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OUR MISSION
The Garden of Dreams Foundation is a non-profit charity dedicated to bringing life changing opportunities to young people in need. In partnership with MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports and MSG Networks -including the Knicks, Rangers and Rockettes, Westchester Knicks, famed showplaces, TAO Group Hospitality and two sports and entertainment television networks – Garden of Dreams provides young people in our communities with access to educational and skills opportunities; mentoring programs; and memorable experiences that enhance their lives, help shape their futures and create lasting joy. Since its inception in 2006, the Garden of Dreams Foundation has impacted more than 375,000 young people and their families.
All the Foundation’s activities are driven by four guiding principles – Education, Inspiration, Grants and Moments of Joy – and target young people facing illness or financial challenges, as well as children of uniformed personnel who have been lost or injured while serving our communities. Learn more about our pillars.
WHO WE SERVE
The Garden of Dreams Foundation is committed to creating meaningful, unforgettable programs for children affiliated with our 30 local partner organizations. From across the tri-state area, Garden of Dreams partner organizations include hospitals, wish organizations and community-based organizations. Learn more about our parters.
OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
GARDEN OF DREAMS TALENT SHOW – Since inception in 2006, Garden of Dreams has hosted its annual Talent Show at Radio City Music Hall. Each year, over 100 young people from various Garden of Dreams partner organizations are presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on the Great Stage in front of 5,000 people. For one incredible evening in front of their family and friends, the young people perform with talent, emotion and passion, forgetting their problems and celebrating their voices. Take me to more information about the 2022 Talent Show!
EVENTS AT MSG – Almost every night, Garden of Dreams young people are at MSG’s venues enjoying sports and entertainment events. Tickets and suites are donated by season ticket members for nearly every event, which allows young people to attend events they would never dream about. In addition, special celebrations are often held including Dream Nights, which bring young people behind the scenes for pre-game/show opportunities and culminate in catered suites with gifts and celebrity visits.
EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY – Garden of Dreams strives bring the magic and joy of the MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports and MSG Networks into the community it serves. Several times each month, MSG celebrities visit young people in their own community and with young people who may be too ill to travel to the venues.
MSG CLASSROOM – For over 15 years, MSG Networks has welcomed high school students into the Network for their Emmy award winning “MSG
Classroom” program. Students are exposed to all aspects of television including production, on-air, marketing, digital and sales. Alumni from the program have gone on to intern and work in the television industry including several at MSG Networks. Each semester culminates in the students producing their own television feature program.
MSG4ME MENTORSHIP PROGRAM – The goal of the MSG4Me mentorship program is to provide youth affiliated with Garden of Dreams insight into various corporate and venue operations opportunities within the MSG family of companies. The six to eight-week program geared towards high school students includes presentations from MSG employees, panel discussions with MSG executives and shadowing opportunities at games and concerts in the MSG Arena, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre.
MOMENTS OF JOY – Together with the Knicks and Rangers and Entertainment stars, Garden of Dreams works with the Make A Wish Foundation to fulfill the wishes of critically ill young people to meet and spend time with the players. In addition, working closely with Garden of Dreams partners, the Foundation brings joy to the lives of young people who have met with tragedy or other social issues to provide respite through experiences with the teams in special, personalized ways.
GRANT PROGRAM – Through direct financial support for bricks and mortar improvements to community facilities, as well as for community-based sports, entertainment and media projects, Garden of Dreams has enhanced the environment of young people where they live and grow. Since 2015, Garden of Dreams has committed $8,125,000 in capital refurbishments within community spaces at partner organizations.
SCHOLARSHIPS – The Garden of Dreams Inspire Scholarship Program was created in 2015, to award deserving high school seniors affiliated with the
Foundation with funding to support their college education. Each year, a minimum of 15 annual, $15k college or trade school scholarships are given to high school seniors from affiliated Garden of Dreams partners. Scholarships are renewable up to three years, with total value of each scholarship being $60,000. Since 2015, the Inspire Scholarship program has committed $4,840,000 in financial support towards education to help young people.
