Press Releases

Press Releases

York Children’s Foundation Awards Grant!

FEASTERVILLE, PA-February 2010- The York Children’s Foundation recently awarded Sunshine Foundation with a $1,000.00 grant. The grant will be applied towards the dream of a child on Sunshine’s waiting list. Special thanks to Joe Schlupp of Baron Rowland Funeral Home, Ltd., located in Abington, PA, for sponsoring Sunshine Foundation in the York Children’s Foundation grant program every quarter. Many dreams have been answered thanks to the generosity of Baron Rowland Funeral Home and the York Children’s Foundation.

Kate Sample, Sunshine Foundation President, accepts the York Children's Foundation
grant from Joe Schlupp, Baron Rowland Funeral Home.

Sunshine Foundation’s sole purpose is to answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children ages 3 to 18, whose families cannot fulfill their request due to the financial strain that the child’s illness may cause. In the 1960’s, Philadelphia police officer Bill Sample was assigned to a local children’s hospital. He encountered critically ill children and saw first hand how these children’s families were burdened not only by mounting medical bills, but also by the frustration of not being able to provide their child’s special dream. In 1976, Bill took out a personal loan and with the help of others, started the Sunshine Foundation and began making dreams come true for chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged, abused and truly deserving children nationwide. Today, Sunshine Foundation utilizes $0.85 of every dollar to help a child’s dream come true. Over 34,000 dreams have been answered!

SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GRANTS DREAM TRIP TO SERIOUSLY ILL CHILD

Citronelle, AL- January 18, 2010 – 17 year old Katrina and her family are preparing for a trip of a lifetime to the Sunshine Foundation’s Dream Village in Davenport, FL! The family will depart from their home in Citronelle to arrive in Florida for an exciting five day stay! Because Katrina suffers from Severe Autism, taking a family trip has been difficult due to the physical and financial stress that comes along with an illness. Looking for a way to bring happiness into their daughter’s life that is so often filled with doctors and hospitals, the family applied for a dream come true through the Sunshine Foundation. Sunshine Foundation, founded in 1976, in the very first wish-granting organization to grant the wishes of seriously ill, physically challenged, and abused children ages 3-18. The family will receive round trip airline tickets (generously provided by Air Tran Airways), lodging, theme park tickets, expense money, and a rental vehicle to use for the duration of their stay. Sunshine will host the family at the foundation’s Dream Village, a 22-acre retreat created specifically for special children that boasts nine uniquely themed cottages, a wheelchair accessible pool, handicapped friendly playground, and even its own citrus grove where families can pick oranges!

In the 1960’s, Philadelphia police officer Bill Sample was assigned to a local children’s hospital. He encountered critically ill children and saw first hand how these children’s families were burdened not only by mounting medical bills, but also by the frustration of not being able to provide their child’s special dream. In 1976, Bill took out a personal loan and with the help of others, started the Sunshine Foundation and began making dreams come true for seriously ill, physically challenged, abused and truly deserving children

Keenan Honda of Doylestown Answers a Local Child’s Dream At
11^th Annual Golf Tournament!

DOYLESTOWN, PA-SEPTEMBER 2009- Keenan Honda of Doylestown held the 11^th Annual Keenan Honda Charity Golf Tournament on September 20, 2009 to answer the dream of 12 year old Bensalem child Angelo. Angelo has Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy and developmental delays and is one of 150 children waiting for a dream come true through Sunshine Foundation. During the tournament Angelo and his family met with the special golfers and donors who are making his dream of a family trip to Disney World made real. The Tournament featured a game of golf a dinner buffet generously donated by Outback Steakhouse, contests, raffles, and great prizes! Angelo and his family were presented with the news that the tournament raise the necessary funds to send him on his dream come true trip to Disney at the Tournament! Thank you to Glenn Wilby of Keenan Honda for organizing this great event every year to help Sunshine Foundation! Special thanks to the hole sponsors who contributed to this special dream: Bayada Nurses Home Care Specialists, CBIZ, Inc., Central Bucks School of Gymnastics, Tony Coelho, Richard J. Davis, Dent Wizard International, Eastern Warehouse Distributors Inc., Lou & Colleen Carricarte, Community Durable Medical Equipment, Gardner Brothers Draft Beer Services, George’s Tool Rental, AFLAC, LWC Services, Inc., Newtown Floral Company, Northeast Auto Transport, Inc., Green Orchid Design Studio, Images to DATA, Inc., Philadelphia Wholesale Distributors, Inc., POCO’S, Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors, The Seat Surgeon LLC, and Auto Trim Design of Greater Philadelphia. Sunshine Foundation, founded in 1976, is the Original Wish Granting Organization, and answers the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children ages 3 to 18, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to the financial strain the child’s illness may cause. Sunshine has answered over
32, 500 dreams! For more information on Sunshine Foundation contact Kristin Fallstick at (800) 767-1976 or visit www.sunshinefoundation.org
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SUNSHINE FOUNDATION SENDS SERIOUSLY ILL CHILD ON DREAM TRIP

