A local child living with Cerebral Palsy recently returned from a dream vacation to Central Florida’s major theme parks, thanks to a national wish-granting organization and a generous donor.
Silas Owens, of Pace, was granted his “Magical Dream” by the Sunshine Foundation, an organization dedicated to answering the dreams of children with lifelong severe chronic illnesses and conditions.
Silas’ father shared the family’s joy following the trip, emphasizing how much the getaway meant to them.
“Thank you so much for giving my son Silas the gift of a dream through your incredible organization,” Silas’ father said. “This trip was truly unforgettable. Watching Silas light up meeting the characters and enjoying the rides meant everything to us. As a family, we cherished every moment together and created memories that will last a lifetime. We are so grateful to the sponsor for making this possible, we will forever hold this experience close to our hearts.”
The Sunshine Foundation specifically serves children from income-limited families who live with severe chronic conditions, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, level 3 severe autism, Down syndrome, hydrocephalus, severe epilepsy, Sickle Cell Disease, blindness, and deafness. The organization fills a unique niche by granting dreams to children who might otherwise be turned away by charities that strictly require a terminal or life-threatening diagnosis.
To fund these trips, the foundation relies entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, and local organizations.
While the charity fulfills a variety of “Special Dreams”—such as adaptive tricycles, iPads, outdoor playsets, and swimming pools—its most requested wish is a trip to Central Florida. These trips allow families to visit Disney World, Universal Studios, Legoland, and SeaWorld while staying at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village, a specialized resort located near Disney.
Since its founding in 1976, the Sunshine Foundation has granted wishes to more than 44,000 children across the United States. The nonprofit currently holds a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator and an “A” rating on CharityWatch.
Those interested in learning more about the organization or contributing to future dreams can find information at www.sunshinefoundation.org.
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