Dream It. Dare It. Do It! #DreamSTRONG
The Story of DreamSTRONG™:
By Connie Gorrell
When my husband Brent and I married in 1994, we each brought two sons to our marriage. We planned a new life as a blended family as so many are today. But over a decade, we tragically lost each of our sons in unrelated and unexpected circumstances. The most haunting of my thoughts were not the usual or expected questions: “Why? Why us? Why them? Why all of them!?” Instead, I wondered if I would ever dream again. Would I ever deserve to?
I’m not one to wear the victim mentality or ask why. There would never be an answer that would satisfy my pain. Instead, my private struggle was that I could not bear to go through these life-shattering trials for nothing—or that nothing good would come out of the fact that our sons had ever lived at all. I have long agonized over those thoughts and secretly searched for answers in the quiet of the night.
When We Dream…
Before his death, my oldest son Rob asked me the ultimate question: “What it is that you dream of doing, Mom?” I shared with him my dream of being a published author and owning a successful business of my own someday. And I wanted to find an effective way to help women in need—women stuck in similar circumstances as I had been in the years before with no foreseeable way out. I had been there. At the bottom, feeling lost, beaten, and depleted. I would set out to create a mission to help women fight for a better life for themselves and those they love. In some way, offer the help I never received. There was a pause, and then he spoke—
I will never forget his solemn words to me that day: “Whatever it is you’re dreaming of doing, Mom, you have to be strong—and go for it.”
And so it is—DreamSTRONG.
After Rob’s death, I accomplished everything I described to him—and much more. He gave me permission and the inspiration to turn my grief upside down and fight. He lit the path forward.
What is the DreamSTRONG™ Foundation?
DreamSTRONG™ is a movement. DreamSTRONG Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity under IRS Section 170 established in 2014.
The DreamSTRONG Foundation, Inc. is a dedicated community of men and women advocating for those in need of a better way of life. This includes those who strive for lifestyle and circumstantial improvement. DreamSTRONG™ caters to all women struggling to improve their lives by continuing their education in various settings to those managing or creating home-based businesses, entrepreneurial endeavors, vocational, managerial educational offerings, or other professions. The DreamSTRONG™ Foundation supports scholarship programs and grants to help provide educational opportunities where there might be none otherwise.
Our unique approach is to provide leadership skills with the benefits of belonging to a network community. We believe in prosperity through inspiration and inspired change.
We go where the help is needed. We assist battered women’s shelters to help supply items they may need. And women’s programs through the YWCA to offer valuable life skills training and much more. We cater to the needs of each organization in our care.
Enrichment. Education. Empowerment for Women.
We ALL Need Inspiration!
The DreamSTRONG™ Foundation is open to women seeking educational assistance for vocational or entrepreneurial aspirations but do not have the financial means to do so. We have aided startup businesses in various creative ways, such as micro-loans and unique ‘pay-it-forward’ loans. We work with communities to present speakers to groups of any size to discuss women’s health and well-being, lifestyle skills, changes, and more.
We Are Here to Help Make a Difference in the Lives of Women & Families
Falling away from our authentic purpose or being hesitant to ask for (or accept) help to establish personal goals that can achieve a lifelong dream, can be daunting. The DreamSTRONG Foundation accepts applications for assistance. We create mini-scholarships and we are here to help with books or other educational expenses.
To contact the DreamSTRONG™ Foundation, please complete the form below.
We look forward to assisting our sisters across the country in any way we can.
Thank you,
Connie Gorrell, Founder, CEO