Christopher's "Hang On to the Dream Foundation"
Hosts Its Denver "Dream Search"
at Columbine High School

Hang On to the Dream Foundation president and founder, Christopher Ewing, presents the "Hang On to the Dream Award" to
Dr. Frank D. DeAngelis, principal, and some of the students of Columbine High School.

The Hang On to the Dream Foundation, the national non-profit organization that Christopher started which helps kids from all around the country reach their goals in life hosted its unique "Hang On to the Dream" - Dream Search on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. 

"When we were trying to decide where we wanted to hold our Denver event, we first thought of a mall and then we thought of schools and I immediately thought of Columbine because what happened there 6 years ago is a perfect example of what can happen when a kid loses track of their dream, and their future," Christopher says.

The "Hang On to the Dream - Dream Search" is on a 10-city tour around the country looking for kids between the ages of 8 and 17 who are in need of sponsorship to help them cover the costs of whatever activities they are involved in. During the event, kids from throughout the Denver area who are singers, dancers, artists, photographers and more, as well as kids who are considered positive role models for others because of how they have overcome tremendous obstacles in their life, were invited to attend the event, meet with the staff of The Hang On to the Dream Foundation and apply for sponsorship.  Some of the kids who attended the event may also appear on an upcoming episode of the Emmy Award winning "Hang On to the Dream" TV show which is currently filming new episodes for the upcoming season. 

During the event at Columbine, Christopher spoke to students of the Drama Dept., who had the opportunity to take pictures holding the Emmy Award that Christopher won for his "Hang On to the Dream" television show.  "There are some really talented kids at that school.  Some of the kids in the Drama Dept. got up and performed. They were really great!"  Christopher also presented the school with the "Hang On to the Dream Award".  The inscription on the award reads: "The Hang On to the Dream Foundation Salutes the Students of Columbine High School.  No Matter How Hard Things Seem, Hang On to the Dream!"

Columbine High School is the site of the most tragic school shooting in the nation's history.  12 kids and one teacher were killed by 2 students of the school.  24 other students were also wounded before the shooters committed suicide. 

Christopher recalls the visit to Columbine:  "I have been in numerous schools all over the country, but it was sad to walk into this school, knowing the tragedy that took place there.  Columbine High School looks like your average high school.  It's located in an upper-middle class community and you would just never expect something like what happened to have taken place there.

"One of the teachers told me that on the day of the massacre, the 2 students who committed the shootings were very methodical.  One thing that is little known is that these kids had actually planted 4 bombs throughout the school and when they were shooting, besides shooting kids, they were also trying to aim at the bombs that they had planted, in an effort to detonate them.  The teacher told me that the students and staff were afraid for weeks following the shootings because of the fear that the police hadn't found all of the bombs that were planted. 

"The cafeteria (where the rampage started) still remains.  After the shooters began shooting the kids in the cafeteria, they then went upstairs to the library and began shooting kids in there.  The library was located directly above the cafeteria.  They have since redesigned the entire area.  The cafeteria still remains, but because of the extreme damage, as well as the memories of what happened, they removed the library completely and created a very high ceiling with these beautiful murals hanging from the ceiling.  One of them is a painting of trees reaching towards the sky.  It is beautiful.  They have also built another wing onto the school which now houses the Hope Columbine Memorial Library.  Before we left, my staff and I took a moment and joined hands and prayed in the cafeteria for the kids who lost their lives, as well as for the families they left behind."

The cafeteria remains on the lower level. The library was on the second level.

The cafeteria from the inside.

Where the library once was.  It is now an open space with murals hanging down into the cafeteria.
 

A sculpture that was sent to the school from President Bill Clinton following the massacre.
 

Following the massacre, students created tiles that now line the halls of the school.

A giant size plaque hangs on the wall in the school with the list of names of those who were murdered.



The Hope Columbine Memorial Library is a new wing that was built onto the school following the demolition of the former library.

Gorgeous murals like this one now hang from the ceiling,  where the library once was.