Dream Foundation

Dream Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization (#77-0405779) that works to fulfill the final dreams of terminally ill adults.[1]

Dream Foundation is the first national organization to provide wish-granting for terminally ill adults, and is the largest in the United States.[2] Dream Foundation’s headquarters is located in Santa Barbara, California and through volunteers and supporters, serves nationwide. The foundation receives no state or federal funding, and relies on donations and support for the completion of dream requests.[3]

Mission Statement and History

"The mission of Dream Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families facing a life-threatening illness by fulfilling a heart's final wish."

In 1993, president and founder of the Dream Foundation, Thomas Rollerson, called an agency that provided wish-granting for children, and discovered that no similar organization existed to honor the finals wishes of adults. In 1994, with support from his community, Dream Foundation was created.[4]

Programs

Dream Granting Program

The Dream Granting Program is the primary program of the Dream Foundation, and serves to fulfill the final wishes of adults aged 18 years or older who have been given a life expectancy of one year or less. Dream Foundation serves an average of 2,500+ dreams each year.[5] The purpose of the dream-granting program is to improve the quality of life for terminally ill adults in ways that medicine cannot, by a non-traditional, palliative form of care. Dreams range from basic needs[6] to vacations,[7][8] and serve the purpose of providing the dreamer some peace in their final days.[9]

Sometimes patients wish to reach out to long lost friends and loved ones at the end of their life but are hampered financially or are unfamiliar with modern social media. The Dream Foundation will help such people track lost friends and family,[10] and will organize reunions.[11][12] Sporting events are also a popular choice for patients, ranging from aggressive sports such as football[13][14][15] and ice hockey[16][17] to more relaxed events such as golf.[18][19][20] One patient was granted her wish to meet Jeff Gordon, the famous stock car racer.[21] The Dream Foundation will also consider requests to treat patients and their families to theme parks.[22]

Eligibility

"Dream Foundation grants requests to adults and over whose life expectancy, confirmed by their physicians, is one year or less. Applicants must be able to affirm that their resources are limited to the point that they cannot manifest a request for themselves."[23]

Dream Limitations

Dream Foundation is unable to grant the following types of dreams:

Process

  1. To request a dream, potential recipients may download and print an application or contact Dream Foundation to have an application mailed to them.[23] There are two types of applications: 1. General Application (filled out by a dreamer, or family member),[24] and 2. Hospice Application (filled out by a hospice social worker).[25]
  2. Once the application is received, the Dream Foundation undergoes a medical verification of the patient’s condition to ensure that the criteria are met.
  3. After the prognosis is confirmed, the dreamer is assigned to a Dream Coordinator, who assembles the dream.
  4. Once the dream is finalized, Dream Foundation sends off a box with associated dream items, sometimes delivered personally through volunteer “Dream Hosts”.
  5. The dream is granted.[26]

Flower Empower Program

Limited to Dream Foundation’s hometown of Santa Barbara, Flower Empower is a volunteer-oriented program that delivers fresh bouquets of flowers, cards, and baked-goods in the hope of providing hope and compassion. Several days each week, volunteers gather at the local farmers’ market to prepare dozens of arrangements using donated flowers and then deliver them to hospitals, hospices, cancer centers, and personal residences. Since June 1994, the program has delivered tens of thousands of bouquets, each adorned with a card handmade by local schoolchildren. The program is possible thanks to the generosity of local community growers and retailers, as well as individual volunteers.[27][28][29] In 2012, 5,925 bouquets and 902 holiday orchids were delivered by 131 volunteers.[30]

Toy Program

Nearly 40% of the dream recipients have young children at home, who are coping with the stress of terminal illness in their family. Dream Foundation’s Toy Program provides age-appropriate toys for dreamers to give their children.[31] In 2012, Dream Foundation shipped 433 packages to dreamer’s families, delivering a total of 3,305 toys.[30]

Governance

There are currently 13 members on the National Board of Directors, 13 members on the Honorary Board of Governors, and 8 members on the Medical Advisory Board. “100% of the foundation’s board members personally donated to the organization in the fiscal year 2012. On average, 75% of the board attended full board meetings during that time.[32]

Events

Annual Gala

The Dream Foundation held its twelfth annual gala in 2013[33] where they honored Barry Manilow with the 2013 Humanitarian Award[34] and Andy Puzder & CKE Restaurants with the Outstanding Corporate Partner Award.[35]

