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Veteran Has Wish to Attend Phillies Game Granted

May 3, 2011/in Top Stories/by Mary Farrell

Harold Selvin, 80, a Korean War veteran, had his Twilight Wish to attend a Phillies game with his daughter granted, thanks to Twilight Wish Foundation and the Philadelphia Phillies. Selvin is battling Parkinson’s disease and is wheelchair bound. He is a lifelong Phillies fan who had never had the chance to attend a game at Citizen’s Bank Park. Selvin’s wish came true on Saturday, April 30, 2011 when he attended a game with his daughter, Rochelle Bradley. He couldn’t have asked for a better day; they saw Roy Halladay go the distance once again and beat the Mets! Special thanks to the Phillies organization who donated the handicapped seating tickets for Selvin and his daughter.

Margarette’s Truck Driving Mama Wish

April 14, 2011/in Top Stories/by Robin Kardane

Twilight Wish Is About to Change the Face of Aging!!

Margarette’s Truck Driving Mama Wish

Twilight Wish Foundation is about to change the face of aging with our biggest, most exciting wish ever! Margarette, 82, will finally have her lifelong dream to ride across America in an 18-wheeler fulfilled. She has long wanted to experience the thrill of the open road and be a part of the truck driving world. Twilight Wish has arranged for Margarette to ride shotgun with truck driver Annabella Wood in an 18-wheeler across the country. This wish, which was four years in the making, will begin with a kick-off party at the Dublin Star Diner in Dublin, Pennsylvania before they leave for their two-week adventure. The planned route will take them cross-country to California and then down to Florida to drop Margarette off at her home in Merritt Island, Florida.

Elderly Levittown Woman Has Twilight Wish for New Dentures Granted

March 31, 2011/in Top Stories/by Mary Farrell

Twilight Wish Director of Community Relations, Mary Farrell, presents Regina with her wish certificate.Regina Snyder, an elderly Levittown resident, had her Twilight Wish for new dentures granted, thanks to local nonprofit Twilight Wish Foundation and the generosity of a anonymous Doylestown dentist. Representatives from Twilight Wish presented Snyder with a Twilight Wish certificate in her honor at her last dental appointment on Thursday, March 31, 2011.

Snyder, 82, badly needed new dentures; her lower dentures had not been replaced since 1964 and were loose, affecting her ability to chew and eat certain foods. A resident of low-income senior housing, Snyder could not afford them on her own. Snyder worked throughout her life as a teacher’s aide and grocery store cashier and took care of her husband until his death from cancer. She was forced to retire from her cashier job after a car accident in which she sustained a severe back injury. Because of her age she was not a candidate for surgery and is now in chronic pain and unable to stand for any significant length of time, requiring her to use a walker.

Snyder also volunteered throughout her life in Bristol, serving as manager of the Bristol Township 9-12 year-old girls’ softball team for nine years. After moving into her senior housing center, Snyder served terms as Resident Council treasurer, secretary, vice-president, and president over a 15 year period. Snyder also organized transportation for shopping trips and events for the residents of her facility. Thanks to a generous Doylestown dentist, Snyder’s wish has been granted and she has a beautiful smile again!

JROTC Cadets Honored by Philadelphia Eagles, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Twilight Wish

March 10, 2011/in Top Stories/by Mary Farrell

Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) cadets from South Philadelphia High School were honored for their fundraising efforts during an assembly attended by second quarter honor roll students, members of the Philadelphia Eagles, and representatives from Teva Pharmaceuticals and Twilight Wish Foundation on Tuesday, March 8, 2011.

Last fall, over 700 JROTC cadets from high schools throughout Philadelphia held fundraisers and worked hard to raise money to grant the wishes for 120 veterans of the Coatesville VA Medical Center on November 9, 2010. The high schools included South Philadelphia, Roxborough, Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia Military Academy at Leeds, Elverson, Frankford, Martin Luther King, Bartrum, Overbrook, and Benjamin Franklin. The cadets from South Philadelphia High School raised the most money, totaling $900. Teva Pharmaceuticals, through a collaboration with the Philadelphia Eagles, donated funds to help grant the wishes and also matched the total amount raised by the cadets. As part of that collaboration, former Eagles great, Jeremiah Trotter and several Eagles cheerleaders surprised the students during an assembly and honored them for their hard work.

Cass Forkin, executive director of Twilight Wish, presented the cadets with the first Intergenerational Twilight Wish Award for their efforts in making wishes come true for deserving senior citizens. Keith Lomax, Battalion Commander for South Philadelphia High School, accepted the award on the cadets’ behalf.

Elderly Woman Has Wish for Motorized Wheelchair Granted

February 9, 2011/in Top Stories/by Mary Farrell

Twilight Wish regional director James Ciervo presents Gerrie Westerberg with her Twilight Wish certificate.Geraldine “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.

