The Dukes Foundation (formerly The Dukes Make A Wish Reality Program) is a non-profit 501 C 3 organization founded in 2003, by Horace Dukes. This foundation was formed as a way of providing underprivileged, at-risk young men with haircuts, uniforms and cultural exposure. The program evolved far beyond his imagination to include more young men and in-kind services. The following are the purposes for which this organization has been organized; to provide the tools, opportunities, and support to help at-risk young men dream, achieve, and become healthy, successful adults. The organization will provide each at-risk young man with opportunities to reach his full potential through the organization’s vision of introducing the following nine (9) outcomes:
- Enhancing Academic Attitude & Performance
- Providing Peer & Adult Social Skills
- Developing Lifelong Learners
- Cultivating Personal Growth & Creativity
- Providing at-risk Young Men with Leadership & Community Services
- Nourishing a Healthy, Mental, and Physical State of Being
- Financial Literacy Certification
- Young CEO Institute Emerging Program
- Cultural Exposure College Tours
Each program is in alignment with the purpose of the Dukes Foundation, which is to provide a vehicle for at-risk, low-income, unmotivated young men to drive past adverse circumstances to excellence; to provide mentorship for those students who are in need of guidance; to introduce young men to the fact that they are in control of their lives, their internal state of mind, and of what they give and accomplish in life; to grow and transform the resulting culture of excellence into a culture of outward altruism and internal growth; to resolve, find, and develop leaders today to problems of tomorrow; and to instill mindful living SELF (Serenity, Exercise, Love and Food).