Founded in 2015, by Sunny Akhigbe - someone who has lived and walked the devastation of opposition, adversity, and a troubled beginning.
A Boy and His Dream is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports underserved youth. We focus our charitable giving on two pillars: Underserved Youth in Chicago and Underserved Youth in Nigeria.
For the underserved youth in Nigeria, we build playgrounds, provide educational sessions, and deliver meals, school supplies, and toys. In March, we built a playground and delivered 50,000 meals, stuffed animals, and school supplies to the schoolchildren in the village of Ekpoma, Nigeria. Here is a link to the recap of the mission trip in March 2023.
Our goal over the next five years for underserved youth in Nigeria is to:
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Build 100 playgrounds
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Deliver 1,000,000 meals
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Educate schoolchildren
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Offer work programs
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Supply schools with school supplies and toys
For The Underserved Youth in Chicago
We offer a scholarship program where we provide scholarship money for their college education and direct 1:1 mentorship.
Our goal over the next five years for underserved youth in Chicago is to:
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award over 100 student scholarships
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1:1 mentorship for all students in the A Boy and His Dream scholarship program
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provide more connections for our students via national and global networks and other programs
Mission
Our mission is to provide opportunities to underserved youth while giving back to our communities.
Vision
We believe every child has the right to play. As a foundation, we believe that physical activity is critical to a child’s development and is directly correlated to how they perform in the classroom.
Meet Our Team
Our team is composed of passionate individuals who are dedicated to making a difference in our community. Together, we bring diverse skills and experiences to the table, ensuring that our projects are impactful and sustainable.
Sunny Akhigbe
Founder
Dr. Patricia Blessman
President
Alexandria Maruska
Vice Chair
Katie Stotts
Board Secretary
Greg Dekalb
Advisory
Moalike Bennett
Community Liaison Director
Elijah Crump
Treasurer
C.B. Kuzlik
Advisory
Mlaah Singh
Director of Event Management and Development
Muneeza Shams
Assistant Director of Event Management and Development
Farhat Salim
UN Ambassador and International Event Coordinator
Global Recognition
A Boy and His Dream has been selected for Special Consultative Status with the United Nations ECOSOC, with formal confirmation expected in June 2026
This milestone reflects our growing global impact and commitment to advancing education, nutrition, health, and opportunity for youth.
What This Means
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Engage in global policy discussions with the United Nations
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Contribute to solutions in education, health, and development
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Strengthen international partnerships
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Elevate the voices of underserved communities
Our Commitment
A Collective Achievement
This recognition belongs to our partners, supporters, and community who make this work possible.
Together, we are not just dreaming of a better future—we are building it.
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