The event raised an excess of $200,000 for the foundation.[36] Performers at the event included Olivia Newton-John, Richie Sambora, Glee’s Darren Criss, Sean Jones, Teal Wicks, and Barry Manilow. Presenters included Nigel Lythgoe (2012 Humanitarian Award Recipient) and Dream Ambassador Priscilla Presley.[37][38]

Awards and Recognitions

“Dream Foundation is proud to maintain a longstanding 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities; and the Independent Charities of America (ICA) Seal of Excellence for meeting the highest standards of public accountability.”[4][39][40]

References

  1. ↑ "The Dalmatian Dreams Foundation dba Dream Foundation". GuideStar. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  2. ↑ "About Us". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Dream FAQ". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Dream Foundation Brochure: General". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Dream Foundation: Outreach". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  6. ↑ Kovac, Joe (July 2, 2013). "Woman’s dying wish: Dinner at Olive Garden". The Telegraph. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Naval Museum Dream". NWA Online. February 23, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  8. ↑ Arnold, Dave (February 17, 2014). "Dream wedding couple receives dream honeymoon". News Net 5. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Dream Granting Program". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  10. ↑ "N.H. woman granted dying wish, to see her long-lost best friend". Fox Boston. January 11, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Cancer patient gets final wish for Mother's Day". Fox Phoenix. May 17, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ Merlin, Michelle (February 12, 2014). "Traverse City woman flies to Hawaii for final goodbye". Traverse City Record Eagle. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ Wright, Terry (January 31, 2014). "Terminally ill Raritan Township woman gets wish to attend Super Bowl". NJ.com. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  14. ↑ "'Super' wish granted by Dream Foundation for Charlotte Dequina, 20, who suffers from cancer". News 12: New Jersey. January 30, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  15. ↑ Lynch, Kevin (January 11, 2013). "Dream Foundation candidate Felix Vargas visits 49ers". SFGate.com. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  16. ↑ Pizarro, Sal (May 24, 2013). "San Jose Sharks made dying fan's wish come true in playoff game". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ Kiriyama, George (May 22, 2013). "Aptos Man Battling Brain Cancer Has Dream Come True: Watching Sharks Game". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  18. ↑ Mirshak, Megan (April 14, 2013). "Cancer patient's dream to attend Masters comes true". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  19. ↑ Mosco, Steve (March 29, 2013). "Dream Foundation grants final wish to Maspeth man". Times Ledger. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  20. ↑ Coffey, Wayne (March 26, 2013). "Queens resident Raymond Finerty, gets dying wish to travel to Masters Tournament". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Hospice Foundation's Newly Launched Annual Appeal Supports Center for Hospice Care's Mission". PR Web. January 13, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Magic Valley Family Headed To Disneyland". KMTV.com. February 25, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Dream Requests". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "General Application". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Hospice Dream Application Preview". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Building a Dream". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Flower Empower". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Flower Empower". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  29. ↑ Hill, Flannery (November 15, 2013). "Garden Court Tea Party Celebrates Dream Foundation’s Flower Empower Program". Noozhawk. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Dream Foundation Annual Report: 2012". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Toy Program". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Board of Directors". Dream Foundation. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  33. ↑ Mozena, Kari (November 4, 2013). "The Dream Foundation's Annual Gala". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  34. ↑ Hoffman, Lyz (October 31, 2013). "Dream Foundation Hosts Annual Gala: Star-Studded Event Raises Cash, Recognizes Humanitarian Work". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  35. ↑ "12th Annual Gala Update". Dream Foundation. January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  36. ↑ Cordaro, Dani (October 29, 2013). "Stars, Honorees Shine at Dream Foundation’s Celebration of Dreams Gala". Noozhawk. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  37. ↑ Presley, Priscilla (March 4, 2014). "Enriching a final journey". CNN. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  38. ↑ "The Dream Foundation". Official PriscillaPresley.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014. 'Priscilla has been the Ambassador of the Dream Foundation for the past 11 years, helping to fulfill the dreams of adults battling terminal illnesses. She became involved in this vital organization after helping to grant a recipients wish to visit Graceland'.
  39. ↑ "Charity Navigator: Dream Foundation". Charity Navigator. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Independent Charities Association: Dream Foundation". Independent Charities Association. Retrieved March 22, 2014.