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.
Alyma W., 92, Ocean City, MD
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Michelle BowrenWith the help of a donation from a generous donor Alyma’s has received her lift chair!
Alyma is an extremely independent person and hates asking for help to get out of her chair. She has been the person who takes care of everyone else and used to volunteer at her local senior center when she was more mobile. Her wish is for a lift chair to help keep her independent.
Lorena D., 91, Maynardville, TN
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellLorena DeVault, a resident of Willow Ridge Care & Rehabiliation Center in Maynardville, TN had her wish to see her childhood friend, Billie Rose Shockley, one more time granted, thanks to a partnership between Twilight Wish and SunBridge Healthcare. Lorena lived next door to Billie Rose and her brother, the late country singer Chet Atkins, years ago until Billie Rose moved to Nashville. Despite the distance between them, they have remained close throughout the years, but haven’t seen each other in a long time. Lorena is now 91 and Billie Rose is 80 and battling cancer. They were reunited on November 2, 2012 when Lorena traveled to Nashville with family members for the weekend. Pictured, Lorena and Billie Rose enjoying each other’s company and dinner.
Daphne S., 83, Brownsville, KY
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellDaphne with former UK coach Joe B. HallDaphne Sanders, a resident of Edmonson Care & Rehabilitation Center in Brownsville, Kentucky, had her wish to visit to watch her beloved Kentucky Wildcats play at Rupp Arena granted, thanks to a partnership between Twilight Wish Foundation and the operator of her care center, SunBridge Healthcare. Sanders, 83, is a lifelong Wildcats’ fan, watching every game with other residents and staff in her care center. Sanders, a former resident of Louisville, has been watching Kentucky basketball games since the 1950’s and she and her son shared a special bond because of their love of the game and the Kentucky team. They had always talked about going to Rupp Arena to see the team play in person, but her son enlisted and life was busy for both of them. Sadly, her son passed away last year without them ever fulfilling their dream of going to Lexington to see their beloved Wildcats play in person. Thanks to the partnership between SunBridge Healthcare and Twilight Wish Foundation, Sanders’ wish was granted when she and Scott Lindsey of Edmonson Care & Rehabilitation, saw the Wildcats play a preseason game at Rupp Arena on Wednesday, October 24th. Special thanks to Rafferty Restaurant & Bar in Lexington for treating them to lunch before the game and for going out of their way to make Sanders’ wish so special. Thanks also to former Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall who spent time talking to Sanders during the game. Click here to see coverage of this wish from ABC 36 in Lexington, KY.
WWII Veteran Has Wish to Attend Marine Reunion Granted
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellJames 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.
Ethel S., 72, Philadelphia, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Michelle BowrenEthel is a former foster parent who raised her granddaughter from the age of 4 after her daughter passed away. She now loves to spend time with her great-grandson who is her “pride and joy”! She loves spending time with him outside of her house, but she relies on a scooter to get around. Her scooter needed new batteries which she could not afford to replace. We received a donation of $350 from a generous sponsor to buy new ones for her!
Johanna M., 69, JimThorpe, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Michelle BowrenThanks to a generous donation, Johanna’s wish has come true!
Johanna is a Stage 4 cancer patient who needs to have her spirits lifted. Her daughter has cared for her and helped her through this difficult time. Johanna wishes to spend the day with her daughter having a makeover and enjoying a dinner out. They do not have the extra money to spend on themselves, so this wil be a special treat.
Joyce W., 89, Buckingham, PA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellJoyce Walton, who will turn 89 on October 18, 2012, recently had her twilight wish for a visit from the Mummers at her nursing home granted. Ever since Joyce was a little girl, she has loved watching parades and, in particular, loves watching the Mummers perform in the parade on New Year’s Day. To celebrate her birthday and honor her mother, her daughter, Sandra Walton, submitted a wish application on her behalf. Sandra asked if Twilight Wish could arrange a visit by a string band during a party celebrating her mother’s birthday. Thanks to the Uptown String Band who donated their time and talents, Joyce’s Twilight Wish came true on Saturday, October 13th when the band performed during a party at her nursing facility, Buckingham Valley Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Bonnie G., 74, Austin, MN
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellBonnie Grundmeier, 74, recently had her wish for a new television granted, thanks to Twilight Wish Foundation and many generous donors. Betty, a nursing home resident, is battling Alzheimer’s and wished for a new television for her room.
Leslie A., 86, Chicago, IL
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellLeslie is in hospice care in a nursing facility in Chicago. Her husband passed away last November and neither of her children live nearby. Her daughter who lives in California wished to spend Leslie’s 86th birthday with her so that she was not alone, but because she lives on a fixed income, could not afford the flight on her own. Twilight Wish volunteer Sandy Guinan was able to donate a flight certificate and arranged for Leslie’s daughter to fly out to spend several days with her, arriving on her birthday! Thank you, Sandy, for once again making a deserving senior’s wish come true!
Patricia V., 84, Los Angeles, CA
/in Fulfilled Wishes/by Mary FarrellPatricia Vance, an elderly nursing facility resident, had her wish for a shopping trip granted, thanks to the Southern California chapter of Twilight Wish Foundation. Vance, 84, has many fond memories of shopping with her daughter years ago, but has been unable to do so because it is difficult for her to leave her facility. Like so many other seniors, Vance lives on a fixed income and has little left at the end of the month for any extras.
Vance, a mother of two, also raised her grandsons. She devoted her whole life to her family and was involved in her children’s schools and extra-curricular activities. Vance also volunteered for her church and felt that she was “too blessed to spend any money on herself.” Her simple wish for a shopping trip was granted by Crista Sullivan and Kelly Shemonis of the Southern California chapter of Twilight Wish on Saturday, September 22, 2012. Sullivan and Shemonis treated her to a day of shopping and lunch at a Chinese restaurant. This is the first wish granted by the newly-formed Southern California chapter.