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.
Gilbert T., 73, Shreveport, LA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellGilbert Tull, 73, a resident of Shreveport, Louisiana, had his wish to meet his half-brother in person for the first time granted, thanks to Twilight Wish Foundation. Tull, a widower with three children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, was a chaplain in the Marine Corps. He still conducts bible study groups in his local V.A. hospital, nursing homes and public library. He is also very involved in his church, doing prayer ministry, singing in the choir and as a soloist. When Tull was a young boy, his parents divorced and his father moved to California, remarried and had another son. Although the two brothers talk frequently on the phone, they have never met in person. They met for the first time Monday, November 25, 2013 when younger brother Glen Tull traveled from his home in California to Shreveport, Louisiana to spend a week with his brother. Click here to read the full story in the Shreveport Times.
Steven K., Doylestown, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellSteven Korngut is a resident of Golden LivingCenters in Doylestown. An avid reader and writer, he spends his days writing in his journal and takes his writing very seriously. Due to his medical situation, he is unable to leave the facility to go to the library or book store and cannot use a computer to do research. His wish for a set of encyclopedias came true on Thursday, September 19, 2013 when Twilight Wish representatives delivered two donated sets of encyclopedias to the nursing facility. In addition, Patricia Gallagher, affectionately known as the “Flower Lady” delivered bouquets of flowers to the residents. Gallagher, a resident of Chalfont, collects day-old bouquets at area Trader Joe’s locations and distributes them to nursing home residents. She has delivered over 3,200 bouquets since beginning her deliveries in May of 2013.
Hinda S., 68, Los Angeles, CA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Michelle BowrenThanks to our Southern CA Chapter and a generous donor, Hinda’s wish came true!
Hinda is a disabled senior who volunteered at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children for 19 years. She also enjoyed sending cards to service men and women before her eyesight deteriorated. She would like to be able to connect with her friends using her computer, but due to her eyesight she cannot read the screen. Her wish is for a new computer with a large screen.
Paul D., 69, Foley, AL
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellPaul Diamond, 69, a resident of Foley, Alabama recently had his wish for hearing aids granted. Paul lost his hearing after a drop of weld fell into his ear when he was working as a milright years ago. With his hearing getting worse, Paul struggled to hear conversations with friends and family and needed the sound on the television and radio turned all the way up. Thanks to generous donors and Alabama Hearing & Balance Associates, his wish was granted.
“We don’t know how to express our gratitude for everything Twilight Wish did for Paul!” said Colleen, his wife. “His attitude changed almost immediately and he can’t wait to go to the library on Monday for his volunteer job to show off his new hearing!” Thanks to all who donated to make this wish come true!
Three Doylestown Seniors Ride in Blimp!
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellThree elderly Doylestown residents had their wish to ride in a blimp granted, thanks to Twilight Wish Foundation and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (HBCBSNJ). Marion Soloski, Jim Maxwell, and Doris Myers, all in their 80s and all residents of Wesley Enhanced Living in Doylestown, were granted their wish on Saturday, August 24, 2013. They soared high above the Northern New Jersey landscape and were able to see the Manhattan skyline and Delaware Water Gap from the blimp, one of only 25 in the entire world.
This wish was made possible through the charitable ride program of the HBCBSNJ blimp. For 16 years, the Horizon blimp has provided community support through donations and partnerships with charitable organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Central and South Jersey, and Boys & Girls Clubs of New Jersey. This year, the Horizon blimp is devoting a part of its schedule to surveying, documenting, and celebrating the Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts from its “blimp-eye view.”
Special thanks to Steve Brown of Looking Glass Photography for taking such amazing photos of the wish!
