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.
Weikko T., 90, Orange, CA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary Farrell“Toss” Weikko Tossavainen, 90, had his wish to enjoy a belated birthday dinner at the Selanne Steak Tavern in Laguna Beach granted, thanks to the Southern California chapter of Twilight Wish Foundation. Tossavainen, a World War II veteran, is Finnish and very proud of his roots. He had hoped to celebrate his 90th birthday on January 11th at the Selanne Steak Tavern which is owned by Teemu Selanne, former NHL star, known as “the Finnish Flash,” but wasn’t able to get there on his own. Tossavainen is the sole caregiver for his wife and having his wish granted meant a great deal to him. Co-chapter directors Crista Sullivan and Kelly Shemonis accompanied Tossavainen and his wife to dinner where they enjoyed a wonderful dinner. Special thanks to the Selanne Steak Tavern for covering the cost of the group’s dinner.
Ron S., 72, Erie, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellRon Shilling, 72, is a resident of a personal care home in Erie, PA. Ron was always active in sports growin gup and even shot hoops in the backyard with stage IV lung cancer. He has been a positive role model for other residents of his home. Ron is a huge fan of Lebron James and following him throughout his entire career. With the help of his sister, Ron was occasionally able to attend Cavalier games, sitting way up in the “nosebleed” section with his oxygen tank. He wished to meet Lebron James, but with Lebron’s busy schedule he wasn’t able to travel to Erie to meet Ron. Instead, the Cavaliers sent Ron a basket of memorabilia including t-shirts and a bobble head. Ron was extremely excited and appreciative to receive these gifts thanks to our Erie, PA chapter.
Elsie W., 86, Vauxhall, NJ
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellElsie Williams, a resident of South Mountain Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Vauxhall, New Jersey, is having her wish to learn how to read granted. Williams, 86, enjoys looking at magazines in her room, but cannot read them. She wishes to learn how to read so that she can enjoy books and magazines and participate in more activities in her nursing facility. This simple wish for something that most people take for granted will open up the world for Williams. Thanks to volunteer tutor Cheryl Ricei, Williams’ wish to learn how to read is being granted!
Virt H., 77, Shillington, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellTwilight Wish was privileged to grant Virt’s wish to honor his deceased brother, a WWII veteran, by taking his ashes up in a B-17 to release them. Virt’s brother, Vern, was a radio operator and top turret gunner in a B-17 during WWII. According to Virt, his brother was so proud of his service that his dying wish was to take one last flight in a B-17 bomber. Virt’s wish took place during the recent WWII show at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, PA.
William Z., Cottage Grove, WI
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellBill Zitnick, a resident of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, hd his poignant wish for a last vacation with his family granted recently. Zitnick, an Army veteran, loves nature and wildlife and was an avid outdoorsman before he became sick. His family has always been very important to him and he always put the needs of them first. Now in hospice care, he wishes for one last vacation with his wife, his three daughters and his grandchildren. Because of his medical and financial limitations, he and his wife could not afford the cost of the vacation on their own. Thanks to funding received from Volpe & Koenig, P.C.’s IPromise Charitable Giving Fund, Zitnick’s wish for a last family vacation was granted by Twilight Wish when he and his family spent a week at Evergreen Lodge in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin.
Andrew B., 74, Southampton, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellThank you to the Philadelphia Phillies for helping to grant Andrew’s last wish to go to a Phillies game with his family. Andrew, who is 74 and a Veteran, has ALS and is in hospice care. He, his wife, their two daughters and their husbands enjoyed a wonderful day at the ballpark on May 14, 2015.
Residents of James J. Wilson Mercy-Douglass, Philadelphia, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellTwilight Wish recently partnered with Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses’ Association (GAPNA) to grant the simple needs wishes of 60 residents of the James J. Wilson Mercy-Douglass facility in Philadelphia, PA. GAPNA members donated items such as toiletries, coffee, and socks during their pharmacological conference in March in Philadelphia. Twilight Wish staff and GAPNA staff and members delivered gift bags with simple needs items to the 60 low-income residents on May 7, 2015.
Carol R., Telford, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellCarol Ring, a resident of Grundy Manor in Telford, Pennsylvania, recently had her wish to travel to Las Vegas to see her great-niece and great-nephew’s graduations granted. Years ago, Carol helped her niece, a single mother, by providing emotional and caregiving support to her and her three young children. Thanks to Carol’s support, her niece was able to graduate from college and become a teacher while a single parent. Carol had not been able to see them for several years and wished to travel to Las Vegas to see their graduations from nursing school and high school.
Marlene O., 73, North Braddock, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellMarlene Otterman, a 73 year-old resident of North Braddock, PA, had her wish for a new twin mattress and box spring granted, thanks to the Allegheny County chapter of Twilight Wish Foundation and Mattress Firm. Otterman, who lives in low-income senior housing, had used the same old twin bed since she was a child. The mattress is in such bad condition that she could no longer sleep on it and had been sleeping in a chair instead. Because she lives on a fixed income, Otterman could not afford the cost of a new mattress on her own. She has given back to others throughout her life, including teaching bible study at Shady Park Place for the past eight years. Her wish came true during a presentation on Tuesday, April 28th at Mattress Firm in Monroeville. This wish was granted thanks to the generosity of Mattress Firm who donated the mattress and box spring and Speedy Furniture who donated the headboard and nightstand.
Myra B., 69, North Wales, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellMyra Bernstein, 69, is a longtime resident of the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life in North Wales, PA. Myra is disabled and unable to walk, but is a vibrant member of her community, particpating in their glee club, art classes, and exercise programs. She also contributes her literary talents to enrich others’ lives, according to her social worker, Marilyn Frazier. Her seven year-old power chair recently broke and the cost to fix it was essentially the cost of a new chair. Because of her financial situation, she couldn’t afford the cost of a new chair on her own. This wish was granted thanks to two people: our Long Island, NY chapter director, James Ciervo, and donor Tracy Frederick, who donated her father’s gently used power chair after he passed away. A huge thank you also to James for driving the power chair down to Myra’s nursing facility in Pennsylvania from his home in New York. Pictured: James Ciervo with Myra.