Dreams Can Be Foundation (2000-2014) was a US 501 c3 nonprofit charitable supporting organization and a Brazilian OSCIP (NGO) dedicated to aiding street children and impoverished youth in Brazil working in partnership with local organizations and NGOs to provide: education, moral and social development, humanitarian relief, and the offering of opportunities where there were none before. We envision all children of Brazil having the means to realize their hopes and build their dreams.
Dreams Can Be Foundation and Dreams Brasil opened their doors in Rio de Janeiro in 2000 and in 2014 founder, Lisa Urgo made the heavy decision and closed the doors to her non profit work in order to raise her two children in the US and pursue other interests.
Dreams Can Be Foundation was composed of a small Board of Directors and an active group of advisors celebrity spokespeople and volunteers led by Lisa Urgo; President and Executive Director, Dreams Can Be was an organization built from the heart of those who have, to help those who have not.
Lisa Urgo is Founder and President of Dreams Can Be Foundation and Dreams Brasil. Since being introduced to Brazilian music in the 1980’s Lisa has had an affinity for Brazil’s culture and people. Before founding Dreams Can Be, Lisa spent many years working in the entertainment industry as a music producer, publicist, manager, etc. While specializing in Brazilian music she visited Brazil many times over the years and was always moved by the plight of the Brazilian street children and impoverished youth. In 1999 Lisa retired from the music business and spent time volunteering in the 3rd sector in Brazil. In 2000 she opened Dreams Can Be as a vehicle to bring awareness and resources to benefit grass roots organizations working with Brazil’s at-risk youth. Lisa attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts, UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television, and Marymount Manhattan College and has studied theater at Circle in the Square, The Actors and Directors Lab, and HB Studios and with such acclaimed teachers as Uta Hagen and Stella Adler. Her career incarnations took her from being a professional actress to a 4-year stint at Drexel Burnham Lambert, in their High Yield and Convertible Bonds business to a fitness trainer and competitive bodybuilder then on to the music and entertainment business. In 2002 Lisa adopted two Brazilian children and now splits her time living between Brazil and the U.S. in order to remain close to all that she loves.
Special thanks go out to:
Former Directors: Mark Pasquerilla, Deborah Herbert, Thomas Mulready and Roberto Rezinski
Former Advisory Board –
Bill Bragin; Music Producer, NYC
Bradley Brooks; Journalist RJ,
Erica Ruben; Music Producer, NYC
Greg D’allesandro; writer NY and LA,
Karine Hourtoule; researcher, activist owner Baby Buddha, Paris France
Lesli Jose Zigel; Attorney, Miami
Molly Haydon; Theatrical Marketing, Portland, OR
Rubem César Fernandes;
Anthropologist, Human Rights and Public Safety Activist Director of Viva Rio, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil,
William E. Strickland Jr.; President and CEO Manchester Bidwell Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA
DREAMSBRASIL AMBASSADORS
Special thanks to our artist friends who allowed us to use their names, images and public presence to help spread the word of Dreams and the plight of Brasil’s street children
Joyce Moreno; singer, composer, guitarist
Toni Garrido; singer, actor
Gabriel Pensador; singer, composer, activist
Marcelo Yuka; activist, musician, producer
Scissor Sisters; artist
FORMER LEGAL COUNSEL
USA: J. Steven Erie, Esq.
Richmond, VA
BRAZIL: Paulo Haus Martins, Esq, Rio de Janeiro
FORMER GENERAL ACCOUNTING
US Accountant
Deborah L. Herbert, CPA
Brazilian Accountant
4 Account Contabilidade e Assessoria Empresarial Ltda. / Antonio Motta
EXTERNAL FINANCIAL AUDITORS; USA
Wessel & Company, Johnstown, PA 15901
FORMER STAFF: Adriana Vieira, Christine Clauser, Leticia Martins, Alexandra Baldaque, Carolina Senna Figueirdo, Leandra Marun
VOLUNTEERS:
“Special thanks to the numerous volunteers who came from around the world to work with us in a variety of capacities, it was such a great pleasure to welcome you, work with you and see you grow!
A special shout out to Renee Shaw who helped us with all of our Cirque du Soleil fundraisers, without whom we wouldn’t have been able to pull off 6 years of crazy-successful Cirque events! “
