Feb 8, 2019 By For The Greene County Messenger 3 min read

Waynesburg University will host the BIG Dream Gathering (BDG) Tuesday, Feb. 12, in the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on its main campus in Waynesburg. The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 8 p.m. Registration will start at 6:15 p.m.

The BDG will provide a fun, safe and encouraging environment for people to think about their dreams and ideas, write them down and receive help in making those dreams become a reality.

“We all know the value of setting goals, but we rarely get the opportunity to think about our dreams and goals or write them down,” said Mitch Matthews, co-founder of the BDG. “It’s amazing to see what happens when people start to help each other out.”

Matthews launched the BDG with his wife in 2006 after needing to seek their own help with the launch of a new product idea. After suffering from a number of setbacks, the couple almost gave up. That is when they decided to throw a party and call it a “BIG Dream Gathering.”

Expected to last only a few hours, the event went on for a full week – according to Matthews, word spread and strangers were coming to share their dreams.

“It was crazy. But at the same time, it was really inspiring,” he said. “Plus, it was an example of what can happen when people give themselves permission to dream.”

Over the years, thousands of people have participated in BDG events and countless dreams have been launched.

Through previous BDG events, a college student with dreams of becoming a photographer earned the opportunity to work with a Pulitzer-winning mentor, an elementary teacher secured enough help to ship school supplies to Africa and others have successfully started businesses and nonprofits or simply made fun goals a reality, such as family vacations or skydiving.

“It’s been incredible to see what happens when people have a safe environment to think about their big dreams and then get some encouragement to go after them,” said Matthews. “That’s why we’re so excited to bring the BIG Dream Gathering to Waynesburg University.”

The event is perfect for people of all ages, especially those considering or reconsidering their dreams, calling or career.

The BDG event at Waynesburg is being funded in part by the e-Hive, the University’s Entrepreneurial Hub for Innovative Ventures and Endeavors; the Crosby Lecture Series, an endowed speaker series from Waynesburg University alumni Drs. Glenn and Jane Crosby; and a NetVUE Program Development Grant. NetVUE funding is made possible due to generous financial support to the Council of Independent Colleges by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

To learn more about the event, visit www.bigdreamgathering.com/events/bdg-waynesburg, or RSVP on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/2158885237772680.