After-school program ends
DALLAS — A North Texas organization that has reached out to kids in need for the past 20 years is closing its doors.
The "I Have A Dream" Foundation in Dallas, located at the Cedar Springs Housing Authority, was forced to shut down after its primary financial sponsor pulled out.
Nine-year-old Trey Monroe has been attending the foundation's after-school program for nearly a year. It offers tutoring, mentoring and meals to more than 70 kids everyday.
"This place is a lot to me," Trey said. "If we didn't have this place, we would have nothing to do."
The foundation's chairman, Les Titus, called the closure heartbreaking and devastating.
"It's not just the after-school care," he said. "It's the meal. Many times, this is the only meal they will get any point after they leave school."
David Disiere has been involved with the foundation for nearly 15 years. He has donated $800,000 in the past decade.
Most of the money went to two paid positions with benefits at the center. When he pulled that support, assistant Sally McMullen and executive director Phillip Lyles lost their jobs.
"It's pretty devastating when you don't know where your next salary is coming from," Lyles said.
In a statement sent to News 8, Disiere claims that the rising costs -- including "spiraling employee healthcare costs" and other financial commitments -- led him to temporarily suspend his efforts.
"Obviously, this has been a tough, difficult -- and hopefully temporary -- decision for us," Disiere wrote.
The "I Have a Dream" center admits it made a mistake because it never planned for anything like this.
"The anger is within our own organization," Titus said. "We relied on one person, and we should have never done that."
The organization is now making a plea to others to step up and keep the program going.
"We just hope and pray that we will open and be viable again," Lyles said.
For information on the program, call 214-823-3490.
E-mail mdiaz@wfaa.com
Full text of statement from David Disiere:
“The I Have A Dream Foundation here in Dallas is truly a remarkable program for so many children in need. We’ve been privileged to play a role in their efforts for nearly 15 years. In particular, we’ve been the sole financial provider of the after- school program, totaling well over a half-million dollars over more than six years. But because of rising costs — such as unprecedented spiraling employee healthcare costs — and other financial commitments, we find ourselves having to temporarily suspend our efforts. Obviously, this has been a tough, difficult — and hopefully temporary — decision for us. It’s our hope that the program will continue with help from the community as we continue to work hard toward being able to resume a financial commitment in the future.”
David Disiere