DUNKIRK, NY- August 3, 2009 – SEVEN YEAR OLD LEAH AND HER FAMILY ARE PREPARING FOR A TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO SUNSHINE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE IN DAVENPORT, FL! THE FAMILY WILL DEPART FROM THEIR HOME IN DUNKIRK TO ARRIVE IN FLORIDA FOR AN EXCITING FIVE DAY STAY! BECAUSE LEAH SUFFERS FROM CEREBRAL PALSY, TAKING A FAMILY TRIP HAS BEEN DIFFICULT DUE TO THE PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL STRESS THAT COMES ALONG WITH AN ILLNESS. LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BRING HAPPINESS INTO THEIR DAUGHTER’S LIFE THAT IS SO OFTEN FILLED WITH DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, THE FAMILY APPLIED FOR A DREAM COME TRUE THROUGH THE SUNSHINE FOUNDATION. SUNSHINE FOUNDATION, FOUNDED IN 1976, IS THE VERY FIRST WISH GRANTING ORGANIZATION EVER CREATED TO GRANT THE WISHES OF SERIOUSLY ILL, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED AND ABUSED CHILDREN AGES 3-18. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE ROUND TRIP AIRLINE TICKETS, LODGING, THEME PARK TICKETS, EXPENSE MONEY AND A RENTAL VEHICLE TO USE FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR STAY. SUNSHINE WILL HOST THE FAMILY AT THE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE, A 22-ACRE RETREAT CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN THAT BOASTS NINE UNIQUELY THEMED COTTAGES, A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE POOL, HANDICAPPED FRIENDLY PLAYGROUND AND EVEN ITS OWN CITRUS GROVE WHERE FAMILIES CAN PICK THEIR OWN ORANGES! SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GIVES 84.5% OF ALL DONATIONS DIRECTLY BACK TO MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE, AND CURRENTLY HAS CLOSE TO TWO HUNDRED CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WAITING FOR THEIR DREAM TO COME TRUE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN HOW TO ADOPT A SPECIAL DREAM, OR FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOUNDATION, CALL 1-800-767-1976.

SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GRANTS DREAM TRIP TO SERIOUSLY ILL CHILD

STREATOR, IL- JULY 13, 2009 – 14 YEAR OLD KYLE AND HIS FAMILY ARE PREPARING FOR A TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO SUNSHINE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE IN DAVENPORT, FL! THE FAMILY WILL DEPART FROM THEIR HOME IN STREATOR, IL TO ARRIVE IN FLORIDA FOR AN EXCITING FIVE DAY STAY! BECAUSE KYLE SUFFERS FROM SPASTIC CEREBRAL PALSY, TAKING A FAMILY TRIP HAS BEEN DIFFICULT DUE TO THE PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL STRESS THAT COMES ALONG WITH AN ILLNESS. LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BRING HAPPINESS INTO THEIR SON’S LIFE THAT IS SO OFTEN FILLED WITH DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, THE FAMILY APPLIED FOR A DREAM COME TRUE THROUGH THE SUNSHINE FOUNDATION. SUNSHINE FOUNDATION, FOUNDED IN 1976, IS THE VERY FIRST WISH GRANTING ORGANIZATION EVER CREATED TO GRANT THE WISHES OF SERIOUSLY ILL, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED AND ABUSED CHILDREN AGES 3-18. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE ROUND TRIP AIRLINE TICKETS, LODGING, THEME PARK TICKETS, EXPENSE MONEY AND A RENTAL VEHICLE TO USE FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR STAY. SUNSHINE WILL HOST THE FAMILY AT THE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE, A 22-ACRE RETREAT CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN THAT BOASTS NINE FAIRYTALE THEMED COTTAGES, A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE POOL, HANDICAPPED FRIENDLY PLAYGROUND AND EVEN ITS OWN CITRUS GROVE WHERE FAMILIES CAN PICK THEIR OWN ORANGES! SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GIVES 84.3% OF ALL DONATIONS DIRECTLY BACK TO MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE, AND CURRENTLY HAS CLOSE TO TWO HUNDRED CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WAITING FOR THEIR DREAM TO COME TRUE.

