The New American Dream Foundation (TNADF) proudly announces the honorees and scholarship recipients for its 11th Annual American Dream Awards Gala, to be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, at The Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury, Connecticut.

This year’s theme, “Around the World in One Evening – A Celebration of All of Us,” captures the Foundation’s mission of honoring the cultural diversity and resilience that define the American experience. The gala, TNADF’s signature fundraising event, invites guests to take part in an immersive cultural journey featuring globally inspired cuisine, artistic presentations, and interactive experiences, including a dynamic African drumming performance celebrating unity and rhythm. Attire is black tie or traditional cultural dress.

The evening will culminate in the American Dream Awards Ceremony, spotlighting stories of perseverance and achievement through three Community Award categories, along with four $3,000 scholarships to outstanding local students.

2025 Community Award Honorees:

• Community Hero Award
  This award is presented to an institution that has made a measurable, positive impact on the lives of immigrants through community engagement, advocacy, or direct services.
  2025 Honoree: United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut’s Cora’s Kids Initiative expands affordable childcare for working families while empowering immigrant entrepreneurs. The program helps providers—many of them immigrants—become licensed and trained in early childhood education and small business development, while their children receive the foundational care they need to succeed.
• American Dream Champion
  Awarded to a descendant of immigrants, who actively supports their community through philanthropy, service, or advocacy.
  2025 Honoree: Doug Polistena, Owner and General Manager of The Amber Room Colonnade, is recognized for his long-standing commitment to community-based organizations. As a leader in the local hospitality industry and a dedicated partner to nonprofit and cultural groups, Polistena exemplifies how the American Dream continues to be passed down and paid forward.
• Lifetime Achievement Award
  This honor is reserved for an immigrant or first-generation American aged 50 or older who has made lasting contributions to public service, civic life, or community development.
  2025 Honoree: Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is the first Asian American elected to statewide office in Connecticut and the first Chinese American in U.S. history to be elected attorney general. A son of immigrants from China and Taiwan, Tong has dedicated his career to justice, equity, and the protection of vulnerable populations, including immigrants. He has championed consumer rights, gun safety legislation, and the defense of civil liberties, standing as a powerful example of how immigrant families contribute to and strengthen American democracy.

2025 American Dream Award Scholarship Recipients:

• Gardenia Carpio, 16, of Danbury, is a junior at Danbury High School and the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants. She dreams of becoming an architect and is inspired by her parents’ sacrifices and her early passion for design.
• Samuel Pereira, 16, also of Danbury and the son of Brazilian immigrants, works part-time while pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor specializing in orthopedics or neurology.
• Jonnathan Jaramillo, 19, a Mechanical Engineering major at UConn and son of Ecuadorian immigrants, is a member of the university’s Honors Program and a passionate advocate for greater Hispanic representation in STEM.
• Yasmin dos Santos, 22, who immigrated from Brazil at age 16, attends Southern Connecticut State University while working full-time. She plans to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst to support children with developmental disabilities, especially within immigrant families.

Founded in 2014, the American Dream Awards Gala uplifts stories of courage, determination, and service while raising funds to support TNADF’s year-round programming in education, health, civic engagement, and immigrant support services.

For tickets visit, www.americandreamgala.com and for additional information, visit www.thenewamericandreamfoundation.org.