The Twilight Wish Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that enriches the lives of elders by granting individual wishes and planning special group celebrations. To qualify, elders must be 68 years of age or older, and have an income of less than 150% of the poverty level. The Twilight Wish Foundation also raises awareness on elder care issues through sponsorship of education programs in the community and through the inclusion of educational articles on the organization website.

Twilight Wish Foundation was founded in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 2003. Chapters also exist in Florida, Ohio, California, Illinois, Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh area), Long Island, New York, Arizona and New Jersey. The eventual goal is to have a Twilight Wish Foundation chapter in every state.

Wishes that are granted can be as simple as providing a pair of gloves to someone in need to providing the expenses needed for someone to take a river cruise with their family. The sky is the limit when it comes to granting a wish. One woman needed a tombstone marker for her son’s grave, and Twilight Wish was able to convince a company that makes the markers to donate the material and the labor. Another woman was able to ride the zamboni during an intermission at a Philadelphia Flyers Hockey game. A Philadelphia resident recently had her life long wish granted when she rode on a float in the 2006 Thanksgiving Day parade in that city. A New Jersey woman recently celebrated her 78th birthday by riding in a bi-plane. Arrangements were made for an 84 year old gentleman who lives in the Bradenton, Florida area to spend the day with a former Chicago Cubs manager. A lifelong fan of the team, he just wanted to talk Cubs baseball with someone who was associated with the team. An older woman who lives in a Fort Myers, Florida Assisted Living facility received two hearing aids from the Twilight Wish Foundation, and this has resulted in having her be able to participate in social activities at the facility, thus greatly improving her overall quality of life. Another Fort Myers older woman had her wish granted in February, 2007 when she went to see the Stars on Ice skating show at Germain Arena and she met with the skaters after the performance. These are just a few examples of the wishes that have been granted.

The Twilight Wish Foundation is looking for volunteers to help in sponsoring and granting wishes for elders and for sponsors to help grant the wishes. If you are interested in volunteering for Twilight Wish, or if you know of someone who has a wish and might be eligible for the program, please contact Executive Director Cass Forkin toll free at 1-877-TWF-WISH (893-9474) or visit the website: www.twilightwish.org.

In addition to serving as the Florida Regional Director for the Twilight Wish Foundation, Helen Hunter, ACSW, CMSW is an independent geriatric social worker consultant and trainer. She is also a writer, and has had numerous articles published in local and national magazines, focusing on elder care and family care issues. Licensed in the states of Connecticut, New York and Florida, she currently lives in Fort Myers, Florida.

Helen Hunter, ACSW, CMSW, is an independent geriatric social worker, consultant and trainer. She is also a writer and has had numerous articles published in local and national magazines focusing on elder care and family care issues. Licensed in the states of Connecticut, New York and Florida, she currently resides in Fort Myers, Florida.

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