Dream Outside The Box (DOTB), a nonprofit organization supporting children in kindergarten through fifth grade, offers TCU students the opportunity to volunteer at George C. Clark Elementary School, just a mile from campus.
DOTB partners college students with local elementary schools, aiming to “propel children toward the higher education pathways of the volunteers.”
Through weekly meetings, TCU students help the children develop academic skills using creativity and relationship-building activities.
“We introduce a new educational craft each week,” said Gretchen Brown, co-president of DOTB. “We form strong bonds with the kids and show up for them consistently because we want to see them reach their full potential.”
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The organization has made a meaningful impact on the Fort Worth community.
“Each year, TCU is invited back to George C. Clark Elementary,” Brown said. “The students are eager and motivated when we teach them about their potential future opportunities. We feel it’s our responsibility to inspire these children to lead on.”
Not only are the elementary students positively impacted, but DOTB members are also deeply affected by their service.
“The most rewarding part of DOTB has been learning about service,” Co-President Hampton Zidlicky said. “Initially, I thought I needed a set agenda to see outcomes, but I’ve realized that simply being a constant in these kids’ lives is the greatest service I can offer—and the rest follows.”
TCU Dream Outside The Box meets on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at George C. Clark Elementary School and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the COMO Community Center.
