Page 96 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2017

GIVING BACK dream a little dream
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of the Dream Program
For nearly 13 years, the Dream Program has been working to serve and enhance the quality of life for people with
disabilities across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. “Our program provides opportunities to
people with disabilities that allow them to participate in organized sports and other activities that they might not otherwise be able to participate in,” said Bill Dungan, executive director of the Dream Program. “While we do offer traditional sports such as basketball and flag football, we’ve expanded to also include therapeutic horseback riding, tennis, and even art and music.”
Dream’s sports programs are organized
into two leagues: varsity and junior varsity, which are based on the skill level of the athletes and their dependency requirements. “We play unified sports, meaning we partner an athlete with a disability with a volunteer,” explained Dungan. “Our volunteers are the life blood of the program.”
The Dream Program is entirely a volunteer
organization, including the executive director and board of directors. “We rely upon the generosity of individuals, businesses and other organizations to sustain the program and continue to provide these services,” Dungan said. “Our major fundraiser each year is the annual Charity Golf Tournament and Silent Auction, which will be held April 20-21, 2018.”
In addition to these programs, Dream
hosts social events for its participants including an annual Christmas dinner
and dance, sports banquet, Biloxi
Shuckers games and the chance to ride
in the Ocean Springs Mardi Gras parade.
All of this is provided free of charge to more than 200 athletes from the age of ten and
up. “While we have a great many younger athletes, we also have a cheerleader who is 66 years old,” Dungan said. “This program is here for everyone, regardless of age.”
Dream Program
228.471.5054
www.dreamprogram.net
BACOT/MCCARTY FOUNDATION
A Portion Of This Sponsorship Goes To Support Our Local Charities Along The Coast
WWW.BACOTMCCARTY.ORG
96 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • December 2017
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THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING
CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
TENNIS