KENNEDY, NY- APRIL 9, 2009 – SEVEN YEAR OLD JOSEPH AND HIS FAMILY ARE PREPARING FOR A TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO SUNSHINE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE IN DAVENPORT, FL! THE FAMILY WILL DEPART FROM THEIR HOME IN KENNEDY, NY TO ARRIVE IN FLORIDA FOR AN EXCITING FIVE DAY STAY! BECAUSE JOSEPH SUFFERS FROM NOONAN’S SYNDROME, TAKING A FAMILY TRIP HAS BEEN DIFFICULT DUE TO THE PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL STRESS THAT COMES ALONG WITH AN ILLNESS. LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BRING HAPPINESS INTO THEIR SON’S LIFE THAT IS SO OFTEN FILLED WITH DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, THE FAMILY APPLIED FOR A DREAM COME TRUE THROUGH THE SUNSHINE FOUNDATION. SUNSHINE FOUNDATION, FOUNDED IN 1976, IS THE VERY FIRST WISH GRANTING ORGANIZATION EVER CREATED TO GRANT THE WISHES OF SERIOUSLY ILL, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED AND ABUSED CHILDREN AGES 3-18. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE ROUND TRIP AIRLINE TICKETS, LODGING, THEME PARK TICKETS, EXPENSE MONEY AND A RENTAL VEHICLE TO USE FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR STAY. SUNSHINE WILL HOST THE FAMILY AT THE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE, A 22-ACRE RETREAT CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN THAT BOASTS NINE FAIRYTALE THEMED COTTAGES, A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE POOL, HANDICAPPED FRIENDLY PLAYGROUND AND EVEN ITS OWN CITRUS GROVE WHERE FAMILIES CAN PICK THEIR OWN ORANGES! SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GIVES 84.3% OF ALL DONATIONS DIRECTLY BACK TO MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE, AND CURRENTLY HAS CLOSE TO TWO HUNDRED CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WAITING FOR THEIR DREAM TO COME TRUE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN HOW TO ADOPT A SPECIAL DREAM, OR FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOUNDATION, VISIT THE WEBSITE AT WWW.SUNSHINEFOUNDATION.ORG, OR CALL 1-800-767-1976.

SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GRANTS DREAM TRIP TO SERIOUSLY ILL CHILD

EUBANK, KY- MARCH 19, 2009 – THIRTEEN YEAR OLD TWINS, CODY AND CAMERON AND THEIR FAMILY ARE PREPARING FOR A TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO SUNSHINE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE IN DAVENPORT, FL! THE FAMILY WILL DEPART FROM THEIR HOME IN EUBANK, KY TO ARRIVE IN FLORIDA FOR AN EXCITING FIVE DAY STAY! BECAUSE CODY AND CAMERON BOTH SUFFER FROM CEREBRAL PALSY, TAKING A FAMILY TRIP HAS BEEN DIFFICULT DUE TO THE PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL STRESS THAT COMES ALONG WITH AN ILLNESS. LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BRING HAPPINESS INTO THE LIFE OF THE TWINS WHICH IS SO OFTEN FILLED WITH DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, THE FAMILY APPLIED FOR A DREAM COME TRUE THROUGH THE SUNSHINE FOUNDATION. SUNSHINE FOUNDATION, FOUNDED IN 1976, IS THE VERY FIRST WISH GRANTING ORGANIZATION EVER CREATED TO GRANT THE WISHES OF SERIOUSLY ILL, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED AND ABUSED CHILDREN AGES 3-18. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE ROUND TRIP AIRLINE TICKETS, LODGING, THEME PARK TICKETS, EXPENSE MONEY AND A RENTAL VEHICLE TO USE FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR STAY. SUNSHINE WILL HOST THE FAMILY AT THE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE, A 22-ACRE RETREAT CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN THAT BOASTS NINE FAIRYTALE THEMED COTTAGES, A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE POOL, HANDICAPPED FRIENDLY PLAYGROUND AND EVEN ITS OWN CITRUS GROVE WHERE FAMILIES CAN PICK THEIR OWN ORANGES! SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GIVES 84.3% OF ALL DONATIONS DIRECTLY BACK TO MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE, AND CURRENTLY HAS CLOSE TO TWO HUNDRED CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WAITING FOR THEIR DREAM TO COME TRUE.

SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GRANTS DREAM TRIP TO SERIOUSLY ILL CHILD

WEST CHESTER, PA- FEBRUARY 17, 2009 – FIVE YEAR OLD GAVEN AND HIS FAMILY ARE PREPARING FOR A TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO SUNSHINE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE IN DAVENPORT, FL! THE FAMILY WILL DEPART FROM THEIR HOME IN WEST CHESTER, PA TO ARRIVE IN FLORIDA FOR AN EXCITING FIVE DAY STAY! BECAUSE GAVEN SUFFERS FROM OROMANDIBULAR LIMB HYPOGENESIS, TAKING A FAMILY TRIP HAS BEEN DIFFICULT DUE TO THE PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL STRESS THAT COMES ALONG WITH AN ILLNESS. LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BRING HAPPINESS INTO THEIR SON ’S LIFE THAT IS SO OFTEN FILLED WITH DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, THE FAMILY APPLIED FOR A DREAM COME TRUE THROUGH THE SUNSHINE FOUNDATION. SUNSHINE FOUNDATION, FOUNDED IN 1976, IS THE VERY FIRST WISH GRANTING ORGANIZATION EVER CREATED TO GRANT THE WISHES OF SERIOUSLY ILL, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED AND ABUSED CHILDREN AGES 3-18. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE ROUND TRIP AIRLINE TICKETS, LODGING, THEME PARK TICKETS, EXPENSE MONEY AND A RENTAL VEHICLE TO USE FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR STAY. SUNSHINE WILL HOST THE FAMILY AT THE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE, A 22-ACRE RETREAT CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN THAT BOASTS NINE FAIRYTALE THEMED COTTAGES, A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE POOL, HANDICAPPED FRIENDLY PLAYGROUND AND EVEN ITS OWN CITRUS GROVE WHERE FAMILIES CAN PICK THEIR OWN ORANGES! SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GIVES 84.3% OF ALL DONATIONS DIRECTLY BACK TO MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE, AND CURRENTLY HAS CLOSE TO TWO HUNDRED CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WAITING FOR THEIR DREAM TO COME TRUE.

SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GRANTS DREAM TRIP TO SERIOUSLY ILL CHILD

ARLINGTON, TX- DECEMBER 22, 2008 – SIX YEAR OLD CASSANDRA AND HER FAMILY ARE PREPARING FOR A TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO SUNSHINE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE IN DAVENPORT, FL! THE FAMILY WILL DEPART FROM THEIR HOME IN ARLINGTON, TX TO ARRIVE IN FLORIDA FOR AN EXCITING FIVE DAY STAY! BECAUSE CASSANDRA SUFFERS FROM CEREBRAL PALSY, TAKING A FAMILY TRIP HAS BEEN DIFFICULT DUE TO THE PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL STRESS THAT COMES ALONG WITH AN ILLNESS. LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BRING HAPPINESS INTO THEIR DAUGHTER’S LIFE THAT IS SO OFTEN FILLED WITH DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, THE FAMILY APPLIED FOR A DREAM COME TRUE THROUGH THE SUNSHINE FOUNDATION. SUNSHINE FOUNDATION, FOUNDED IN 1976, IS THE VERY FIRST WISH GRANTING ORGANIZATION EVER CREATED TO GRANT THE WISHES OF SERIOUSLY ILL, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED AND ABUSED CHILDREN AGES 3-18. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE ROUND TRIP AIRLINE TICKETS, LODGING, THEME PARK TICKETS, EXPENSE MONEY AND A RENTAL VEHICLE TO USE FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR STAY. SUNSHINE WILL HOST THE FAMILY AT THE FOUNDATION’S DREAM VILLAGE, A 22-ACRE RETREAT CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN THAT BOASTS NINE FAIRYTALE THEMED COTTAGES, A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE POOL, HANDICAPPED FRIENDLY PLAYGROUND AND EVEN ITS OWN CITRUS GROVE WHERE FAMILIES CAN PICK THEIR OWN ORANGES! SUNSHINE FOUNDATION GIVES 84.3% OF ALL DONATIONS DIRECTLY BACK TO MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE, AND CURRENTLY HAS CLOSE TO TWO HUNDRED CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WAITING FOR THEIR DREAM TO COME TRUE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN HOW TO ADOPT A SPECIAL DREAM, OR FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOUNDATION, VISIT THE WEBSITE AT WWW.SUNSHINEFOUNDATION.ORG, OR CALL 1-800-767-1976.

Cassandra and her family at the Christmas Cottage at Sunshine Foundation's Dream Village!

FREEDOM RUN ACROSS AMERICA AUCTION FOR SUNSHINE FOUNDATION

Freedom Run Across America to Auction ZIPP Wheel for Charity