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 S., 77, & Phyllis V., 86, Pittsburgh, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellTwo Pittsburgh seniors who share a friendly NFL rivalry had their wish to attend the recent Steelers vs. Browns game granted, thanks to the Allegheny County chapter of Twilight Wish Foundation. Phyllis Varga, 86, loves the Pittsburgh Steelers and John Swidarski, 77, is a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan. Both are residents of Sheptytsky Arms, a low-income housing facility for seniors in Pittsburgh. Neither Varga or Swidarski have ever seen their favorite teams play in person and cannot afford it on their own. Swidarski, an Army veteran, is very active in his church and helps make pierogis every week. He is also active in his community, serving as Vice President of the Sheptytsky Arms Resident Council. Varga is also very active in the community, volunteering at her church and with Meals on Wheels. They had a great time at the Steelers – Browns game on Sunday, November 15th.
Dale C., 70, Erie, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellDale Coates, 70, a resident of Erie, PA, recently had his wish for an adjustable bed granted by our Erie, PA chapter. Dale has a long history of back pain that was not totally relieved with surgery. He needed an adjustable bed, but could not afford one on his fixed income. Dale was a single father after his wife died. He also volunteeered in the community in the Elk and Moose clubs in his home town. Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, Dale received his adjustable bed!
Ida D., 85, Smithton, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellIda Denitti, a resident of Smithon, Pennsylvania, had her wish for a stairlift granted, thanks to the Westmoreland County chapter of Twilight Wish and A+ Stairlifts of Pittsburgh. Denitti, 85, has lived her life giving of herself to others. She volunteered at Excela Health Frick Hospital for over 30 years. In addition to her years at the hospital, she was a volunteer with the Smithon Ambulance Service, serving as treasurer, committee chairperson, ambulance attendant and dispatcher. Denitti also enjoys crocheting and puts this talent to good use making tiny blankets to accompany stuffed animals that are delivered to shut-ins and others who are ill to bring them comfort and cheer. She also crochets lap pads for nursing home residents and sends items to soldiers overseas. Denitti has had six surgeries on her knees and it has become very difficult for her to go up and down the stairs. Because her bathroom and bedroom are on the second floor, a stairlift will greatly improve her quality of life. A huge thank you to Carl D’Alicandro, owner of A+ Stairlifts for donating both the lift and his time installing it.
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.
Lillian B., 74, Birmingham, AL
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellLillian Buchanan, a resident of Birmingham, Alabama, will have her simple wish for a lift chair granted, thanks to our Alabama chapter. Buchanan, 74, has several medical issues including heart and pulmonary problems and rheumatoid arthritis and has great difficulty getting up from a regular chair. A lift chair would greatly improve her quality of life, reducing the amount of pain she has to endure just getting up from a sitting position. For over 25 years, Buchanan was the housekeeping supervisor for a local senior living community with 240 units. Although she is retired, she still worries about the residents living there and keeps in touch with many of them. Her nominator, friend and past co-worker Judy Murphree, wrote about her: “Lil has been a true inspiration in my life, not only as a co-worker, but as a true friend. Even though she is now disabled, she still checks on some of the residents where she worked. She deserves so much for giving of herself, unselfishly, then and now.” Her wish for a lift chair was granted on Thursday, October 15th. This is the first wish granted by the Alabama chapter.
Cheryl R., Lima, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellCheryl Rivers, a resident of Fair Acres Geriatric Center in Lima, Pennsylvania, recently had her wish to go out for lunch and a shopping trip to WalMart granted, thanks to the generosity of several donors. Rivers was nominated by her social worker who wrote that “she is a loving, kind-hearted person and would thrive with this opportunity.” Rivers loves clothes, but because of her situation and limited income, she has not been able to enjoy a shopping trip in a long time. Rivers was treated like a queen for the day: she had her nails and her done, was picked up in a limo, enjoyed lunch at Applebee’s and then shopped at WalMart. Thank you to all who made this simple wish come true for such a special person.
Harriet M., 74, Waterford, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellHarriet McClellan, 74, a resident of Waterford, PA, recently had her wish for a lift chair granted by the Erie, PA chapter of Twilight Wish. Harriet has been active in her church since the young age of 12. She sang in the choir and taught first grade religion. As a secular Franciscan, she believes and lives by the idea that you help others when they need help. Harriet has several health issues which require her to elevate her feet, but she had trouble getting to an upright position on her own. She loves her new lift chair and how it allows her to stand up with such ease.
Alice S., 81, Fairless Hills, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellAlice Sanders, a resident of Fairless Hilles, Pennsylvania, recently had her wish for a new bed granted. Sanders, 81, lives on a limited income in subsidized senior housing. Before having her heart attack, Sanders was an active member of her church and sang in the choir. In addition, she is on the council in her facility. She desperately needed a new mattress, but couldn’t afford it on her own. Her simple wish was granted on September 30th. Special thanks to Sleepys for discounting the mattress and to volunteer Nickie Trottier for helping to grant this wish and donating bedding.
Jerri R., 82, Indianapolis, IN
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellJerri Rose and Steven Coleman, both residents of Washington Healthcare Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, had their wish to get married granted, thanks to a partnership between the Indiana chapter of national nonprofit Twilight Wish Foundation and American Senior Communities. Rose and Coleman have formed a strong bond and spend most of their time together when possible. They wished to be legally married and live together, but aren’t physically or financially able to plan their wedding on their own. Both Rose and Coleman are active within the facility’s community and go out of their way to help others. The staff at Washington Healthcare Center, in conjunction with the Indiana chapter of Twilight Wish, worked hard to organize a beautiful wedding for them, complete with wedding cake, flowers, minister and guests.