The Sunshine Foundation Dream Village is hosting its second annual golf tournament tomorrow, Friday, June 5, at the Orange Lake Resort Legends Course in Kissimmee. The charity event brings together local golfers, community members, and corporate sponsors to raise funds for children living with lifelong chronic illnesses, physical conditions, or trauma from abuse.
The day’s central event will be a “Dream Come True Presentation” at 12:45 p.m., where Wyatt, a local boy living with Level 3 Severe Autism, will be surprised with the news that his specific dream is being granted.
The tournament begins with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start at the course located at 12397 Legends Drive. Media crews, including photographers and videographers, have been invited to cover both the tournament play and Wyatt’s surprise presentation between 12:45 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Founded in 1976, the Sunshine Foundation is a non-profit organization that specializes in answering the dreams of children with severe, lifelong conditions who may not qualify for other wish-granting organizations that strictly require a life-threatening or terminal diagnosis. They serve children with conditions such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hydrocephalus, severe epilepsy, Sickle Cell Disease, blindness, deafness, and profound Level 3 severe autism.
The organization relies heavily on public and corporate donations to fund these trips and to maintain Bill Sample’s Sunshine Foundation Dream Village in nearby Davenport, Florida. The village serves as a specialized, accessible retreat for families during their stays. Since it opened in 1990, the resort has hosted more than 21,000 children across nine fairy-tale-themed cottages, featuring a heated zero-entry swimming pool, a handicap-accessible playground, and a miniature golf course.
According to organizational data, the most frequently requested dream is a family trip to Central Florida to visit regional attractions like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND Florida, Kennedy Space Center, and local beaches.
To date, the Sunshine Foundation has granted dreams for more than 44,000 children across the United States. The non-profit currently holds a 4-Star rating on Charity Navigator and an “A” rating from CharityWatch.
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