About Us

 Our executive director, grew up primarily in North County St. Louis, in a neighborhood called Whitney Chase. He also spent time in Rural MO in Cape Fair, a small town North of Branson MO, Cottage Grove TN and ultimately West County St. Louis MO. Throughout his adolescence, while the areas in which he lived were vastly different as far as social and economic class, one thing became very evident in areas with poor education, and overall low income there was generational poverty, a decline in success, and a lack of desire to be successful. These observations were often paired with a lack of positive strong successful role models. It was far more common to see adults with drug and alcohol problems, lack of employment and lack of desire to self-improve and move out of the area. No matter the ethnicity, political, or religious beliefs, the impoverished areas in which he lived had these unfortunate commonalities. The seemingly endless hopelessness that was rampant in these areas did have glimmers of hope, there were exceptions to the rule, and those were usually due to positive role models making efforts to break the cycle.

​

"There were so many times as a young man that I felt lost and without direction. I didn't know what I wanted to do, or who I wanted to be, and having had my first son at the age of 20 only added to the pressure and need for survival. It wasn't until many years later, after finding positive influences through mentorship, that I gained self-confidence and shed the protective shell of false arrogance that I was able to begin to find my way." 

 - Corey Schonhorst

​

Chasing Dreams aims to guide young men toward successful futures by bringing in positive male role models, educating them in life lessons, shedding light on career opportunities, and helping them build confidence by discovering their God-given talents and gifts.