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Award-winning Entertainers to Headline 'Power of a Dream Gala' to Support After-school Programs for Children of Incarcerated Parents in Washington DC, Baltimore, East Orange, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Salt Lak

Posted on: Wednesday, 20 May 2009, 09:10 CDT

WASHINGTON, May 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Dream Academy will host a "Power of a Dream Gala" to benefit its nationally-recognized nonprofit charitable after-school program that is dedicated to breaking the cycle of incarceration and poverty through an academic, social and emotional skill-building curriculum for children of incarcerated parents.

The 8th annual gala will feature appearances and performances by Academy Award-winning actor Lou Gossett, Jr., Academy Award-nominated actress (Curious Case of Benjamin Button) Taraji P. Henson, Essence Magazine Editor-in-Chief Emeritus and National Cares Mentoring Movement founder Susan L. Taylor, MTV Award-winning comedian-actor Chris Tucker, Grammy Award-winning vocalist and producer BeBe Winans, and the U.S. Dream Academy's DreamKids Choir.

WHEN: Thursday, May 21, 2009 6:00 pm - VIP Reception 7:00 pm - Dinner and Program WHERE: Ritz Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd Street, NW, Washington, DC

U.S. DREAM ACADEMY'S 2009 "POWER OF A DREAM GALA" HIGHLIGHTS -

U.S. Dream Academy 2009 honorees:

• Legacy Award - Academy Award-winning actor Lou Gossett, Jr.
• President's Award - Academy Award-nominated actress, Howard University graduate, and Washington DC native Taraji P. Henson.
• Mentor of the Year Award - Keith Poelman (Salt Lake City).

Musical Performances by:

• BeBe Winans, Grammy Award-winning vocalist and producer.
• Wintley Phipps, Grammy Award-nominated gospel singer and U.S. Dream Academy Founder & CEO
• U.S. Dream Academy "DreamKids Choir" of children from DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia who are benefiting from its after-school programs.

Keynote Speaker:

• Susan L. Taylor, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of Essence Magazine, book author, and founder of the National Cares Mentoring Movement (http://caresmentoring.com) which is a massive campaign to recruit one million able Black adult mentors to work with at-risk Black youth across America.

Gala Emcees:

• Actor and comedian Chris Tucker and WJLA TV news anchor Cynne Simpson.

Gala Co-Chairs:

• U.S. Senator John Ensign (R-Nevada) and U.S. Senator Mark L. Pryor (D-Arkansas).

WHY: There is an urgent need to save our children who are most at risk of a life of incarceration and poverty. The fact is -

• One of every 3 ninth graders in the U.S. drops out of school.
• High school drop-outs are 8 times more likely to be incarcerated than a person with a high school diploma.
• 80 percent of the inmate population is comprised of high school dropouts.
• More than two-thirds of juveniles in the criminal justice system are children of prisoners or children with a family member in prison.
• A 10 percent increase in the high school graduation rate would cut the cost of crime by $14 billion.

The U.S. Dream Academy's curriculum is built around skill-building, character-building, and dream-building. They serve more than 1,000 children of incarcerated parents - and other youth who have fallen behind in school - at its learning centers in 10 communities with high incarceration and poverty rates in Baltimore, East Orange, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, Orlando, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, and two in Washington, DC. Their goal is to double the number of at-risk youth they serve by 2012. Numerous prestigious foundations support the U.S. Dream Academy, and it is one of Oprah Winfrey's top charities.

For more information about the U.S. Dream Academy, please visit: www.usdreamacademy.org.

To arrange an interview with a U.S. Dream Academy spokesperson or a Gala honoree, please contact Bill Bronrott of Bronrott Communications at 202-270-4415 or bbcomm@aol.com.

The 8th Annual "Power of a Dream Gala" is produced and designed by Kyle Hutchinson and the Hutchinson Design Group (www.hdconcept.com).

SOURCE U.S. Dream Academy

Source: PR Newswire

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