Fulfilled Twilight Wishes

Martin M., 94, St. Louis, MO

November 26, 2019/in Fulfilled Wishes

Dr. Martin Luther Mathews, a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, had his wish to travel to Lakewood Church to see Joel Osteen preach granted, thanks to our headquarters chapter. Mathews is a lifelong resident of St. Louis who has spent his years there mentoring and encouraging thousands of youth in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. More than fifty years ago, Matthews and Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine met at a St. Louis city park to talk about how they could help a group of schoolboys compete in a baseball league. In 1960, these two neighborhood coaches founded the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ Club to provide sports, arts, health and educational support to boys in the St. Louis area. Twenty years later, the club began welcoming girls and became the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club. In 1982, President Ronald Regan recognized the co-founders and declared the club to be a national model for how communities can come together to support the underserved. Today, this 501(c)(3) organization serves 3,000 youth directly and 10,000 indirectly each year and has served more than 2 million youth since inception. Mathews continues to serve as Emeritus President, consulting with the club on a routine basis. Now 94, Mathews had one wish: to visit Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas and meet Pastor Joel Osteen. Thanks to many generous donors, Twilight Wish was able to make this special wish come true for this legendary humanitarian. Thanks also to the DoubleTree Houston Greenway Plaza for donating the rooms for their stay in Houston.

Betsy S., 89, Doylestown, PA

November 26, 2019/in Fulfilled Wishes

Betsy Stenhouse, a resident of Harborview Nursing & Rehabilitation in Doylestown, had her wish to be recognized by her former school granted, thanks to our headquarters. Stenhouse, 89, contracted polio when she was a child, which left her disabled. She studied education at West Chester University and began her teaching career in 1952. Stenhouse was the first disabled schoolteacher at the Widener Memorial Industrial Teaching School for Crippled Children in Philadelphia, now known as The Widener Memorial School, teaching there for 27 years.

Stenhouse was very active in her community, starting a support group for others who were also afflicted with polio. In addition, she rescued stray cats near her home and cared for them, spaying and feeding those in need. Stenhouse also worked with local shelters to find homes for those cats in need. To honor her teaching legacy, The Widener Memorial School created an award in her name which was presented to a student at graduation on May 30, 2019. Current principal Harris Gaffin visited Stenhouse at her nursing facility on Friday, October 4^th to present her with a certificate recognizing her for her dedication to teaching. In addition, Gaffin brought many old photos and yearbooks to share with her. Twilight Wish staff presented Stenhouse with another certificate, flowers and a cake and cupcakes to share with other residents there.

Wallace M., 99, Fayette, PA

November 26, 2019/in Fulfilled Wishes

Wallace Mays, a resident of Fayette, Pennsylvania, had his wish for a birthday party for his 99th birthday granted, thanks to Twilight Wish. Mays, a WWII Navy veteran, wished to celebrate this milestone birthday with family. Twilight Wish arranged for all his favorite foods to be served at the party and made sure it was a wonderful day with his family.

James F., 66, Scranton, PA

September 5, 2019/in Fulfilled Wishes

James Freethy, a resident of Scranton, PA, had his wish for a motorized scooter granted, thanks to a generous donor who donated the scooter. Thanks also to Chairman of the Board, James Ciervo, who drove from Long Island to Media, PA to pick up the scooter. He then delivered it to James in Scranton. James is an amputee who needed a scooter to get around.

Betty M., 78, Warrington, PA

September 5, 2019/in Fulfilled Wishes

Betty Medvic, 78, a resident of Neshaminy Manor in Warrington, PA, had her wish for transportation to her grandson’s wedding granted, thanks to Twilight Wish. Betty is in a wheelchair and needed ambulance transport, but her family couldn’t afford it. In addition to transporting her back and forth to the wedding, we surprised her with her favorite perfume!

Luther Woods, Hatboro, PA

September 5, 2019/in Fulfilled Wishes

Thanks to funding from our “Tuesdays with Lori” legacy program, we were able to grant the wish of residents at Luther Woods in Hatboro, PA. Their old sewing machine had broken and it needed to be replaced. We presented Eileen, a seamstress extraordinaire, with the new sewing machine.

Charles W., 92, Seneca, SC

September 4, 2019/in Fulfilled Wishes

Charles Williamson, a resident of Seneca, South Carolina, had his wish to return to Germany where he served during World War II granted, thanks to Twilight Wish. Charles, 93, was a tank driver in the Army’s 3^rd Armored Division and was stationed in Germany, near the Dachau concentration camp. Thanks to generous donors who donated airline miles, we were able to send Charlie and his grandson to Germany. Among the towns they visited were Cologne, where his division was involved in an infamous tank battle with the Germans near the Cologne Cathedral; Dessau, where his division met the Russians; and Schrozberg, where the 3^rd Armored Division stayed (in Bartenstein Castle). This will be the trip of a lifetime for Charlie as he revisits these areas where he served. In addition to his service to country, Charlie has volunteered for years in his community as a long time Sunday school teacher and poll worker.

Neshaminy Manor residents, Warrington, PA

September 4, 2019/in Fulfilled Wishes

Six wheelchair-bound seniors from Neshaminy Manor in Warrington, PA recently had their wish to go to a Phillies game granted, thanks to y Twilight Wish and the Phillies. The residents, along with their Neshaminy Manor caretakers and staff from Twilight Wish, enjoyed a great game on Thursday, June 27^th as the Phillies swept the Mets in the four-game series. All six seniors are huge Phillies fans and watch the games faithfully. Because they are wheelchair-bound and have limited spending money, being able to leave the facility and attend a Phillies game is a huge treat for them.

Al V., 82, Hatboro, PA

June 20, 2019/in Fulfilled Wishes

Al Vasso, a resident of Luther Woods in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, had his wish to visit the Roundhouse one more time granted on May 17, 2019. Al, 82, worked as both a policeman and as a plain clothes detective for the Philadelphia Police Department for many years, working in the District Attorney’s office for some time. While serving an arrest warrant in a taproom, he walked into an armed robbery in progress and was shot twice. Al has received many commendations throughout his career and had the opportunity to work alongside Arlen Specter and Frank Rizzo. To make his day even more special, Al and his family were driven in a Philadelphia police vehicle from his nursing home to the Roundhouse with a police escort. He was welcomed with an honor guard and the Philadelphia Police & Fire Pipes & Drum. The Police Department pulled his old badge number and presented him with a hat with his badge number. Al and his family were given a tour of the building ending with a press conference where he met Commissioner Richard Ross, Jr. and spoke with the media. He was also given photos and mementos of his long career in the police department. Al was then given a tour of both the SWAT and K9 headquarters before enjoying a special lunch at the FOP and a visit to the Police Museum that is housed in the old police academy that he attended. A huge thank you to the Philadelphia Police Department for literally rolling out the “blue carpet” and giving Al a day he will never forget!

Skyland Care Center Residents, Sylva, NC

June 20, 2019/in Fulfilled Wishes

The residents of Skyland Care Center had their wish to have The Chuckwagon Gang perform at their facility granted on May 17, 2019. Many of the residents there love gospel music but, because of medical issues, are unable to leave the facility to attend a concert. Last year, one resident said, after attending a Chuckwagon Gang performance, that she “would love it if she could share what we just heard with all my other friends at the nursing home.” Thank you to The Chuckwagon Gang for discounting the cost of their performance and to our donors for helping make this wish come true!

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.

Fulfilled Twilight Wishes

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