Twilight Wish Foundation

Article submitted by Cass Forkin, Gina Furia-Rubel, Laura Fitton.
For more information, they can be reached at 215-766-8775, 877-893-9474 or by e-mail at cassy@twilightwish.org, or visit their website: www.twilightwish.org.

It was just lunch. At a diner. Maybe five dollars each? But the three elderly women carefully counted out their quarters and dollars, trying to pay the check.

It took just one onlooker and a 20 dollar bill slipped to the waitress to illuminate their faces with gratitude and smiles broad enough to pull tears out of their laughing eyes. Their astonishment was overwhelming. Their words, sobering.

"We didn't know there were people like you still out there. We thought you had forgotten us."

This comment became integral in the founding of Twilight Wish Foundation. It was made to Cass Forkin, the founder and executive director a year before the foundation paperwork was filed.

It highlighted that getting by on a low fixed income makes the smallest of treats difficult. A meal at a diner is costly and modest "indulgences" are unattainable luxuries. Life speeds up and one begins to wonder if anyone in the crazy alphabet world of TVs, SUVs and CDs even remembers you.

The Twilight Wish Foundation shows elders that younger generations have not forgotten them. We believe it's time to say "thank you" by bringing joy and smiles into quiet, humble lives. We celebrate the life of someone special by giving them a "thank you" they never expected in the form of a wish come true.

Twilight Wish Foundation's first wish granting event took place on January 16th, 2004.

Margaret's son Isaiah died suddenly and tragically in June of 2003. Eighty-one years old and living in a nursing home, circumstances forced her to bury him in an unmarked grave. We met Margaret during initial research for the Twilight Wish Foundation, and her story became a driving force to make the organization a reality. Thanks to DeChristopher Bros., Inc. and the Mount Moriah Cemetery, Margaret's caretakers and individual donors, Twilight Wish Foundation was finally able to tell her that her prayers had been answered.

Between January and December 2004, over 430 wishes were granted. Including many nursing home wishes which include stuffed animals, blankets, ketchup in a bottle, pictures of nature, children and animals, dinners, treats, harmonicas, CD players, radios, special CD requests, DVD players, etc.

Local Roots, National Vision
Founded in 2003 in Bucks County, PA, Twilight Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to enrich the lives of elders that have served others. Through wish granting and group celebrations, we give our seniors unexpected "thank yous" for time devoted unselfishly to their families' welfare, charitable organizations, and the communities we all share. Volunteers serve as wish granters, fundraisers, special event organizers, and in numerous other functions.

It is expected that the foundation will expand throughout Pennsylvania and into Florida within the next year, and become national, with local chapters, in the years to follow. Eventually the organization could become international, honoring elders around the world. An article in the October 19, 2004 edition of Family Circle under "Women Who Make a Difference" highlighted Twilight Wishes and brought over 650 contacts from all 50 states and 3 international countries that want to start chapters.

Our initial programs include Individual Wish Fulfillments and Group Award Luncheons. As the foundation grows, our mission will remain unchanged but we will offer more to those who lovingly gave of themselves to make us who we are today: our moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, crossing guards, librarians, neighbors and friends.

Make a Wish
Twilight Wish Foundation is accepting and fulfilling wishes as much as funding allows. In our first full calendar year (2004) over 430 wishes were granted. Our web site includes an online wish submission form to make a wish for yourself or for a worthy recipient that you know.

Funding
Twilight Wish Foundation finances its work through individual contributions, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, planned gifts, special events, in-kind donations and profit from sales of Twilight Wish Foundation products. Donations are tax deductible and can be mailed to P.O. Box 1042, Doylestown, PA 18901.

Award Celebrations
We bring together many seniors to celebrate at one time through buffet lunches and dinners complete with door prizes and an award ceremony.

Make a Difference
Sponsor, donate, volunteer your time. There are hundreds of thousands of unmet wishes out there, and only we need your help to grant them before it is too late. There is a volunteer "angel" application on our website.