My guest next week on Gloves off with David Singer.
SUNSHINE FOUNDATION MISSION STATEMENT
Sunshine Foundation answers the dreams of children, ages three through eighteen, who have severe or profound
physical/developmental/intellectual challenges or trauma from physical/sexual abuse, and whose families cannot
fulfill their requests due to financial strain that the child's illness may cause. Sunshine Foundation answers dreams
to children from all 50 states and Puerto Rico with life-long chronic conditions; ones that are turned away from the
other national wish granting organizations that require a life-threatening or critical diagnosis.
HISTORY
In the 1960’s and 70's, Philadelphia police officer, Bill Sample, was assigned on protective duty to St. Christopher’s
Hospital for Children. He encountered critically ill and terminally ill children, and saw firsthand 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 a special dream.
In 1976, Bill took out a $4,000 personal loan and, with the help of volunteers, started the Sunshine Foundation and
began making dreams come true for chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged, and abused children. The
first child helped was Bobby, a five-year-old boy diagnosed with Leukemia. Bobby’s nurse told Bill that the boy had
a dream to go to the mountains to see snow. Bill brought Bobby, his parents, and siblings to the Pocono’s in PA for a
week of playing in the snow, sledding, and snowmobiling. Not long after, Bobby passed after his battle with
Leukemia. Bobby’s mom told us years later that she didn’t realize at the time how important that dream would be to
their family. She said that trip with Bobby, laughing and playing in the snow, was the happiest moment of their
lives, and those memories created have lasted a lifetime.
More than 41,500 children have benefited from programs and services of the Sunshine Foundation over the past 45
years. Granting a dream or a wish for a child with an illness is not a part of traditional medicine. However, it often
becomes an integral part of a child’s path towards wellness, independence, stability, or recovery. The Sunshine
Foundation has many accounts on record from parents and children who attest to the power of a few days away from
doctors, hospitals, and treatments. It can make all the difference in the world and the staff proudly pursues its work
on behalf of children every single day.
Sunshine Foundation is proud to continuously be ranked as a Top-Rated Charity serving the terminally ill or
chronically ill according to
www.charitywatch.org.
Video Interviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O66-xbpTEps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXzYOZk4KY