"When you KNOW your dreams, and you SHARE your dreams, people can help you REACH your dreams."

About Gateway to Dreams

Our Dream for St. Louis is to create endless Possibilities by

"Paying It Forward"

God Moments

Karen S. Hoffman, founder of the 501c3 nonprofit Gateway to Dreams, was inspired to launch the organization through a series of magical events.

Karen refers to these events as “God Moments.” From a seemingly random book purchased in an airport, “Pay it Forward” by Catherine Ryan Hyde. This book changed Karen’s life perspective on the role a single person can play. Even though the book was fiction, the journey of a fifth grader changing our world COULD be true. Karen has promoted that concept ever since, even bringing the author to St. Louis

Another book that has played a pivotal role for Karen is a book by Bruce Wilkinson, “The Dream Giver.” Karen was in an emotional mood during the day, questioning God and the way she was made. A woman she was meeting for the very first time that evening, an artist, Laura Lloyd, who brought her a book saying, “I haven’t read this book, but I feel like I’m supposed to give you this book.”

Karen felt like this book was a gift that was an answer to her emotional breakdown earlier that day. Why God made her the way she was. Karen was created to help others with their dreams on purpose.

The leap from an idea Karen had to a real nonprofit was facilitated in great part, by Suzi Tozer. Suzi had been working with Chesterfield Mall to lease space for a community book store/café. However, Suzi was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer and had to change her dream, but she wanted Karen to take the space and start Gateway to Dreams. Karen was reluctant until she felt that God whispered that it was Gateway to Dreams with coaches and experts to help dreamers.

Then, a group of business owners and friends volunteered from July 2013 to October 2013 every WEEK to help lay a foundation for this nonprofit.

God has continued to watch out over Gateway and providing magical moments.

Launch Ambassadors

Starting with small “brainstorm groups,” Gateway to Dreams had a group called “The Launch Ambassadors” to help launch this dream center. The ‘Launch Ambassadors’ worked to make this dream a reality for months. It is the dedication of these individuals who selflessly donated their time and efforts to create the Gateway to Dreams community.