2026 Honor Your Dreams General Fund

Honor Your Dreams is a New York–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding economic mobility for low-income, first-generation, and immigrant students through paid internships, scholarships, mentorship, and holistic support. Founded by Hana Seligman and Josue De Paz, the latter who grew up as a low-income undocumented student navigating school and work without guidance, our organization was built from lived experience. Josue’s journey breaking multigenerational cycles of poverty and entering the corporate world informed the foundation of this work and the belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not.

We launched in 2020 as First Tech Fund to bridge the digital divide during the pandemic by providing students with laptops, Wi-Fi, and wraparound support focsused on college admissions. Quickly, our mission deepened as we realized that students needed more than tools and mentorship to truly achieve economic mobility. They needed mentorship, exposure, professional skills, and real paid work experience that helped them get their foot in the door. With employers looking for three years of experience for entry level jobs, how could these students succed without networks or knowledge of these pathways?

After successfully placing hundreds of students into college, in 2023, we launched a workforce development program that prepares young people for the future of work through internships, skills training, financial support, and direct connections to employers across tech, climate, social impact, finance, media, AI, and small business ecosystems.

In November of 2025, we officially reintroduced ourselves as Honor Your Dreams, reflecting our belief that every student deserves not just access but agency to achieve the dreams they've had for themselves. Today, the heartbeat of our work is our workforce program, which continues to see the highest demand from our students and employers alike. In the past two years alone, we placed 41 of college-aged alumni in paid internships with mission-driven organizations and emerging companies, unlocking the professional networks, wages, and confidence that launch long-term careers.

Why Now?

We are entering our fifth year at a time when both the nonprofit and corporate sectors are shifting rapidly. Philanthropic dollars are tighter, DEI efforts are being reduced or restructured, and early-career opportunities for low-income young people are harder to access than ever. Yet the need for equitable workforce pathways has never been more urgent.

For our students, the impact is undeniable. Across our programs:

93% report that we expanded their awareness of career pathways
82% found community and belonging
79% feel more confident using technology to reach their goals
95% of interns shared that the workforce program prepared them for future opportunities

To date, we have supported more than 500 students through college access, in person events, internships, training, mentorship, and financial resources. Many are now thriving in college, launching careers at prestigious companies, or returning as mentors and leaders.

As we continue expanding into new markets and building scalable pathways that connect students to well-paying jobs, we need our community more than ever. Your support fuels wages for students, placements with employers who are ready to hire, and the infrastructure that makes these life-changing opportunities possible.

We hope you will join us as we build this next chapter. When students are able to honor their dreams, they change their lives, their families, and their communities for generations.