Sunshine Foundation kicked off its 2nd annual Summer of Sunshine campaign with a matching gift opportunity from the Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund. Local philanthropists Gene and Marlene Epstein are offering a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $10,000 to help answer the dreams of children with lifelong severe illnesses and conditions. Double your gift by making a donation at sunshinefoundation.org/sos24.
“So grateful to Gene and Marlene Epstein for choosing to help us with our goal to answer the dreams of 10 children this summer. Children like Felicity with Down syndrome who dreams of a Shopping Spree for beautiful new clothes, or Daniel with level 3 severe autism and Tourette syndrome wishing for a Magical Dream to meet Mickey and Minnie at Disney World,” said Kate Sample, Sunshine Foundation president.
The Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund is a private foundation located in Newtown. Its mission is to empower adults, children and families. It has made grants to multiple organizations, such as the Bucks County Opportunity Council, and also provides scholarships to students in need, partnering with the Bucks County Community College Foundation.
Sunshine Foundation, founded in Philadelphia and headquartered in Southampton, answers dreams to children with lifelong, severe, chronic illnesses and conditions such as: spina bifida, cerebral palsy, level 3 severe autism, Down syndrome, hydrocephalus, severe epilepsy, Sickle Cell Disease, blindness, deafness, trauma from abuse and others.
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, family foundations, organizations and corporations.
The most common request is a Magical Dream to visit Legoland Florida, Universal Studios, Disney World and SeaWorld, 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, cruises, adaptive tricycles and other special needs equipment, plus many more.
Since 1976, Sunshine Foundation has spread sunshine into the lives of more than 42,500 children throughout the U.S. It is a Top-Rated Wish-Granting Organization in America, with a 100 percent score on Charity Navigator and “A” Rated on CharityWatch.
