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Mission Statement
Sunshine Foundation's sole purpose is to answer the dreams of
chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused
children ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot fulfill their
requests due to financial strain that the child's illness may cause.
Ab out
the Founder & President Emeritus, Bill Sample
 Bill Sample founded Sunshine
Foundation in 1976. Sunshine Foundation was an idea born during his
many years as a Philadelphia police officer. In 1962, following
three years of service in the United States Army, Sample joined the
Philadelphia police force. Stationed on protective duty at St.
Christopher's
Hospital for Children, Bill often met chronically ill
or terminally ill children and their families. Through talking with
the families, he learned the emotional and financial strain that
comes with having a seriously ill child. Mounting medical bills and
time off from work made providing their child with what could be
their last dream seem out of reach.
Bill Sample decided he
was going to make a difference in these children's lives. After
taking out a personal loan and gathering a small group of dedicated
volunteers, Bill founded Sunshine Foundation, the Original
Wish Granting Organization, with the mission of answering
the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged
and abused children ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot
fulfill their requests due to the financial strain that the child's
illness may cause. Sunshine Foundation answered the first dream in January of
1977 for four year old Bobby, who dreamed of playing in the snow in
the Poconos. Bobby's dream came true just four short months before
he lost his brave battle with Leukemia.
Bill worked hard at
answering dreams while still maintaining his position with the
police force until he retired in 1983 to dedicate his efforts full
time to Sunshine Foundation. With Bills direction, Sunshine
Foundatio has
grown to include the Dream Village, a 22 square
acre property, 15 miles of the Orlando theme parks, where children
and their families stay in one of 9 fairytale themed cottages and
enjoy a handicapped accessible playground, a wheelchair accessible
pool and a miniature golf course during their stay.
As a
way of extending the most popular dream of visiting the Florida
attractions to children, whose conditions do not allow them to be
away from home for longer than 24 hours, Bill and Sunshine began
Dreamlifts. Sunshine has answered over 5000 dreams
in this unique program, which charters a plane and takes close to 100
children to an Orlando theme park for a one-day trip! After learning
about the rare condition, Progeria, Bill and Sunshine developed the Progeria Reunions, which brings together children
from all around the world with Progeria for a week.
Sunshine Foundation has answered over 36,000 dreams and has
been able to maintain that 82% of all donations go directly to
childrens programs. Bill Sample remains the President Emeritus of
Sunshine Foundation, which has become one of the most respected
children foundations in the nation. Bill was awarded the
3rd Annual Father Baker Service to Youth Award, President Ronald
Reagans Volunteer Action Award, The Philadelphia Award, An Honorary
Doctorate from Villanova University, Please Touch Museums Great
Friends to Kids Award, Thomas Jefferson Award, AMORC Humanitarian
Award, The FREEDOMS Foundation Honor Award, Olney High School Alumni
Achievement Award, and The Association of Fundraising Professionals
Lifetime Achievement Award, among many others.
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