Hang On to the Dream

News from the "Hang On to the Dream Music Competition" in Omaha!

16 Year Old Tarrin Escamilla
of Fremont, Nebraska

Wins the "Hang On to the Dream Music Competition"
Out of nearly 50 entries
at

"I am so excited," 16 year old Tarrin Escamilla of Freemont, NE told the throngs of television and newspaper reporters surrounding her following her winning performance during the "Hang On to the Dream Music Competition". "My mom had just seen something on television about the competition coming to the area and she said 'you could do that' and now... wow, I can't believe it, I am so happy!" For her win, Tarrin receives 20 hours of free studio time at Bassline Studios in Omaha where she will get to record her very own cd, then 500 copies of her cd will be pressed up by Media Services, also of Omaha. Tarrin will also get the chance to tour as part of the "Hang On to the Dream Concert Series" comprised of the winners of the "Hang On to the Dream Music Competition" from around the country. After her win, Tarrin had to wake up early the following morning to appear "Live" on the Omaha NBC affiliate, WOWT-TV, for a live interview regarding her win.

Top 3 Finishers
1st Place - Tarrin Escamilla (center), 2nd Place - Shea Daharsh (right), 3rd Place - Stephanie Fromm (left)

4th Place - Tiffany Morris

5th Place - "The Side Effects"
(Tyler Porter, Matt Pierson, Will Holdcroft, Eva Gouveia, Sarah Inman & Pat Newman)

Dear Christopher,

Thank you for a most enjoyable experience with the stop in Omaha, Nebraska. The entire program that was put on at the Westroads Mall, was above and beyond organized, wholesome, and of course FUN! You obviously have put a lot of thought into the small details and have a very smooth operation in the entire process!! You must feel pride in your hard work. I had the pleasure of speaking briefly with Mrs. Ewing, Chris' mom. I mentioned to this very nice lady how lives are changed by all that you do, and this changes the future. Thanks so much for everything.
Jeanie and Will

Teen Lifeguard Doesn't Let Lack of Arm Keep Her From
Reaching Her Dream; Receives Voice Compatible Laptop

Troy, MI - - The Hang On to the Dream Foundation, currently on a 15-city tour around the United States recognizing young people for their outstanding achievements, recently made a young Omaha girl's dream come true when the organization's founder gave Sable Carfield of McCook, NE a voice compatible laptop computer. Emmy Award winning TV Host, Christopher Ewing, who founded the organization, was in Omaha over the weekend hosting the "Hang On to the Dream Music Competition" which was held at Westroads Mall, and read in a local newspaper about the teen recently becoming certified as a lifeguard, despite having no right arm and only a partial left arm. "I was so touched by Sable's determination," Ewing says, "that I wanted to invite her and her family to be my guests during the competition where we would present Sable with a special award. However, after speaking with her mother, I found out that Sable was in desperate need of a laptop computer that works by voice recognition and I knew right away that the organization had to do something to make that happen." So with the help of one of the managers from a Best Buy store in Omaha, Christopher and the Hang On to the Dream Foundation made the surprise presentation. "This is so wonderful," Sable said, as tears ran down her cheeks. "It is so nice to know that there are people out there who really care. This is really going to help me do my school work a lot faster. It's been tough sometimes trying to keep up, but this is really going to make it a whole lot easier." "Sable is an example to all of us," Ewing says. "She is a young person who has reached her goal of becoming a certified lifeguard because of her sheer will to succeed, against all odds, despite what others may say is impossible, no matter what. I applaud her for her hard work and I am very proud to have met her. Because of her determination, not only will she save lives, she will change lives. She already has." The young lifeguard, who recently turned 16 and just got her drivers license, says that she plans on continuing to swim and hopes to become a Spanish teacher when she grows up.

The Hang On to the Dream Foundation is a national 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that helps kids reach their goals in life. Those who would like to make a tax deductible donation, or to nominate a young person who needs help with their dream, can go to www.hangontothedream.com.

Sable (center) with Hang On to the Dream Foundation founder Christopher Ewing (right) and Best Buy of Omaha store manager Cindi Horning (left) who helped make the presentation of a
backpack with a voice-compatible laptop computer inside.
(Photo credits: Jim Ferguson, Hang On to the Dream Foundation staff photographer, unless otherwise noted)