Dot H., 91, Doylestown, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellDorothy “Dot” Hartranft recently had her wish to celebrate her 91st birthday with friends at Perkins Restaurant granted, thanks to Twilight Wish Foundation. Hartranft has been a resident of the Golden LivingCenter in Doylestown for over three years. Born and raised in Bucks County, she is the proud mother to three sons and has nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. In addition to raising her family, she worked for many years as a telephone operator. After she retired, she made it her mission in life to help others in her community who lived alone, serving as a companion, personal shopper or dinner date, whatever she could do to make someone’s life happier.
Her simple wish to celebrate her birthday with friends at her favorite restaurant was granted on Wednesday, August 21st at the Perkins in Doylestown. Hartranft and her friends are all residents of the Golden LivingCenter and need assistance to leave the facility.
“This might seem like such a small thing to most people,” said Hartranft. “But to me, this is so special.”
Special thanks to Perkins who donated the cost of her meal and sent her home with a package of her favorite muffins. Thanks also to donor Lori Radel who covered the cost of breakfast for Hartranft’s dining companions. Finally, thanks to Steve Brown of Looking Glass Photography for the great photos of Dot’s wish.
Golden LivingCenter Residents, Doylestown, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellThe beloved mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies, the Phillie Phanatic, recently paid a surprise visit to the residents of the Golden LivingCenter in Doylestown, thanks to Twilight Wish Foundation and to At Home Certified Senior Healthcare who funded the wish.
Because baseball and the Phillies are an important part of the day to day activities at the facility, the residents thoroughly enjoyed the visit from their favorite mascot. The Phanatic entertained the residents with his trademark antics while they enjoyed water ice and soft pretzels. Special thanks to At Home Certified Senior Healthcare of Doylestown for their generous donation which made this wish granting possible. Thanks also to Rita’s Water ice for donating water ice, to Giant of Doylestown for donating a cake, and to the Phillies for donating souvenirs for the residents. Finally, thanks to Steve Brown of Looking Glass Photography for the wonderful photos of the event.
Robert S., 73, Apple Valley, CA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellRobert Smillie, a 73 year-old Army veteran, had his simple wish for new carpeting granted, thanks to the Southern California chapter of Twilight Wish Foundation. Smillie, who is a disabled amputee with a prosthetic leg, spends most of his time in his home. The carpeting in his home was worn and frayed, with many holes. His wife, Carol, who nominated him for the wish was afraid that he would trip and fall.
This wish was granted on July 24, 2013 thanks to the generosity of the staff of Sierra Hall at the University of Nevada in Reno who raised the money to grant this wish and to The Home Depot of Apple Valley who discounted the cost of the new carpeting for the Smillie’s. Southern California chapter co-directors Kelly Shemonis and Crista Sullivan were there for the carpet installation and to present Smillie with a wish certificate.
“Your kindness cannot be expressed in words,” said Carol Smillie. “When you spend 90% of your time in your home, having new carpeting is very special.”
Bobby K., 79, Candler, NC
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellBobby King, a resident of Candler, NC, recently had his wish for a riding lawn mower granted, thanks to Twilight Wish. King, who is nearly 80, takes great pride in maintaining his property in rural North Carolina. He and his wife have lived in the same house for nearly 50 years and King still mows his grass with a push mower. Because of his age, it was getting more and more difficult for him to manage on his own. He always wanted a riding mower, but because of his limited income, could not afford one. King is well known in his neighborhood for his generosity. He and his wife took in their adopted daughter in 2007 when her mother died, raising her until she graduated in 2012. King and his wife Brenda are also very involved in their church and hold weekly prayer meetings at their house. His wish for a riding mower was granted on Monday, July 22, 2013. Special thanks to Lowe’s of West Asheville who greatly discounted the cost of the mower for King. For the coverage on WLOS, click here.
Priscilla W. and Betty C., Doylestown, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellTwo Doylestown senior citizens had their wish to ride in an airplane granted during Doylestown Airport’s annual “Celebration of Flight” open house on Saturday, June 1, 2013. Priscilla Weir and Betty Costello, both residents of Wesley Enhanced Living in Doylestown, enjoyed a plane ride over the scenic Bucks County countryside.