It has been a tumultuous year for the Destined For A Dream Foundation, but on Saturday afternoon- beneath a blinding sun, students and parents gathered at the Bristol Riverside Theatre on 120 Radcliffe Street to celebrate the foundation’s fifth year.
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After an initial meet and greet among staff, parents and students, the like gathered in the borough’s theater – which was outfitted with red and white balloons and an aura of success.
Erica Waller-Hill, the foundation’s director and founder, began the afternoon’s ceremony with a moment of clarity. A reflection of what the past few month’s has brought to the foundation and its members.
On February 2, students, their parents, and staff boarded a bus to Harvard University. An opportunity of a lifetime. On the way home, their lives changed forever when the charter bus struck a low lying overpass in Boston, critically injuring many of the passengers. Neshaminy High School student Matt Cruz is still recovering in the Magee Rehabilitation center at Jefferson Hospital.
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“I just needed to get to this moment,” Waller-Hill said. “But I continue to give up my time, because I believe our students can do it.”
After intense tragedy, Waller-Hill introduced an idea to her Dream Academy students, to design their award ceremony speech around one word. One word which has truly impacted the way they think or how they feel since that February day. For some it was humble, or inspiration, determined or redemption.
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However for Miranda Mowery, it was hope. The new Conwell Egan graduate, attended the Harvard University trip with her mother acting as chaperon. Her mother who was in attendance at Saturday’s ceremony, had been injured in the accident. “If I was to tell you five months ago what hope meant to me, I honestly don’t think it would have been meaningful,” she said.
State Representative Tina Davis, was honored at the event by Waller-Hill herself for her continued support of the organization. “I don’t feel like I deserve this, I feel like all of you guys do,” Davis said. She went on to encourage the students to work hard at their school work- even telling the story of one Truman High School student who had stopped by her office on Green Lane for assistance in graduating. With her help, he was awarded a scholarship to a prestigious military academy.
The event full of inspirational messages – even saw the likes of Adam Taliaferro. Taliaferro, who grew up in New Jersey had been accepted back in 2000 on a football scholarship to Penn State University. During his fifth playing game as a freshman, a game against Ohio State, Taliaferro suffered a severe spinal cord injury. The doctors gave him an estimated 3% chance of ever walking again. However, Taliaferro walked proudly across the stage to deliver an important message to Destined For A Dream students.
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“Be an encouragement to Matt Cruz, because I was in that same hospital for a year, and my friends really helped me get through it,” he said. ” I hope to see five to ten years from now all the great things that you all will be doing.”
Following a presentation of all the students enrolled in the program, Waller-Hill had some fond words for those who have graduated and will be attending college in the fall. “Please be mindful of who you are,” she said. “You are my motivation, had it not been for you, this all could have looked so different.”
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Destined For A Dream, was started five years ago by Erica Waller-Hill, who made it her mission to provide programs to students among 10 school districts in the area who are disadvantaged or underprivileged. Her foundation consists of two programs- Literacy First which works on enhancing younger children’s reading abilities, and Dream Academy which provides mentoring to those in grades 9-12. The foundation as a whole supports youth between the ages of 5 and 19. To learn more about the organization, please click here.
