Questions
1. How and when was the Sunshine Foundation
started?
2. Who does Sunshine Foundation help?
3. How much of Sunshine's donations are used
for program services?
4. What is the Dream Village?
5. How do I refer a child?
6. How long will it take before my child
receives their dream?
7. How can I help the Sunshine Foundation?
Answers
1. How and when was the Sunshine
Foundation started?
Sunshine Foundation is the original wish granting organization
founded in 1976 by former Philadelphia police officer
Bill Sample. While on protective duty at a Philadelphia
area children's hospital, Bill witnessed firsthand the
financial and emotional burden placed on the families
of children with illnesses. He saw that so many families
could not afford to give their sick child one last wish,
Bill, with the help of a handful of other dedicated people,
got together to give Sunshine's first wish- a trip to
the for Bobby, who wanted to see the mountains and play
in the snow. Bobby passed away a short while after that,
but not before his only wish was realized.
2. Who does Sunshine Foundation
help?
Sunshine answers the dreams of seriously ill, physically
challenged and abused children, ages 3-18 from all over
the country.
3. How much of Sunshine's donations
are used for program services?
Sunshine uses 84.9% of all donations
to go directly towards granting the dreams of those special
children. We have answered 32,000 dreams for children
since 1976.
4. What is the Dream Village?
The Dream Village is 9 fairytale themed cottages set on
22 acres in Central Florida. This is where most of our
families stay when they visit Central Florida locations.
The village offers for the family a quiet and relaxing
atmosphere where they can enjoy a handicapped equipped
playground, wheelchair accessible pool, a miniature golf
course and many other amenities to make their stay truly
a dream vacation!
5. How do I refer a child?
Those with internet capabilities must visit our
refer
a child page, fill out and submit the form that appears
on that page. If a family is without the internet, please
direct them to send a letter via U.S. mail to our
PA
office that states the child's full name, age, and
diagnosis, along with the parent or guardian's full name,
mailing address, and phone number. Once we receive this
information we will then send out an application to the
family if the child's diagnosis is eligible.
6. How long will it take before
my child receives their dream?
Sunshine Foundation works very hard to answer dreams as
quickly as possible for these very deserving children.
Currently there will be a one to three month wait for
your application to be reviewed and accepted by the Board
of Directors. Once you receive an approval letter, there
is a one to one and half year wait to receive the dream
(children whose medical condition is severe/terminal will
be considered as immediately as possible). Because of
a decrease in funding due to the current economy, our
waiting list has grown to close to 200 children, please
be patient and be assured that we are working as quickly
as possible to answer your child's dream.
7. How can I help the Sunshine Foundation?
You can help by making a donation
online
or by regular mail in memory
or in honor of a loved one, or by contributing through
other options available here.
Sunshine has been listed as a top-rated charity on the
American Institute of Philanthropy's website,
www.charitywatch.org.
You may
also join in the efforts of one of our
volunteer
chapters.
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