On the afternoon of Dec 10, 2021, Long Beach nonprofit Adventures to Dreams got a surprise that founder Sheila Grantham called a “blessing”—a check for $225,000.
Adventures to Dreams serves youth living in at-risk neighborhoods through hands-on enrichment and mentorship. Grantham teaches children ages 4-14 gardening, STEM, art and cooking skills at the Drake Chavez Greenbelt Park soccer field.
The check came from a Chick-fil-A grant the organization applied for back in October 2021, Grantham said.
Up to that point, the most money the nonprofit had ever received from a grant was $10,000, according to the founder.
That changed on December 10, when representatives from Chick-fil-A arrived at the field to present the nonprofit with a cardboard check and balloons.
“It actually feels very extraordinary,” Grantham said. “When [my assistant director and I] got in the car [with the check], we were just screaming the whole way to the bank.”
Related Story: Adventures to Dreams brings Christmas cheer to local children and their families
Although Adventures to Dreams received the check in December, it announced the award in an Instagram post in early February to give children in the program a chance to see the check after they came back from their January break.
For the first time since the organization’s inception in 2015, Grantham will be able to pay the volunteers in her team with funds from the grant.
“We’ve struggled for a while,” Grantham said, noting she was able to give her assistant director and photographer holiday bonuses for sticking with her for years and believing in her mission.
The bulk of the events funded by the grant are happening this spring and summer, Grantham said, and include a STEM camp in May (in partnership with Toyota4Good), a pottery and art camp in July and a yoga camp later in the year. Details on registration and cost will be forthcoming.
Funds from the grant were used over the holidays, allowing the organization to host a gift giveaway for the children. Parents were able to fill up Trader Joe’s bags with items from a makeshift grocery store that Grantham set up with items she purchased at different shops.
Grantham also set up a special breakfast meeting (Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles was served) for parents where she distributed magnet calendars to keep them up to date with the organization’s activities.
One of those activities is happening in April in partnership with Long Beach Moms. The girls-only event, aptly called ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun,’ will include face painting, a chef and a guest speaker—an 11-year-old Long Beach entrepreneur who developed her own nail polish.
If it seems like Grantham—an educator for over 20 years—is ecstatic about the grant, it’s because her vision for Adventures to Dreams has been executed mostly using her own money, with some funding coming from other sources after COVID-19 hit.
According to the organization’s bio, with the help of donations, Adventures to Dreams has been able to increase services. Currently, the nonprofit has over 35 members.
To keep the program going, the organization will be hosting its annual fundraiser ‘Jazz in the Garden’ on June 5.
For now, Grantham is focused on raising awareness in Long Beach Unified schools of Adventures to Dreams and their Saturday programming.
The feeling of that afternoon in December is still fresh in her memory.
“For years I’ve been praying to God to open doors and to bless us beyond my wildest dreams,” Grantham said of the grant. “Truly this is beyond my wildest dreams.”
To keep up with Adventures to Dreams follow them on Instagram at @adventurestodreams or visit their website adventurestodreams.org.
