Keeping the Dream Alive Fund
Donation protected
Years ago, I, Mara (Chris' wife) started a ministry on the West Side of Chicago in a community where the only public high school had a 85% drop-out rate! A favorite quote became the mantra of my kids’ club. “Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to see them come true.” In an area of crime and injustice, many young men expected to die or end up in jail. They didn’t know how to dream—barely knew how to survive! One became like a son to me. His name is Gregory Marlow. In many ways, he is a poster child for the cruelty and trap of the inner city. Mom in section 8 housing and struggling to raise 3 children alone—with her own demons to fight. I met him just after the kids were returned to her from different foster care homes. She had completed 2 years of rehab. It was the cycle so many get stuck in and feel their lives don’t matter.
Gregory loved musicals and singing and began dreaming of one day performing on Broadway. Nobody can fully understand the challenge to see a goal like that realized. Students coming from failing schools don’t appeal to college admissions teams and single mothers on welfare can’t co-sign for their kids to get a loan. But Gregory defied the odds with hard work in both school and a job at Wendy’s (earning a scholarship to help). Always with his own positive persistence. He also completed graduate studies at a well-known school for the arts in NYC! It’s nearly 20 years that Greg has tirelessly lived out the dream auditioning for plays and musicals, hearing a lot of “no’s”, working any side job to pay the bills, etc. He even had 3 call backs for HAMILTON! (#ProudMama). Greg joyfully teases that he is “the starving actor—living the dream!”
That career path was shut down overnight with the lockdown of COVID-19. An entire city began to clamor for the essential jobs making it challenging to find any work. Now the protests and riots have presented an additional struggle for Gregory. The normally positive, out-going man who has defied the odds and made reality of his dreams is CRUSHED. His “savings” drained from months of quarantine & financial loss of a roommate moving back home. No matter how hard he works, the “prize” seems to be out-of-his-reach. Not to mention, processing the current events and his own identity with it. It’s a challenging time!
So, I am presenting an opportunity for you to tell one truly deserving person that he matters. If you’re in a position of financial stability, here is a chance to help someone who has no resources to sustain the loss that two-national crisis’, back to back, stole his dream and pillaged his bank account. Show him that the community (of all backgrounds and races) recognize his dream that he paid the price to see come true and we want to help keep alive! 100% of your generosity will go to help Gregory pay his rent, utilities, and replenish his savings until work resumes and/or he is able to find supplemental income.
Thank you for your generosity!
Mara Swanson
Gregory loved musicals and singing and began dreaming of one day performing on Broadway. Nobody can fully understand the challenge to see a goal like that realized. Students coming from failing schools don’t appeal to college admissions teams and single mothers on welfare can’t co-sign for their kids to get a loan. But Gregory defied the odds with hard work in both school and a job at Wendy’s (earning a scholarship to help). Always with his own positive persistence. He also completed graduate studies at a well-known school for the arts in NYC! It’s nearly 20 years that Greg has tirelessly lived out the dream auditioning for plays and musicals, hearing a lot of “no’s”, working any side job to pay the bills, etc. He even had 3 call backs for HAMILTON! (#ProudMama). Greg joyfully teases that he is “the starving actor—living the dream!”
That career path was shut down overnight with the lockdown of COVID-19. An entire city began to clamor for the essential jobs making it challenging to find any work. Now the protests and riots have presented an additional struggle for Gregory. The normally positive, out-going man who has defied the odds and made reality of his dreams is CRUSHED. His “savings” drained from months of quarantine & financial loss of a roommate moving back home. No matter how hard he works, the “prize” seems to be out-of-his-reach. Not to mention, processing the current events and his own identity with it. It’s a challenging time!
So, I am presenting an opportunity for you to tell one truly deserving person that he matters. If you’re in a position of financial stability, here is a chance to help someone who has no resources to sustain the loss that two-national crisis’, back to back, stole his dream and pillaged his bank account. Show him that the community (of all backgrounds and races) recognize his dream that he paid the price to see come true and we want to help keep alive! 100% of your generosity will go to help Gregory pay his rent, utilities, and replenish his savings until work resumes and/or he is able to find supplemental income.
Thank you for your generosity!
Mara Swanson
Organiser and beneficiary
Mara Swanson
Organiser
Waxhaw, NC
Gregory Marlow
Beneficiary