Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruth Cooper.
Hi Ruth, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The vision for The D Dream Foundation happened during a family trip to The Magic Kingdom as I watched my 4 to 7-year-old granddaughters walk down Main Street with such pride like they owned the world, I felt privileged and thankful to have this opportunity often to visit Disney with my loved ones and watch their excitement which will forever be embedded in my heart and mind but at the same time, I felt sadness for all those families that do not have that same opportunity due to health or financial hardship.
At that moment I had what some would call an epiphany a realization that I can do something about it to make it possible for others to have the same opportunity that I enjoyed and make memorable moments with their families.
We all face challenges but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The creation of the D Dream Foundation started in February 2019 a month prior to the Covid outbreak.
The world was paralyzed, and Disney’s gates were closed for the first time in its history which in turn put us on pause. During the first few months of the pandemic, we decided to use our funds to help families whose household providers had been furloughed. We feed several families including a widow that lost her husband during the pandemic.
Now we had to start from scratch and wait until the world became somewhat normal again. Discouragement and questions flooded into our minds and things seemed dim but the desire to help now more than ever took over, how can we give hope and encouragement to others when we ourselves feel defeated. The desire to help was greater than the discouragement to give up. The mission now continues, and we are excited to see the joy of those that visit The Happiest Place on Earth because we cared.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have always had a heart for humanity on a large and small scale.
My husband and I owned a construction business and were very active in our church. For many years through the church, we took in our home the less fortunate, giving them a second chance at life by giving them a job and direction for a better future. I volunteered in our community church for many years and then got ordained and traveled nationally and internationally with the ministry.
The travel led me to our Nation’s Capital in Washington DC where I then opened a ministry (church) house for our leaders and interns within our government. In 2008, the economy took a downfall, and I closed its doors due to lack of funds. The experience within the hub of World Power was life changing my love for our nation and humanity increased but people in America where hurting, families being displaced due to the housing market and religious and divisive politics were emerging playing the blame game.
I knew God, Prayer and a positive perspective was needed in this nation, so I authored a book called-A Strand of Hope America’s DNA.
The book was a big step for me maybe not a Best Seller but a different perspective on our Nations fabric and how we are all woven within that fabric. How communication, common ground and unity for a bigger cause can make a big difference. Giving The Nation a Strand of “Hope”.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Tenacity-determination to be a game-changer, to be productive, and to help in whatever is set before me. Life is but a vapor and time goes by quickly. I will not allow the time to fly without doing something that will make someone’s life better.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.ddreamfoundation.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ddreamfdn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/D-Dream-Foundation-103834522081521
