Saturday, May 18, will be a day that could be the start of someone’s path to greatness when The Dreams of Tomorrow Organization hosts its annual Scholarship Brunch at Auletto Caterers in Deptford Township. DOT, located at 234 Sicklerville Road in Sicklerville, is helping four students pursue their education by giving them $500 scholarships.
DOT CEO Bobby Harris believes in doing good for people who are in need and can truly appreciate the gestures. That is why he wanted to award the students with scholarships.
Through the organization, two seniors from Winslow Township High School will be awarded the scholarships, along with a senior from Timber Creek Regional High School. The final recipient attends Buena Regional High School.
The application requires the students be seniors attending a college or university in the fall and have a C-plus average or better.
“We like to keep the door open,” said Harris. “There are a lot of C-plus students that are CEOs right now versus A students.”
Harris wanted to include as many applicants as possible. When it came to choosing the winners of the scholarships, he knew when to back away and let others make the tough decisions.
“I had a committee,” said Harris. “The committee chose the students based on the instructions I gave them, who met the criteria. For example, if my grandson was in there and he didn’t meet the criteria, he would not have gotten it. I took myself out of it, and the thing we did was notify the people that, this group that I trust to bring the correct information back to me, to select the winners.”
This time around was a bit more difficult because DOT attempted to have the brunch in March, but did not receive enough applications at the time.
Harris’ motivations are about doing “more.”
“My principles from my fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, are manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift,” he said. “That’s pretty much how I run my organization and live my day. That is always asking for more.”
Harris believes setting the right example is the best way to make change. When others see someone trying to be a positive force in the world, that can cause them to do the same.
Harris has been doing this kind of work his entire life, but officially started DOT in March 2005. His goal for the organization is to implement the educational and informational processes needed to address the emerging issues and concerns of South Jersey communities.
For tickets or information about the scholarship brunch, call DOT at (856) 262-3878 or email at thedotorganization@hotmail.com.
