Dream on Purpose Celebrates 10 Years of Empowering Young Girls in Gainesville

Ocala, Florida, USA - Ten years ago, JoAnne Karagnara and her sister Shareen Baptiste embarked on a journey that has significantly impacted the lives of many young girls in Gainesville. Their organization, Dream on Purpose, started with a single workshop aimed at inspiring young girls to dream big. Over the past decade, the scope of their mission has evolved, driven by the passion of its founders. Baptiste reflects on the progress made, eager to see where the next chapter leads. “There’s something to be said for how far we’ve come,” she says, and indeed, the journey has been impressive.

Originally, Dream on Purpose’s mission was simple, but it quickly became clear to Karagnara that a single workshop was simply not enough. The organization has expanded its offerings to include a variety of programs and events. Interestingly, according to Main Street Daily News, their immediate goal is to secure a permanent space for events, having faced uncertainty while renting various locations across Gainesville.

A Bright Future with REACH

The organization has recently launched a new initiative called REACH (Radically Empowering Agents of Change through Hope), which focuses on leadership training. This program began at Santa Fe High School, has made its way to Newberry High School, and is set to include middle schools in the 2025-2026 academic year. The collaboration with the University of Florida aims to measure the impact of this program, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to measurable outcomes.

Interestingly, demand has grown beyond local borders, with events also taking place in Jacksonville. The alarms have been ringing as Baptiste notes that the expansion to include surrounding areas is a direct response to a growing interest from participants traveling to Gainesville for these empowering events.

Funding and Opportunities

As Dream on Purpose enters this new decade, it faces the challenge of securing funds to maintain and expand its programs. They are under pressure to utilize a $200,000 grant from the state of Florida, which must be allocated by January 2026. This grant, facilitated by former state Sen. Keith Perry, is intended for capital needs such as rent or renovations, promising to provide the organization with a much-needed home base.

For nonprofits like Dream on Purpose, funding can make all the difference. Various foundations provide resources aimed specifically at empowering underserved youth. Studies highlighted by Kindful enumerate funding opportunities offered by organizations like the Global Fund for Children, which focuses on political engagement, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which supports vulnerable children and families. These resources are essential in fulfilling the organizations‘ missions and furthering their impact.

Community Empowerment Initiatives

The theme of youth empowerment continues to resonate in nonprofit circles. Programs like the Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program provide grants to nonprofits that connect youth to essential resources such as mentorship and education. As mentioned by LISC, this initiative has already made significant contributions, with over $5.2 million allocated to support 27,000 youth across low-to-moderate income communities.

Dream on Purpose aligns well with these initiatives, focusing on leadership and empowerment as pathways toward future success. As they prepare for festivities in 2025, marking „10 years of impact, a lifetime of change,“ there is palpable excitement about what lies ahead. With continued commitment to their mission and increased funding opportunities, the future indeed looks bright for this local gem.