Mission

“Leanne’s Dream Foundation was established to continue Leanne’s selfless volunteer work at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.  The foundation will raise funds and coordinate volunteer activities to support and implement programs in the following three areas”:

• Programing for disadvantaged children
• Programing for disadvantaged women
• Programing for the handicapped and elderly 

History

Leanne’s Dream Foundation was informally established in 2003.  The foundation was established by Leanne and her colleagues and the entire EBNHC Volunteer Services team as a charitable subsidiary housed within the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center’s Volunteer Services Department.  With the help of the  Merrill Lynch Corporate Finance Department and TD Bank Financial Group’s commercial and retail-banking departments Leanne raised initial contributions of more than $25,000.00.  The volunteer services team went to work immediately providing financial support for the EBNHC youth mentor program, women’s issues programs and special needs children educational programs.  In it’s first three years of existence the foundation assisted with programs including the following:

• Horseback riding lessons specially designed for special needs children
• Music therapy specially designed for special needs children
• Mentor Tutor Program in conjunction With Boston College
• Reach Out And Read Program
• Family story hour
• Special events for CATCH support (Children Access To Coordinated Health Care)

With Leanne’s passing in July of 2006, EBNHC CEO Jack Cradock and EBNHC Director of Volunteer Services Kathy Field formally established Leanne’s Dream Foundation.