In May 1996, it was the vision of a group of Communities In Schools students to create an award to be given to an individual or corporation that demonstrates an extraordinary contribution to the education and welfare of children. Molded from the hand of one of these students, the “DreamMaker Award” is unique because it illustrates the pride and sense of accomplishment felt upon reaching high school graduation.

Past recipients of the DreamMaker Award include:

• Edward E. Crutchfield, Retired Chairman and CEO First Union Corporation (now Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company)
• John Guffey, Jr., Retired CEO Coltec Industries
  (now Goodrich Corporation)
• George T. Lewis, Jr., Founder and CEO Cogentrix Energy, Inc.
• Cynthia Blythe Marshall, Founding Executive Director
  Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc.
• Hugh L. McColl, Jr., Retired CEO Bank of America
• William E. Milliken, President and Founder
  Communities In Schools, Inc.
• Myers Park Presbyterian Church, The Patricia Fields
  Scholarship Program
• Barbara J. Pellin, CIS Board of Directors and Assistant Superintendent with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• John A. Tate, Jr., Founding CIS Board President and Founder of the CIS ThinkCOLLEGE® program
• John A. Tate III, CIS Board of Directors and Senior Vice President with Wachovia Wells Fargo
• United States Postal Service, City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Letter Carriers
• WSOC-TV, School Tools Campaign