The Sweet Dream Project Delivers Hope to Children at CHOP

Four giant duffel bags were delivered to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recently, each one carefully stuffed with items purchased to transform a young patient’s hospital room into personal sanctuary—fairy lights, Disney princess bedding, art supplies, floral wall stickers—and a notecard that read (in part):

“Hello, my name is Ayana Banks, I'm 16 years old. I am the founder of
The Sweet Dream Project. The Sweet Dream Project is on a mission to
brighten the hospital journey for pediatric patients.” 

An SCH junior, Banks conceived of her project—to make hospital rooms feel more like home—last year in her CEL Capstone class. After more hospital stays than she can remember, she was determined to help bring joy to children and their families during one of their most difficult times. “I spent lots of time inpatient at CHOP. During my long stays, my mom would always decorate my hospital room so I could feel at home. I used to think everyone's room was decorated, but later I realized that is not reality.”

But, it is a reality that The Sweet Dream Project is determined to provide. 

She uses an intake form to get to know each patient personally—their age, their interests, their hobbies, their favorite color—and then acts as a personal shopper to deliver a carefully curated bag specific to each patient.

Dreaming big herself, Banks would love for her story to catch on at the grassroots level, much like Alex Scott’s Lemonade stand which grew from a single stand. If she can engage people to help “adopt” a room and make a donation, it will enable her to provide more sweet dreams for long-term CHOP patients. Just this week, CBS aired a segment called “Spreading the Love” about Banks and her venture. The TV coverage will allow her to help a dozen additional children.

At the end of the first semester last year, Banks earned the CEL “Resiliency Award” for embracing challenges and exhibiting a relentless commitment to her goals. That go-get-'em spirit was again on display when she landed an internship at CHOP this summer that enabled her to make the connections she needed to get to the right people for her Sweet Dream Project. Pushing the Wawa Cart and chatting with patients and staff as she traveled the halls offering snacks and drinks, she was able to make a connection with a Child Life Specialist to arrange her first delivery.

An award Banks received at the Upper School Awards Ceremony in June was equally critical to her success. Banks was the recipient of a $1,500 grant from the Margaret Steele Scholarship Fund “awarded to an entrepreneurial-minded SCH student(s) every year to support and enhance their entrepreneurial pursuits, or to cover the cost of summer education opportunities tied to their interests and passions.” In Banks’ case, the funding allowed her to buy all the items—valued at $300—for the four bags in her first delivery.  

The Steele Scholarship funds also helped subsidize the Young Diplomats Summer Program at Hampton University. During the weeklong program, Banks chose the leadership development track, which provided exposure to other cultures, public speaking experience, strategic planning, and networking skills.

The Sweet Dream Project has BIG dreams as does CHOP. They were so thrilled with the first delivery that they suggested Banks deliver 15 duffels a quarter—a tall order, indeed. But, as she said after dropping off the first bags, “I am so happy that they are in the hands of the kids. This is just the beginning!”

If you would like to support The Sweet Dream Project, any donation will help Ayana buy items to decorate patients’ rooms. 

Image: Classmates Blake Jeune (center) and Marlee Howard (left) are part of the “dream team” that helped pack the bags and joined Ayana Banks (right) and her mother, Yolanda, to deliver the bags to CHOP.