Sunshine Foundation

As a top-rated children’s charity, Sunshine Foundation answers the dreams and wishes of children, ages three through eighteen, who have severe or profound physical/developmental/intellectual challenges or trauma from physical/sexual abuse, and whose families have limited income. Sunshine Foundation is a unique children’s charity, as it is the only national wish-granting organization that answers the dreams or wishes of children with life-long chronic illnesses or conditions, including level 3 severe autism and Down syndrome. Unlike other charities that typically turn away children because their diagnosis is not considered life-threatening or critical, Sunshine Foundation is proud to serve these deserving children and their income-limited families. In the 1960’s, Philadelphia police officer Bill Sample was assigned to a local children’s hospital. He encountered children with serious illnesses and saw first-hand how these children’s families were burdened not only by mounting medical bills, but also by the frustration of not being able to provide their children’s special dream. In November 1976, Bill decided to make difference. He took out a personal loan and, with the help of others, sent Bobby, struggling with leukemia, and his family to the mountains to spend a week snowmobiling, sledding and simply enjoying what Bobby told his nurse he dreamed of “playing in the snow”. With the support of others, Bill formed Sunshine Foundation, the first wish granting 501c3, and began making dreams come true for children. Bill believed, “Not all children are able to run and play and enjoy life as easily as those who are healthy. Many children are innocent victims of birth defects, accidents and serious illness. Shouldn’t each child know that somebody cares enough to see his or her dream come true?” -Bill Sample

https://sunshinefoundation.org/