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.
John M., 84, Westhampton, NY
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellJohn McCabe, 84, a resident of Westhampton, NY, had his wish for an electric wheelchair granted, thanks to our New York chapter. John, a permanent resident of Westhampton Care Center, wished for an electric wheelchair which will allow him to navigate on his own and maintain some independence. It will also give him the freedom to leave the facility and take part in activities that he currently cannot do because he has to rely on others to get around. John served in the Coast Guard during the Korean War on the USS Vance. In addition, he gave generously of his time, talents and resources to many in the community throughout his lifetime. He is a 50-year member of the Riverhead Lions Club, served on the board of directors for Riverhead Library and is past president of Foxwood Village in Calverton. In addition, he was very involved in St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church, serving as lector and Eucharistic minister. His wish was granted on Thursday, November 17, 2016.
Mary T., 94, Brooklyn, NY
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellMary Thomas, 95, a resident of Brooklyn, will have her simple wish for a room makeover granted, thanks to our Long Island, New York chapter. Thomas was recently discharged from a nursing facility and now lives in the ground floor of her former home. She is homebound and requires 24-hour care. The room she is living in now is very dark and paneled and needs furnishings. Her case manager nominated her to have a room makeover to make her more at home and comfortable. New York chapter director James Ciervo and volunteers transformed Thomas’ room from dingy to warm and cozy. Thomas received a new bed, dresser, easy chair, and more, plus a television that she can actually see. This room makeover took place on Tuesday, July 5th at her home.
Judith P., 71, Enfield, CT
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellJudith Partridge, a resident of St. Joseph’s Residence in Enfield, CT, had her wish for a power wheelchair granted, thanks to our Long Island, NY chapter. Partridge has several medical conditions and is wheelchair bound. Her only method of getting around was using a manual wheelchair so she either had to rely on others to push her around or had to use her feet to push the chair herself. Partridge served in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army as a medical specialist working in physical therapy. After her discharge, she belonged to the American Legion and was involved in supporting other veterans. A generous donor bought the chair for her and James Ciervo, our Long Island, NY chapter director delivered it on Thursday, March 10th.
Linda G., 78, New York, NY
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellLinda Gorelik, 78, a resident of New York City, had her simple wish for a new television granted, thanks to the New York chapter of national nonprofit Twilight Wish Foundation. Gorelik is housebound because of several medical issues and lives alone with her cat who she rescued as a kitten, finding her on the street shortly after the September 11th attack. With no family or friends near her, Gorelik relies on her favorite shows and movies for entertainment. Her old television no longer works and, because she lives on a fixed income, Gorelik couldn’t afford to replace it on her own. She worked for years in advertising, creating several public service campaigns, including one for The International Center in New York. Her wish for a new television was granted on October 28, 2015.
Hermine N., 85, Queens Village, NY
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellHermine Nelson, 85, a resident of Queens Village, NY, recently had her simple wish for a new stove granted, thanks to our Long Island, NY chapter. Hermine, a widow, lives on her own in the house she and her husband bought 51 years ago. She has been without a stove since April when her 51-year-old stove finally stopped working. Hermine has been using a microwave to cook her meals, but she loves to cook and misses having a stove. Because she lives on a fixed income, she could not afford to replace it on her own. Chapter director James Ciervo delivered her new stove which was donated by a generous donor.
Jacqueline, 73, Greenlawn, NY
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellJacqueline Dorman, 73, will be discharged from a nursing facility shortly, but doesn’t have a bed rail on her bed at own. She lives on her own and needs the bed rail in order to remain somewhat independent. Because she lives on a fixed income, she couldn’t afford the cost of the bed rail. Thanks to the Long Island, NY chapter of Twilight Wish, her wish was granted on June 11, 2013 when chapter director, James Ciervo, delivered her bed rail to her. Jacqueline volunteered throughout her lifetime, as a 4H leader, in her local VA hospital and ran a psychiatric crisis hotline for eight years.
Tom C., 72, Newton, NJ
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellThomas Conklin, 72, has been fighting multiple sclerosis for over 38 years, living in his nursing facility for the last 11 of those years. Because of the progression of his disease, he can no longer operate his power chair and has not been able to leave the building since August of 2011. Knowing that a specialized wheelchair that would allow him to return to the activities he once enjoyed, his wife, Linda, submitted the wish request to Twilight Wish on his behalf.
On May 1, 2013, Conklin was surprised when his new wheelchair was delivered to his nursing facility, courtesy of Twilight Wish Foundation! Escorted by a cavalcade of motorcycle riders from Warriors’ Watch and the American Legion, Twilight Wish’s Long Island, NY chapter director, James Ciervo, delivered the new specialized wheelchair to Conklin.
Conklin is an Air Force veteran and father of four boys. When first diagnosed years ago, he was in denial and continued working three jobs in order to support his family. The new wheelchair will allow Conklin some mobility, giving him the opportunity to take “walks” around the grounds of the facility with his wife who is also a resident and wheelchair-bound. Special thanks to Robert Mosco of Port Jefferson, NY who donated the wheelchair.
Alice W., 91, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellThe Long Island, NY chapter of Twilight Wish Foundation recently granted a wish for 91-year-old Alice Wengertner. A mother of five children, Wengertner was widowed at a young age when her husband died at the age of only 42. Wengertner worked three jobs to support her young children. Now 91, she lives alone and suffers from macular degeneration, leaving her unable to see her small screen television. Her neighbor submitted the wish application on her behalf, writing “Alice is a wonderful person and so deserving. Because she is alone at night, it would be wonderful for her to have a television that she can actually see.” Thanks to LINY chapter director, James Ciervo who raised the money to buy the television through a raffle, her wish was granted on May 12, 2012 when she received her new large screen television.
Gerrie W., 83, Latham, NY
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellGeraldine “Gerrie” Westerberg, 83, recently had her wish for a motorized wheelchair to replace her broken one granted, thanks to Twilight Wish Foundation. James Ciervo, the Long Island/New York regional chapter director for Twilight Wish presented Westerberg with her gently used motorized wheelchair and a certificate honoring her at her nursing facility on December 29, 2010. Special thanks to Edward Ciervo and All County Ambulette for their assistance in transporting the wheelchair from Long Island to Latham, New York.
An only child who never married, Westerberg worked in the insurance industry her whole life and took care of her sick parents until they passed away in 2003. Disabled at the age of 50, she was unable to live on her own after they passed away and moved to a nursing facility run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Latham, New York. Westerberg relied on a donated wheelchair to remain somewhat independent, participating in social activities, volunteering and partaking in daily prayers with the sisters. Unfortunately, her old wheelchair was unreliable and often broke down, leaving Westerberg dependent on staff to take her to activities, meals, and prayers. Her “new” wheelchair will allow her to maintain her independence and dignity. Gerrie’s wish was profiled on News Channel 13 in Albany.
Joan F., 72, New York
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by TWF Site AdministratorJoan was widowed at 49 and raised her mentally handicapped son alone. She has battled liver, gall bladder, and bladder cancer and is presently cancer-free. Joan has wanted a computer for years but could not afford one. She felt as if the world was passing her by.
Joan wished for a laptop computer, and her wish was granted by the Long Island, New York Chapter in August 2008.