We were lucky to catch up with Ruth Cooper recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ruth, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

Many movers and shakers have been ordinary people with extraordinary vision on a mission to contribute to the highest degree whatever they set their minds to. My hope of leaving a legacy is contributing to that highest degree to the mission of impacting others lives in a positive way and being an example to my children and their children so they can continue to be a hand extended and learn the value of giving,charity,empathy and hope.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a young woman, my desire was to have a family and be a hands-on mother and wife. I was able to attain that by raising five children and having the ability to stay home with them but I always wanted to make a mark in the world and help others. My husband and I through the years took into our home a number of people each with a story and a need for a second chance from the struggles they were encountering. Our family became an encouragement and example to them of what can be attained.
As our children grew and we became empty-nesters, the purpose was dimmed and the world became smaller.
Even as our children had children of their own we worked on keeping the unity and bond intact sharing times together and going on family outings and short getaways.

During a weekend getaway, I experienced the joy of seeing my granddaughters dressed as Princesses walk with excitement and pride through Disney Springs. I thought of those less fortunate with health, and financial struggles that will never experience the magic of Disney lived through their children .A single mom working day to day with no ability to take her children anywhere and I asked myself how can I change that and what can I do, and that’s when The DDream Foundation was born,

D Dream Foundation helps a family of up to four with tickets to any Disney Park, two nights of lodging, and meals while at the park. The family enters what is called The Disney Bubble in the immersion of fantasy, magic, and fun with a time of family bonding and building memories together where the worries, stresses, and cares of everything outside the Bubble disappear.

The feedback from families we’ve helped is the reward of giving. We share as much as the families allow us to keeping the interest of our donors and future donors alive.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Studies have shown that the act of giving helps the brain, depression, and births a spirit of gratitude among many other positives. We want our team to experience giving not only money but their talent and time in voluntary work and see that their efforts pay off not only to the one receiving but to the one giving as well.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Starting a non-profit is different than funding a business, we rely fully on donations. As we shared our vision with family and friends through church and business connections we were able to get what we needed to begin our journey.

Getting donations is not easy and at times discouraging. Social media has become our main source of advertising, and volunteering at other charities has helped get our name recognized.

It takes creativity to awaken the interest of donors and that becomes a challenge but determination fuels the strength to face this head-on and make it happen.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ddreamfoundaton.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ddreamfdn/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/D-Dream-Foundation-103834522081521
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-cooper-059832227/