The Sunshine Foundation has made dreams come true for Eliza Antkowiak and Emmanuel Franco, two children with unique challenges. Eliza, a girl with Down syndrome from Wrightsville, PA, and Emmanuel, a boy with severe autism from Allentown, PA, both enjoyed magical trips to Central Florida theme parks with their families.
Eliza’s mother shared how much her daughter loved the character dining experiences, “Eliza had a blast! The character lunch and dinner we did were probably her favorites. She got to sit in the air conditioning and the characters came to her. Living the dream.”
While Emmanuel’s mother expressed gratitude for the unforgettable time her family had at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village and the theme parks, “Thank you so much for choosing Manny to have his dream. Manny didn’t want to go home he wanted to stay at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village he enjoyed golfing, and swimming and he enjoyed his Pirate cottage. Manny and my whole family are so appreciative, and words can’t describe how thankful we are to spend time together and embrace the beautiful Florida scenery. The parks we went to Manny enjoyed seeing his characters and riding on the rides. This dream trip was so much fun and will cherish forever! Thank you to everyone who made this trip happen for Manny.”
Read: Michigan Child With Special Needs Receives Spectacular Dream Trip To Florida
The Sunshine Foundation grants dreams to children with a variety of severe chronic illnesses and conditions, including Trisomy 21, autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and more. However, they rely on the generosity of donors to make these dreams a reality, often providing experiences that other organizations might not be able to offer.
Eliza and Emmanuel’s dreams were made possible thanks to the support of the Sunshine Foundation All-Volunteer Hammonton Wishing Well NJ Chapter, Glory Days Grill, Kathy Davis Studios, Stroudsburg High School, and other generous donors.
The most popular dream request is a trip to the Central Florida theme parks, with a stay at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village. However, the organization also fulfills a variety of other wishes, such as shopping sprees, technology gifts, adaptive equipment, and family trips.
Since 1976, the Sunshine Foundation has brought joy to over 42,500 children across the United States. It is proud to be a top-rated charity recognized for its transparency and impact.
To learn more about the Sunshine Foundation or to make a donation, please visit their website at www.sunshinefoundation.org.
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