Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaime Contreras.
Hi Jaime, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Los Dreamers Inc. started in 2019 as a simple idea to generate funds to aid students in college. The founding members were two Weber State University employees who saw first-hand how so many underrepresented students drop out each year due to problems unrelated to school. The specific common issue with them all was financials. Underrepresented students drop out of college mainly to work more hours and help provide for their family and in many cases they are the main providers. This was an issue that needed assistance from those who can find the means. That is where we decided to come in. We created a scholarship fund to award to students that are not eligible for federal aid. After a good conversation of the plan, Jaime Contreras (founder) designed the logo off a sketch on a napkin and that logo served as the main brand mark for our first apparel products to use as a fundraiser. We began selling t-shirts for $20 each and use those profits for the scholarships. Sales skyrocketed as the word spread and we had a lot bigger demand than we had anticipated, which was a really good scenario for us even if it meant working long hours making the t-shirts. We had decided to maximize profits as much as possible so we could raise more money as quickly as possible. From the design process, to printing the blank shirts in-house, and then delivering the items, everything goes through us in order to be able to provide the scholarships in the most-efficient way possible. Our first year we provided three scholarships to students in the state of Utah. A student from the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College, and Weber State University were the first recipients in the history of Los Dreamers Inc. Seeing that we could provide three awards, we decided to make that our objective for each year. After the first year, we started expanding and began giving back to the community in other ways. We started teaming up with local businesses to do giveaways for food, clothing, free clinics, and other resources that they may need. Today, we are a common vendor at local pop-up shops, markets, art events, festivals, and we have partnerships with businesses that sell our apparel in their shops! We are truly grateful for everyone that has supported our cause and has been able to contribute to the success of many students.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We definitely has some ups and down along the way. We could not receive federal funding as we support students who cannot receive federal funding themselves, so we needed to put money out of our own pockets up-front so we could start buying the first set of t-shirts, ink, etc. We also had many people try to bring the non-profit down, stating that we were helping people that should not be helped, and that our logo represented the wrong ideas. Although we were able to raise funds for three scholarships per year, we still struggled to raise money. Some people would think the prices were too high, or they would not believe that we would actually award scholarships from the profits so we would get turned away. We are not connected to any big donors so it isn’t a sustainable project yet. This is a big problem we face each year as we need to find new ways to make up the funds so we do not fall short of our goal. All members attend events to sell apparel, host events to raise funds, or simply share posts and information to spread the word to a wider audience. Many people barely want to pay for the items we sell, so adding a shipping fee is usually out of the question. We deliver the items during our free time, all along Northern Utah. This leads to delays on some deliveries.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Los Dreamers Inc. is a non-profit that specializes in giving back to the underrepresented communities. Our main focus is providing scholarships to students attending college. The scholarship “Dreamers Award” is awarded to multiple students every year. We also provide free meals and clothing to families in need, and help spread information on the latest immigration issues and events that our communities can attend for free or at very low cost. We are one of the few resources available for immigrants in the state of Utah. That really sets us apart from other non-profits in the state. We do not pay any of our members so we value our members time and efforts in every aspect.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The biggest support we can get is through financial donations. Any donation goes a long way to helping a student achieve their dream career. When these students graduate college and get a job, it not only helps themselves or their families, but it also uplifts the entire community and the economy.
We invite businesses to reach out to us and we can network to create a great partnership, whether it be selling our products, helping us make the products, creating fundraising events, or simply creating a yearly donation fund.
Pricing:
- T-Shirts: $20
- Stickers: $3
- Hoodies: $30
- Car Decals: $10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dreamersaward.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamersaward801/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DreamersAward801
