Operation Dreamseed

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Operation Dreamseed
Abbreviation ODS
Motto It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Formation 2004
Type INGO
Legal status 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Purpose/focus education
Headquarters Rhinebeck, New York
Region served underdeveloped nations
Executive Director Daya Watkins
Main organ board of directors
Affiliations Help the Afghan Children
Peace Through Art
Website http://www.operationdreamseed.org

Operation Dreamseed is a New York-based non-governmental organization that supports educational initiatives in underdeveloped nations. Founded in August 2004 by U.S. Army Major Todd Schmidt while he was deployed to Afghanistan, the program delivers school supplies through American military servicemembers working with local residents.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

While patrolling from Kandahar Airfield during his tour of duty, Major Schmidt, along with thousands of other American and Coalition troops, became aware of the dire conditions of the schools and the education system in the Southern Region.

Major Schmidt worked with the law firm of Shearman & Sterling, LLP, [1] to incorporate Operation Dreamseed in the State of New York. Operation Dreamseed was officially incorporated on November 12, 2004.[2] An initial grant of $10,000 was provided by Spirit of America in March 2005 for the organization to establish its operations on a larger scale and to accomplish its first large projects in Kandahar.[3]

[edit] Activities

Operation Dreamseed's first (and ongoing) action began with volunteers packing and shipping boxes of school supplies for military servicemembers to distribute in Afghanistan. In 2005, in cooperation with Help the Afghan Children[4], Operation Dreamseed helped renovate and rebuild Kohak Village Primary School in Kandahar City.[5]

As Operation Dreamseed has grown and its missions have impacted more people, the organization has spread its scope to Iraq, Kosovo and Colombia.[6]

[edit] Awards

  • 2007: Microsoft Above and Beyond Everyday Difference Award[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cullum, James. "The students and the soldier", Fairfax County Times, 2007-12-01. 
  2. ^ Dougherty, Kevin. "Army captain's idea blossoms in Afghanistan", Stars and Stripes, 2005-01-13. 
  3. ^ Spirit of America - Projects - Operation Dreamseed in Afghanistan.
  4. ^ "Afghan Children Inspire An American Soldier", Help The Afghan Children Newsletter, June 2006. 
  5. ^ Glendenning, Lauren. "Soldier Sows Seeds of Better Education", The Connection, 2006-09-20. 
  6. ^ Leshan, Bruce. "Planting Dreams For Children Of War", WUSA, 2007-11-09. 
  7. ^ Lorge, Elizabeth M.. "Major Goes 'Above and Beyond' for Afghan Kids", Army News, 2007-11-13. 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links