Building Relationships, Changing Lives

The Livin’ the Dream Foundation was established in memory of Mark Guensch, and others like him, who struggle to stay strong in a culture where poor decisions, limited options and peer pressure are the norm. For Mark, that struggle ended when he was just 19 years old. A freshman at Liberty University, he had returned home to support his brother in a district basketball playoff game. But after the game, his decision to head to a friend’s home where he spent time partying and drinking with his old high school friends became the first of two decisions that would forever change the lives of his friends and family. His second decision—a decision that far too many young people make after a high school party—is the decision that ended his life. Unable to think clearly due to the alcohol in his system, Mark attempted to drive home and ended up in a car accident that claimed his life. Sadly, Mark’s story is one of many across the Lehigh Valley. In today’s high school culture, where the search for acceptance trumps wisdom and good decisions, far too many youth are faced with situations and environments that can change or tragically end lives. This is why we want to create an environment for our young people that surrounds them with people who care, peers who support their hopes and dreams and mentors willing to invest in helping those dreams become a reality as they grow and discover their unique God-given gifts. This is the purpose of Livin’ the Dream.