Sunshine Foundation
Sunshine Foundation is a non profit organization founded in 1976 by a then Philadelphia Police Officer, Bill Sample, to answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children ages 3 – 18 whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to the financial strain that the child's illness may cause. To date Sunshine Foundation has answered over 32,500 dreams nationwide!
Sunshine Foundation's programs include Adopt A Dream, Dreamlifts, and Progeria Reunions. Sunshine Foundation answers dreams for children including family trips, personal computers, celebrity meet and greets and other dreams. The most requested dream is for a family trip to the Orlando Theme Parks. When families travel to Central Florida, they stay at Sunshine Foundation's Dream Village. The Dream Village consists of 9 fairy tale themed cottages, a playground and Olympic sized swimming pool all handicapped equipped and wheelchair accessible. The village is meant to be an escape from doctors and hospital visits for Sunshine families.
In an effort to make more dreams come true, Sunshine Foundation started its Dreamlift Program. The Dreamlift is Sunshine's way of reaching those children whose physical conditions do not allow them to be away from home for more that 24 hours. On Dreamlift days, Sunshine Foundation charters a private plane and takes 100 children to a Central Florida Theme Park for a day! Off duty State Police and Firefighters lift the children on and off of the plane and escort them through the park for the day. The children then come home later that night after a day exploring the park!
Every year Sunshine hosts a Progeria Reunion. Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is an extremely rare genetic condition which causes physical changes that resemble greatly accelerated aging in sufferers. The disease affects between 1 in 4 million (estimated actual) and 1 in 8 million (reported) newborns. Symptoms generally begin appearing around 18–24 months of age. The condition is distinguished by limited growth, loss of hair and a characteristic appearance with small face and jaw and pinched nose. Later the condition causes wrinkled skin, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular problems. The development of symptoms is comparable to aging at a rate eight to ten times faster than normal, although certain age-related conditions do not occur. There is no known cure, and most children with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria do not live past the age of 16.
Every year Sunshine Foundation brings children from around the world who are suffering from this rare disorder together for a week filled with fun and friendship at Sunshine Foundation's Annual Progeria Reunions.
For more information how you can help visit www.sunshinefoundation.org
See What A Dream Can Do...