Walmart Foundation presented Sunshine Foundation with a grant for $24,000 to help with the Children’s Dream Program that was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 100 children and their families that were approved and scheduled pre-pandemic are still waiting for their dream trip to Central Florida to be rescheduled.
“I loved hearing about the wonderful things you do for families,” said Tara McQueen, Greater Philadelphia market coordinator, Walmart. “I am so happy that we were able to give you this grant.”
Sunshine Foundation answers dreams to children from income-limited families with lifelong chronic conditions, such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, profound low-functioning autism, Down syndrome, hydrocephalus, severe epilepsy, Sickle Cell Disease, blindness, deafness and others.
“We are so grateful to the Walmart Foundation for identifying Sunshine Foundation and the children we serve to receive this generous support,” said Sunshine Foundation president Kate Sample. “Thank you for helping us to spread sunshine.”
To make these dreams a reality for children that may be turned away from other wish-granting organizations that require a life-threatening or critical diagnosis, Sunshine Foundation relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations.
Sunshine Foundation’s most common request is a Magical Dream to visit Disney World, Legoland, SeaWorld and Universal Studios while choosing to stay at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village near Disney. Sunshine Foundation also answers Special Dreams: shopping sprees, computers and iPads, outdoor playsets, above ground swimming pools, family trips, adaptive tricycles and other special needs equipment, plus many more.
Since 1976, Sunshine Foundation has spread sunshine into the lives of more than 41,900 children throughout the United States. For more information, to refer a child or to make a donation, visit sunshinefoundation.org.
Walmart.org represents the philanthropic efforts of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation. By focusing where the business has unique strengths, Walmart.org works to tackle key social and environmental issues and collaborates with others to spark long-lasting systemic change. To learn more, visit walmart.org or connect on Twitter @Walmartorg.
