Once upon a time, an enchanting affair coupled with magic carpets and masqued princesses in gold sequin gowns and princes in tuxedos and suits brought Cinderella, Prince Charming and a plethora of mythical characters together for a foggy night under the stars in Northwest D.C.
On Thursday, the rooftop of the MLK Library transformed into a mystical castle filled with bright shimmer and color, as the Portland Trail Blazers’ Jerami Grant and the Hour Generation Foundation hosted the inaugural Dream Gala, a storybook-themed event where philanthropy and fashion collided in advocacy of youth literacy.
“One of the things that the foundation does is just makes dreams come true for children, for youth and for the communities in which they live,” said Sherida Turner, treasurer of the Hour Generation Foundation. “Jerami has a passion for [the youth]. That’s his dream, and that’s his mission, so we’re just here to support that on his behalf.”
The Dream Gala welcomed hundreds of literary advocates, culture shifters and philanthropists in an effort to raise funds and awareness for local literacy initiatives.
Inspired by the foundation’s Hour Story Time program, which uses first hand engagement to promote reading and education, the event was topped with live music, jazz performances and notable co-hosts and appearances including musician IDK and esteemed authors like Jason Reynolds, Christina Wilds, and more.
“It’s so important for me to be a part of an event like this because when the pandemic hit, the children’s literacy, literacy in general, just declined. So to have someone and to partner with someone, and to be aligned with someone who loves literature and who wants to continue to push that forward, and the message of just making sure that our families, especially Black families, are literate. I couldn’t deny being here,” Wilds told The Informer.
Grant founded the Hour Generation Foundation with a goal to empower underserved youth with the tools and services to reach their full potential and explore their talents. Originally created with a centered focus on reading and education, the collective has expanded to include wellness initiatives, tutoring programs, food distribution, and an aviation program.
The Portland Trail Blazers forward, who graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, said he was raised with the values of community service instilled in him, and recalled “going to soup kitchens” and “dropping off clothes at Goodwill” as some of his preliminary practices of serving others.
“I was very aware of what I wanted to do if I ever made it, and [I’ve] just been extremely blessed to be in a position to give back,” he said. “I think it’s huge, especially growing up in the area and understanding that this is the community that I’ve been involved in, that’s helped to raise me. It opens a lot of eyes for other people that grew up in the community, and they see an example where they can give back as well.”
He said the Aug. 22 gala goes back to the foundation’s roots of providing opportunities for youth through education and books.
“Our mission goal is to help to empower our youth through education. It’s a heavy focus on literacy, books, reading for kids, understanding where the information and where the knowledge and the empowerment comes from, and it comes from the books,” he emphasized. “It comes from figuring out how to get your information, and I think that’s what we’re doing here tonight, and I think it aligns perfectly.”
With plans to drive the future of literacy and development in underserved communities, the Hour Generation Foundation will continue to advocate for the youth through education-based efforts, such as The Dream Gala’s silent auction. Donations from the auction will be used to increase resources and advance some of the nonprofit’s youth initiatives.
Beverly Grant-Holston, vice president of Hour Generation Foundation, told The Informer partnerships like the MLK Library and others create a “village” of support and connectivity that will ensure success, not just for the foundation, but for the next generation of readers.
“Sometimes people say, ‘You guys have so much going on. Why is there so much?’ But there’s a need from all over,” Grant-Holston said. “We just try to, even if it’s just one kid at a time, just try to make a difference.”