Dream Foundation » Giving Life to Final Dreams

DREAM FOUNDATION RECEIVES $6000.00 GRANT FROM CHRISTOPHER & DANA REEVE FOUNDATION FOR END OF LIFE DREAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ALS

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. – DREAM FOUNDATION is proud to announce that it has received a $6000.00 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The award was one of 79 grants totaling over $575,704 awarded by the Reeve Foundation to nonprofit organizations nationwide that provide more opportunities, access, and daily quality of life for individuals living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers. Conceived by the late Dana Reeve, the program has awarded over 2,700 grants totaling over $20 million since 1999.

Dream Foundation will utilize the grant to fulfill final Dreams for those with ALS within both its Dream Granting program and its Dreams for Veterans program.

“We are honored to receive such a gracious award from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation,” says Dream Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Kisa Heyer. “These funds will help fulfill end-of-life Dreams for our Dreamers with ALS. Many Dreams are as simple as paying a heating bill to relieve financial stress or covering weekly massages to relieve the physical stress of the disease. We are thankful to the foundation for their generous contribution and excited about our new relationship.”

San Diego Natives Compete in Ironman Coeur d’Alene to Raise Funds for Dream Foundation

Featured in White Fish Pilotiron-dream

Dream Foundation teamed up with San Diego natives Courtney Laabs and Brooke Rinehart to raise $50,000 to fulfill 30 Dreams. In August, Rinehart completed the Ironman Coeur d’ Alene while Laabs cheered her on for what has become known as Iron Dreams. For more than 10 years, Laabs had wanted to compete in an Ironman competition after her first attempt was cut short when her mother, Lori died within a year of being diagnosed with stage four adenocarcinoma at the age of 51. Laabs initially began training in an effort to cope with her grief. As fate would have it, weeks prior to the Ironman Coeur d’ Alene, Laabs learned that she would be a mother herself. After she’d been told it was medically impossible for her to get pregnant, she and her husband, Kelly planned to meet with a fertility specialist after the race.

“It’s bittersweet for me,” she said. “My goal of accomplishing an Ironman is still alive, I’ll just be doing it with my child watching me. It’s just amazing how the world works.”

Presidential Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton Gives Life to Final Dream

DF-hillary-dream-webSanta Barbara, Calif.— While on the campaign trail this week in California, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with 45-year-old John Pecoraro from Scotts Valley, Calif. Pecoraro, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2014 and Lyme disease in 2015, asked Dream Foundation to help him meet Secretary Clinton to share his story and hope for a cure. Dream Foundation is the only national dream-granting organization for terminally-ill adults.

“I want to meet the potential future President of the United States,” Pecoraro told Dream Foundation.

Pecoraro’s Dream came true when he and Clinton had the opportunity to meet about raising awareness for ALS and Lyme disease. Pecoraro is determined to spend the rest of his life raising awareness, helping others with ALS and Lyme disease, and sharing his story with those who can be influential in the fight against these debilitating diseases.

“We are grateful to Secretary Clinton for helping give life to John’s final Dream,” said Dream Foundation Chief Executive Officer Kisa Heyer who was also in attendance at the meeting. “At Dream Foundation we are passionate about helping people make the most of the days they have left, and hope John’s Dream provided him inspiration and closure.”

About Dream Foundation:
Dream Foundation, the only national dream-granting organization for terminally-ill adults, fulfills final Dreams that provide inspiration, closure and comfort at the end of life. With the support of a nationwide network of volunteers, hospices, health care organizations and committed donors, Dream Foundation has given life to nearly 25,000 final Dreams over the past two decades, and has never turned down a qualified request. For more information, please visit dreamfoundation.org.

Kisa Heyer Promoted to Dream Foundation Chief Executive Officer

Seasoned Businesswoman Plans to Build on Accomplishments

Santa Barbara, Calif. – Dream Foundation announced today that it promoted Kisa Heyer to chief executive officer, the organization’s top position. Heyer most recently served as the Foundation’s executive director, and will be responsible for its operations including programming, development and management of the board of directors.

“For almost three years, Kisa has been a tireless advocate for the terminally-ill adults that Dream Foundation serves,” said Dream Foundation Board Chair Kenneth P. Slaught. “This promotion reflects Kisa’s exceptional business background along with her passion for the mission. Her leadership is critical to Dream Foundation’s long-term growth and sustainability.”

Under Heyer’s leadership as executive director, the Foundation launched its Dreams for Veterans program, which provides final Dreams to our nation’s veterans and focused creating awareness around non-medical palliative care services Dream Foundation provides.

“I am so honored to take on this new role to help ensure Dream Foundation maintains its responsibility and accountability to our nationwide network of supporters, partners, dreamers, and their communities,” said Heyer. “I am passionate about executing our mission and maintaining our tradition of ensuring that we never turn down a qualified Dream request.”

Prior to joining Dream Foundation, Heyer, a trained CPA, worked in international fixed income operations and management for several investment banks in London. She is also an active volunteer and served as the board president of Ganna Walska Lotusland, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit where she participated in management operations, long-range planning, development, governance and finance efforts. She is also a Lifetime Honorary Trustee of the organization.

About Dream Foundation
Dream Foundation, the only national dream-granting organization for terminally-ill adults fulfills final Dreams that provide inspiration, comfort and closure at the end of life. With the support of a nationwide network of volunteers, hospices, health care organizations and committed donors, Dream Foundation has given life to nearly 25,000 Dreams over the past two decades, and has never turned down a qualified request. For more information please visit DreamFoundation.org

Terminally Ill Man’s Dream Fulfilled with Return to Pearl Harbor

Screen Shot 2016-03-03 at 10.06.58 AMA decorated Navy veteran is getting his dream fulfilled with a trip to Pearl Harbor.

Milwaukee resident Charles Rushing was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. His dying wish was to return to Pearl Harbor to relive memories while he was stationed there in the 1970s. That wish was granted thanks to the Dream Foundation, who made him a VIP at Friday’s Medal of Honor dedication ceremony.

“I’m glad I’m back,” Rushing said, “especially being from Wisconsin, where they’re freezing. … I’m very thankful I got this opportunity to come back.”

Rushing volunteered for serve in the U.S. Navy when he was 17. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor where he guarded aircraft carriers, until he was called upon to assist the downed Apollo 11 space capsule. He went on to serve on the USS Carpenter, then served in special ops before deploying to Vietnam. (Read more…)

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