By Mail
Twilight Wish Foundation
P.O. Box 1042
Doylestown, PA 18901
By Email
FAQ
Basic Questions About Twilight Wish Foundation
What is Twilight Wish Foundation?
Founded in Pennsylvania in 2003, Twilight Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization that grants wishes to economically-disadvantaged seniors age 65 and older who cannot make their own dreams come true or are permanent residents of a nursing facility. Our mission is to honor and enrich the lives of seniors through intergenerational Twilight Wish celebrations. Our vision is to make the world a nicer place to age, one Twilight Wish at a time.
What types of programs does Twilight Wish Foundation provide to the elderly?
Twilight Wish Foundation has four innovative programs, each created to meet a specific need of the elderly.
- Wish Granting Program
- Veterans Program
- Dining Unexpected Thank You Program (DUTY)
- Intergenerational Education Program (IEP)
First and foremost, Twilight Wish provides individual wish fulfillment through our Wish Granting Program. We grant wishes to seniors 65 and older, who earn less than 200% of poverty level or who live in a nursing facility and cannot make their own wishes come true.
One-third of all Twilight Wishes granted are for veterans. We differentiate the wishes we grant to veterans as it gives us an opportunity to thank them, many who are now in nursing homes, for all they have done for others over the years, especially for their selfless service to our country, and show that we remember and thank them.
Our Dining Unexpected Thank You (DUTY) program evolved from the personal experience of Cass Forkin that day at the diner that would be the inspiration for founding Twilight Wish. Our DUTY program directly involves the community in reaching out and thanking seniors directly by treating them to a meal on the spot. The program is simple: if a diner sees an elderly person eating out and would like to treat them to a meal, they hand the DUTY card to a waitress and pay that person’s bill. In turn, the waitress presents the card to the recipient as a thank you for everything they have done over the years. It is up to the sponsor whether or not they wish to remain anonymous. The end result is the elderly person is acknowledged and thanked by younger generations, bringing them comfort, happiness, and joy. DUTY cards can be printed directly off the website or requested from the Twilight Wish headquarters.
Lastly, our Intergenerational Education Program (IEP) matches local schools and groups of younger generations with nearby nursing homes, giving the students the full circle of the grassroots experience of fundraising, planning events, and directly granting wishes. One significant goal of IEP is that it raises the self-esteem of both the students and the nursing home recipients.
Where is Twilight Wish Foundation located?
Our national headquarters is located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Click here to find a chapter near you. We are adding chapters all the time.
What is your Privacy Policy?
Our privacy policy is available here. It is subject to change from time to time. Any changes to this policy will be posted on this website.
If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, please contact us immediately via our contact form, or by phone at 215-230-8777.
What is Your PayPal Privacy Policy?
We take extreme precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline. We never personally collect credit card data online, that information is encrypted and transmitted directly to PayPal. View PayPal’s Privacy Policy here.
What is your Stripe Policy?
We take extreme precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline. We never personally collect credit card data online, that information is encrypted and transmitted directly to Stripe. View Stripe’s Privacy Policy here.
Will my donation go to the wish I have sponsored?
We make every effort to ensure that donated funds go to the wish of your choice. If this is not possible, we will apply the funds to a similar wish request. Often the nature of our service is such that we are unable to grant some wishes due to circumstances beyond our control. Twilight Wish Foundation has final decision-making authority over the use of all donations.
Wish Request Eligibility And Other Guidelines
What type of wishes does Twilight Wish grant?
Sometimes a wish fulfills an immediate need. Sometimes it is a last wish or a lifelong dream. Large or small, all wishes provide a meaningful “thank you” to the senior for a lifetime of service to others.
Simple Needs Wishes: Through this program, we fulfill wish requests for basic needs items which will improve the quality of life for low-income seniors. Examples include clothing, lift chairs, hearing aids and appliances.
Celebrating a Life Wishes: These are meaningful and nostalgic wishes granted for hospice patients or recipients with limited life expectancies. These wishes can be for family reunions, visits to hometowns, revisiting a job or career one more time, or any similar wish that validates and brings joy to the recipient.
Living Life to the Fullest Wishes: Examples includes riding on a motorcycle, having a book published, flying in a fighter jet, meeting a celebrity or going to a ball game.
Veterans’ Wishes: One-third of all Twilight Wishes granted are for veterans. Veterans’ wishes can fall into any of the other three programs, but we differentiate this program as it gives us an opportunity to thank veterans, many in nursing homes, for all they have done for others over the years and who that we remember and care.
Who qualifies to have wishes granted by Twilight Wish Foundation?
Wish recipients must be 65 and older or a permanent resident of a nursing facility who cannot make their own dreams come true. Recipients must also have an income of less than 200% of poverty level and have a history of giving back to the community. In addition, recipients must be cognitively, emotionally, and physically capable of communicating and experiencing the wish.
Are there limitations to the types of wishes that can be fulfilled?
The wish recipient must not have previously received an individual wish fulfillment from Twilight Wish. Twilight Wish Foundation (TWF) grants qualifying wishes as funding and resources are available. We accept wish applications from seniors and their representatives but not from organizations that charge seniors to process their applications. TWF NEVER charges the senior anything to apply for a wish-granting.
TWF reserves the right to deny requests for any purpose in conflict with the mission of TWF. TWF will deny the following types of wishes: dangerous, political or illegal in nature, home remodeling or construction, bill payments or requests for cash, medical items including surgery or pharmaceutical items, physical assets including houses, autos, boats, planes, etc.
Information About Twilight Wish Foundation’s Charitable Status And Certifications
Is Twilight Wish a qualified 501 (c)(3) organization?
Yes
Are monetary donations tax deductible?
Yes, to the fullest extent of the law. Your personal tax bracket and how you file your taxes (individually, jointly, as a corporation, etc.) determines the deduction for your charitable contribution. You should consult with your accountant for more details.
Do I need a receipt for donations I make?
You generally need a receipt for donations for more than $250. Twilight Wish Foundation provides receipts for all monetary donations.
The IRS does not require receipts for cash donations under $250, but you should keep donation information on file. Cash contributions of $250 and more require an acknowledgment that must be sent to the IRS with your tax returns.
Be sure to keep the canceled check, credit card statement, or e-mail receipt from the organization to which you donate. Always note the donation amount and the date of the contribution.
The receipt needs to record the donation amount, the date the donation was made, and the name of the charity (Twilight Wish Foundation), as well as a written acknowledgment from the organization of any property or services that you may have received in return for your donation and an estimate of their value. The IRS should acknowledge an e-mail receipt as an acceptable record of donation, but to be certain, always consult your tax advisor. If you’d like to make a donation, please click here.
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Twilight Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.