FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sunshine Foundation Dream Village
5400 CR 547 North ● Davenport, FL 33837
Phone: (800) 457-1976 ● Fax (863) 424-9105
http://www.sunshinefoundation.org/
For more information, contact:
Rich Mergo, Director of Development
rmergo@sunshinefoundation.org
Sunshine Foundation Takes Advantage of the Longest Day of Sunshine
to Answer the Dreams of Chronically Ill Children From Coast to Coast
The Foundation Launches “Day of Sunshine” June 21, 2010
The Sunshine Foundation announces “Day of Sunshine,” a national event to raise awareness and funding to answer the dreams of chronically ill children. This event will take place on June 21, 2010, the first day of summer and the longest day of sunshine. “Day of Sunshine” will dawn with the Foundation’s Text2Give mobile giving donation drive, (Text SUN to 85944 to donate $5), include the unveiling of the Foundation’s colorful new logo, and feature the planting of sunflowers throughout the Country in honor of the special joy that children bring to our lives.
The Sunshine Foundation is the original wish granting organization, founded in 1976, with a mission to answer the dreams of chronically ill, physically challenged and abused children ages three to eighteen. Serving children throughout the United States, the Sunshine Foundation is the only national children’s charity that does not limit its services to children who are terminally ill or have life threatening illnesses. After answering more than 34,000 dreams, the organization has a new vision to more than double the number of dreams answered over the next five years from 316 to 700 children served per year. The children’s program receives 84.6% of Sunshine’s donations.
The Foundation’s most requested dream features Central Florida’s Dream Village, owned and operated by the Sunshine Foundation. Each week families stay at the Dream Village during their visit to the theme parks. Because the most requested dream of the children is to go to Disney World, SeaWorld and/or Universal Studios, the Dream Village opened in 1990. The Village sets on 22 acres just 15 miles from Disney World and features nine fairytale-themed cottages, a handicap accessible playground, wheelchair compatible Olympic-sized swimming pool and a miniature golf course.
“The Day of Sunshine plans to involve the media across the country, as well as families and supporters of the Sunshine Foundation, corporate partnerships and the general public on behalf of the almost 100 children waiting for their dreams to be realized,” says Kate Sample, Foundation President. “Our goal is that through awareness and our text2give campaign, we can answer the dreams of at least fifteen children on our waiting list, representing one child per hour of sunshine on June 21.”
For more information, contact Rich Mergo, Director of Development at (800) 457-1976, rmergo@sunshinefoundation.org or visit www.sunshinefoundation.org
