could help Sam and other children with autism. Since its inception in 2009, this ambitious group of high school students has raised more than $12,000 for Have Dreams through various fundraisers. This year alone, the organization raised $3,500 through t-shirt sales and a change drive through local neighborhoods in their community. Each year the students host a fundraiser to help Have Dreams. We are honored to be the recipient of such generosity from these young students in Dallas!
