QUIÉNES SOMOS
Photo: Courtesy of DAAF Archives: Maddox M. Godinez (center) 2018, Co-founder of DAAF
Our Commitment to U.S.-Born Children Abroad
At Dream Across America Foundation (DAAF), we stand for U.S.-citizen children growing up outside the country who have become invisible by our system, displaced in a foreign country, and denied access to the opportunities and services they rightfully deserve as U.S. citizens. Their futures should not be defined by immigration policies beyond their control. We remain steadfast in our mission to support them in reclaiming their rights and place in the U.S.
Our work centers on education, healthcare, advocacy, legal support and social reintegration to ensure that these children have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to overcome their current circumstances so they can continue to build a future within the U.S. borders. As we navigate a system that has failed them, we work alongside families, educators, mental health professionals, and legal experts to secure their rights and strengthen their pathway home.
DAAF is uniquely positioned to drive change. We are homegrown and deeply rooted in the realities of American-born children forced to live abroad. Unlike larger bureaucracies, we focus entirely on creating solutions that empower displaced children to return and succeed in the U.S.
Through bold advocacy, strategic partnerships, and direct assistance, we ensure that U.S.-citizen children who have been forced to leave are seen, heard, and supported. The systems that failed them are not equipped to safeguard their rights, but we are here to make sure they move forward with the unwavering support and crucial services they need to return home and continue living their American dream.
About Our Founders
Their mission is deeply personal: Siblings S. Thanh and Maddox Godínez founded Dream Across America Foundation (DAAF) with a clear vision: to ensure that every U.S.-born child growing up abroad has the resources and support needed to pursue their dreams. Their own upbringing in central Mexico with dual citizenship reinforced the importance of education, healthcare, and stability—elements that allowed them to successfully transition to high school in the U.S. and later begin their college education in California. Their journey is proof that access and preparation shape futures.
Despite being just two years into their college education, Thanh and Maddox are leading a dedicated coalition of experts in education, mental health, child advocacy, legal support, and immigration services, along with passionate volunteers working across borders. They recognize that rebuilding begins within and are committed to making sure displaced children receive the guidance, services, and care necessary to reclaim their place in the U.S.
At DAAF, we believe that home is more than just a place: it’s a foundation of identity, security, and opportunity, and we want that for every child that had to leave the U.S.