This is the fifth wish granted to date by the New Y ork chapter under the direction of Ciervo. Twilight Wish would not be able to grant wishes without volunteers, corporate and community involvement and donations. If you are interested in becoming a part of Twilight Wish Foundation, please call James Ciervo at 631-569-2025 or email him at LINY@TwilightWish.org

Retired Nun Has Twilight Wish for New Carpeting Granted

January 3, 2011/in Top Stories/by Robin Kardane

Walt from Tom Adams Window and Carpets (left) and Jennifer Ellsworth from Careminders Home Care (right) with Josephine.Josephine,77, a Pipersville, PA resident and former nun, had her twilight wish for new carpeting granted, thanks to Twilight Wish Foundation, CareMinders Home Care, and Tom Adams Windows and Carpets. Before her marriage, Josephine was a nun in the order of the Sisters of Notre Dame for almost 20 years. After her husband died of cancer, she raised her three children by herself and taught literature and language arts at Gwynned Mercy Academy until her retirement. Her daughter submitted the wish application on her behalf, writing “She is the best mother/inspiration anyone could ask for. She inspires, loves, nurtures and teaches. Many of her former students come back to visit her years later telling her they are in their profession because of her.” Although Josephine is retired, she still substitute teaches at local Catholic schools. The carpeting in her townhome was old and worn and needed to be replaced. Thanks to CareMinders Home Care and Tom Adams Windows and Carpets, Josephine recevied new carpeting in time for Christmas!

Senior Shares Gift

January 3, 2011/in Top Stories/by Robin Kardane

Although her first wish was to visit Las Vegas, instead LaVonne selflessly wished for a holiday luncheon for 15 seniors who live at her apartment complex. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of Sargents Restaurant in Hayden, Idaho, Hayden Crossing Apartments, and The Pacific NW Chapter of Twilight Wish Foundation, LaVonne’s wish was granted on December 29, 2010, at Sargents Restaurant & Lounge in Hayden, Idaho.

Elderly Cancer Patient Wished to Have Beloved Car Painted

December 14, 2010/in Top Stories/by Mary Farrell

Ray Decker with Carlos Young of Maaco with the newly painted car.Ray Decker, 81, had his wish to have his beloved car painted granted, thanks to national nonprofit Twilight Wish Foundation and Carlos Young, owner of Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting in Plano, Texas.

Decker, a resident of Richardson, Texas, is currently battling stage IV colon cancer and undergoing weekly chemotherapy treatments. According to his daughter, Polly Ritter who submitted his wish application, he tries very hard to go about his daily routine and taking care of his 1997 Honda Accord is one of the things he enjoys doing. Decker loves his car dearly, according to Ritter, and having it painted would make him feel better about driving to and from his chemotherapy treatments. Special thanks to Carlos Young of Maaco of Plano, Texas who donated the cost of the paint job for Decker. Thanks also to Twilight Wish volunteer Nicole Deschamps who worked tirelessly to grant this wish! Decker’s wish was the 1,548th wish granted since our founding in 2003.

Elderly Veterans Honored at Wish Granting

December 14, 2010/in Top Stories/by Mary Farrell

JuFormer Philadelphia Eagles’ player Bill Bergey visits with Veterans.nior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) cadets from the Philadelphia School District, in conjunction with Doylestown-headquartered nonprofit Twilight Wish Foundation, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and the Philadelphia Eagles granted the simple wishes of 120 residents of the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center in honor of Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 9, 2010.

Over the past few months, over 700 JROTC cadets from high schools throughout Philadelphia held fundraisers and worked hard to raise money to grant 120 wishes for the veterans. The high schools included South Philadelphia, Roxborough, Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia Military Academy at Leeds, Elverson, Frankford, Martin Luther King, Bartrum, Overbrook, and Benjamin Franklin. Many of the Veterans’ wishes were for simple items including Bibles, radios, books, a chess set, pajamas, stuffed animals, Eagles hats, and rosaries. Teva Pharmaceuticals, through a collaboration with the Philadelphia Eagles, donated funds to help grant the wishes and also matched the total amount raised by the cadets. A group of JROTC cadets, Twilight Wish staff and volunteers, and Teva representatives visited the center and distributed the gifts during a special luncheon honoring and thanking the Veterans for their sacrifices. Just before the gifts were distributed by the cadets, the Veterans were surprised by a visit from Eagles players Bill Bergey and Chad Hall, Swoop, the Eagles mascot, and two Eagles cheerleaders, thanks to the partnership between Teva and the Philadelphia Eagles.

“We’re only NFL players for so long and anything we can give back is just an awesome feeling,” said Hall. “These Veterans are the real heroes, the reason we are here.”

76 year old Jackie realizes life-long dream of becoming an author

November 3, 2010/in Top Stories/by Robin Kardane

Jackie, a resident of Marietta Care and Rehab in Ohio for almost three years, had her wish to have her book published granted thanks to a partnership between Twilight Wish Foundation and SunBridge Healthcare. On October 28, Jackie was the guest of honor at a book signing party. Having her novel, “Then There Were Five (More)” published was a dream come true. She has already begun the sequel.

Twilight Wish Executive Director Cass Forkin and book illustrator Jess Tommassello attended the party where Jackie signed books for her friends and family.

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.

Twilight Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.