The Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring – DREAM Project, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that focuses on early childhood education, high quality primary education, holistic youth development, and arts, culture and community enrichment, united New York’s most prominent philanthropists, Latino leaders, and celebrities at their annual benefit at the Italian Academy in Columbia University.

Members of the LNC Board with Junot Diaz and Susana G Baumann (Credit: Photos by Nana Annan Photography)

Junot Diaz, 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Susana G Baumann, LatinasinBusiness.us celebrating their friendship Credit

This year’s sponsors who are committed to help the DREAM Project create change and end the cycle of poverty in the Dominican Republic, included  UBS, JetBlue, Fast Enterprises, The RC22 Foundation, Brugal, Dominican Republic Tourism, the Latino Networks Coalition, Beachwold Residential, and Univision 41 Nueva York.

The DREAM Project exclusive event kicked off with a special VIP reading by Junot Díaz, winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize, who received the DREAMer of the Year Award, followed by the main event headlined by this year’s awardees.

Diaz was joined by the Principal of The American Ballet Theatre Misty Copeland, Educators of the Year Actor and Head Start Ambassador Taye Diggs, with artist and writer Shane Evans, “School of Rock” Star Brandon Niederauer, and style guru and film director Carlos Lamarche.

In addition, Beachwold Residential was awarded Corporate DREAMer of the Year for the contribution and emphasis they have placed on education in the Dominican Republic.

Tayes Diggs, actor and philanthropist awarded Educator of the Year

“The Sueños Benefit has become a bridge between thousands of disadvantaged youth in the Dominican Republic and our global DREAM community here in NYC. There are so many motivated supporters, just looking for a way to give back. DREAMs innovative solutions for improving education provides that and the benefit is the one night a year we all come together to celebrate that vision,” said Jonathan Wunderlich, Director of Development at DREAM.

All proceeds from the event will go directly towards DREAM’s early childhood development, at-risk youth and workforce development programs, impacting more than 8,000 Dominican youth in 27 different communities.

Michel Zaleski is the Chairman and President of the DREAM Project and a founder of DREAM, with his wife and writer Junot Diaz.

To donate to the DREAM Project visit: http://www.dominicandream.org/suenos