Please Note: Twilight Wish Foundation is registered in Pennsylvania as a nonprofit corporation and is a public charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made to grant open wishes are tax deductible. Twilight Wish Foundation will 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 the most urgent and similar wish open at the time. Twilight Wish Foundation has final decision-making authority over the use of all donations.
Katharyn meets Eagles great Mike Quick
/in Fulfilled WishesKatharyn Reid, 84, has been an avid Eagles’ fan for decades, even painting her living room “Eagles’ Green.” This mother of eight, grandmother of 13, great-grandmother to 17, with one more great-grandchild and one great-great-grandchild on the way, is well known in her family for her loyalty to her beloved Eagles. In fact, there is “no chit-chatting allowed” by her during the games. Sadly, Katharyn is battling brain cancer and currently undergoing chemotherapy. To boost her spirits, her daughter, Nancy Sherlock, submitted a wish request on her behalf, writing that a visit from a Philadelphia Eagles’ player would provide a much-needed respite from her medical treatments. When the Eagles heard of Reid’s story, they jumped at the chance to brighten this deserving senior’s day and arranged to have Eagles great Mike Quick and an Eagles’ cheerleader visit Katharyn and make her wish come true. The Eagles’ organization also arranged to have Jeremy Maclin record a special video message just for Katharyn which was shown to her that day. During the visit, Quick called his broadcasting partner, Merrill Reese, and put him on speaker so that she could talk to him. Thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles and Mike Quick for granting this special lady’s wish!
Bernadine meets President Carter!
/in Fulfilled WishesBernadine Van Thiel finally had her wish to meet President Carter granted, thanks to our The Pacific Northwest Chapter of Twilight Wish Foundation! Bernadine and her daughter, Rita, traveled from Spokane, WA to Plains, GA in early September. They were given a personalized tour of the Jimmy Carter Library & Museum and the Carter Center. On Sunday, they attended church services at Maranatha Baptist Church. While Bernadine was quietly sitting in her pew, President Carter snuck up behind her, tapped her on the shoulder, and then he and Mrs. Carter shook hands with her. Bernadine was so overwhelmed that she was practically in tears, not to mention speechless! They sat behind Bernadine and her daughter for the remainder of the Sunday services. After services were over, church members took several photos of Bernadine and Rita with President & Mrs. Carter. It was during this time that Bernadine was able to express her gratitude to the Carters for all they have done over the years.
WWII Veteran and POW has wish for flagpole and flags granted
/in Fulfilled WishesGus Siciliano, a WWII veteran and POW, recently had his wish for a new flagpole and flags granted. Although 92 and in hospice care for mesothelioma, he still lives in his home with Helen, his wife of 60 years. During a recent storm, their 25 foot flagpole and flags were destroyed. Siciliano is a proud Army veteran and was a prisoner of war in a Nazi prison camp in Germany. Until the storm destroyed them, he proudly flew both the U.S. and POW flags. After hearing of his wish, volunteers from Bucks County Service Industry Charities installed a new flagpole and donated new flags. On Saturday, November 17, 2012, over 50 members of Warriors’ Watch attended the wish granting and conducted a flag raising ceremony with Gus raising the flag himself.
WWII Veteran Has Wish to Attend Marine Reunion Granted
/in Fulfilled WishesJames Hall, 85, recently had his wish to attend the reunion of the Sixth Marine Division in Portland, Oregon granted, thanks to the generosity of many donors. One of only two surviving platoon members, Hall felt that this would be his last chance to attend the Marine reunion. Because he lives in a nursing facility on a fixed income, he could not afford the trip on his own. Twilight Wish worked hard to raise the funds to cover the travel expenses of Hall and his travel companion and fellow veteran, Bob Higgins. The two left from 30th Street Station on Monday, September 17, 2012 and were seen off by a group of Twilight Wish staff and volunteers.
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hall was only 16, so he lied about his age and enlisted. He soon found himself on board a ship headed for combat in the South Pacific. His division landed on Okinawa in April of 1945 and during an attack by Japanese snipers, Hall was shot twice in the lower abdomen, leaving him temporarily paralyzed in the legs. Despite his injuries, he managed to crawl to another critically injured Marine and treated him, but the Marine died in his arms. For his bravery, Hall received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Click here to read the front page article in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Click here to watch the coverage of the wish on WPVI.
Our first wish: Margaret’s wish for headstone for her son’s grave is granted
/in Fulfilled Wishes, Top StoriesOn January 16, 2004, Twilight Wish granted the first wish to Margaret Turner, a nursing home resident in Pennsylvania. Margaret’s son, Isiah, had passed away suddenly and tragically. Because she could not afford the cost of a tombstone, she was forced to bury him in an unmarked grave. When Twilight Wish founder, Cass Forkin, heard Margaret’s sad story, she immediately began to work on making this wish come true. With the help of volunteers and donors, including DeChristopher Brothers who donated the gravestone, Margaret’s wish came true on a cold, snowy morning.