This year’s American Dream Awards Gala will strike a powerful chord—literally.

The New American Dream Foundation (TNADF) has announced that the 2025 gala, set for Friday, September 26, at The Amber Room Colonnade, will feature a headline performance by Drum Cafe USA, a world-renowned group that unites people through rhythm, music, and movement.

The event’s theme, “Around the World in One Evening – A Celebration of All of Us,” will come alive as guests take part in an immersive experience led by Drum Cafe USA. The interactive performance will invite attendees to make music together—not with drums, but with their voices, claps, and movement—turning the room into one shared rhythm.

“Drum Cafe USA is about breaking barriers and building harmony through rhythm. That’s exactly what the American Dream Awards are meant to celebrate,” said TNADF Vice President Emanuela Palmares. “We want our guests to not just witness the celebration, but to feel part of it.”

A Performance with Purpose

Drum Cafe USA has performed for Fortune 500 companies, global summits, and community gatherings across more than 60 countries. Founded in South Africa after the fall of apartheid, the group uses music as a tool to inspire teamwork, empathy, and shared purpose—especially among people from different cultures.

Their U.S. team includes musicians and facilitators trained in blending sound and audience interaction in a way that is fun, energizing, and deeply meaningful. Even guests with no musical background will feel connected to the beat—and to each other.

More Than a Gala: A Mission-Driven Night

The American Dream Awards Gala is TNADF’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The nonprofit provides free services for immigrant families in Danbury and beyond, including:

• Help with citizenship applications and tutoring
• Free legal immigration clinics
• Emergency relief grants
• Health access support
• Translation and notary services

Since its founding in 2016, TNADF has:

• Served over 49,000 meals
• Awarded $77,000 in scholarships
• Helped more than 800 families since 2023

Honorees and Scholarships

The gala will also honor:

• United Way’s Cora’s Kids Initiative – Community Hero Award
• Doug Polistena, The Amber Room Colonnade – American Dream Champion
• Connecticut Attorney General William Tong – Lifetime Achievement Award

Four outstanding students will each receive a $3,000 scholarship, continuing the Foundation’s mission to uplift the next generation of immigrant leaders. They are:

• Gardenia Carpio, 16, of Danbury – a junior at Danbury High School and the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants, who dreams of becoming an architect.
• Samuel Pereira, 16, of Danbury – the son of Brazilian immigrants, who works part-time while pursuing his goal of becoming a doctor.
• Jonnathan Jaramillo, 19 – a Mechanical Engineering major at UConn and son of Ecuadorian immigrants, active in the university’s Honors Program and STEM advocacy.
• Yasmin dos Santos, 22 – who immigrated from Brazil at age 16 and currently attends Southern Connecticut State University while working full-time. She plans to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst to support children with developmental disabilities.

Be Part of the Rhythm

Tickets are available now at www.americandreamgala.com.