Episode 38 - The Wooden Floor

08/15/20 • 21 min

The Wooden Floor

Dawn Reese

Today on the GIVE podcast we are excited to chat with Dawn Reese, the CEO of the Wooden Floor. The Wooden Floor is an afterschool nonprofit that serves young people from low-income communities through the power of dance. The ultimate goal of this nonprofit is to break the cycle of poverty through generational change. The kids that they serve are about 98% Latino and come from impoverished families in Orange County, CA.

The Wooden Floor isn’t just after-school dance classes. They are with the kids in the program for 10 years. All the way to college. This organization not only teaches dance but tutors academics, teaches social skills, and helps the kids get into college. Participants in the Wooden Floor have a staggering 100% acceptance rate to get into college. The Wooden Floor works with the community to give these kids the best shot they can to break the cycle of poverty in poor families.

The Wooden Floor is located in Orange County, CA- but recently opened a sister organization that does the same thing in Washington DC. They currently have 475 children involved in their program in the two cities and hope to expand their reach. This nonprofit is almost entirely funded by private donations and does an excellent job planning for the future of their organization and the kids’ future.

Here is how you can get involved:

Donate
Volunteer
Spread the word on social media

Be inspired. GIVE.

Here is how to find The Wooden Floor

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Full episode transcription can be found here.

The Wooden Floor

Dawn Reese

Here is how you can get involved:

Donate
Volunteer
Spread the word on social media

Be inspired. GIVE.

Here is how to find The Wooden Floor

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Full episode transcription can be found here.

Previous Episode

Episode 37 - Chasin A Dream Foundation

Chasin A Dream Foundation

Vivien McLean-Bunce

Today we are thrilled to welcome to the show Vivien McLean-Bunce. She is the treasurer who started out as a volunteer for the Chasin A Dream Foundation. This Foundation works with children who have become sick and they offer life-changing support and resources to the families of children who are battling cancer, cystic fibrosis, or any other life-threatening illnesses.

In this podcast, Vivien explains why there is a critical need for help for families that may not have the resources to get these little warriors everything they need as far as recovery, comfort,and treatments. They have provided many different types of services to these kids. Each child and their family have individual needs, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all program.

Chasin A Dream fulfills needs that most parents can’t even comprehend until the situation is upon them. This organization gives the kids a sense of normalcy, with a rock-solid support system through volunteers, and other community support. They provide whatever each individual child’s needs are and make sure that the parents are taken care of.

How can you get involved?

Donate
Volunteer
Spread the word

Be inspired. GIVE.

Where to find Chasin A Dream

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Vivien’s email

Full episode transcription can be found here.

Next Episode

Episode 39 - Voices For Children Tampa Bay

Voices For Children Tampa Bay

Jennifer Starr

Today on the GIVE podcast we are speaking with Jennifer Starr, who is from the Voices For Children of Tampa Bay. This organization works with foster kids in the Tampa Bay, Florida area to make sure they not only have the things that they need- but the care that they deserve. Many children enter the foster care system with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and the Voices For Children of Tampa Bay works to make sure they have everything they need, from undergarments to backpacks and school supplies.

The other facet of this organization is its courthouse dog program. These kids, when they enter foster care, not only have to deal with a completely new living situation- they have to testify in court as well. This can be a challenge for anyone, let alone a child.

The Voices For Children in Tampa organization is currently helping provide for around 2000 kids in just one county in Florida. They have committed themselves to be the constant in foster kid’s lives. From homecoming tickets to stuffed bears- they do their best to meet the needs of all the kids that enter the foster program.

How to get involved