Dream Foundation Launches Program to Serve Terminally Ill Veterans’ Final Dreams
Dream Foundation recently launched a new program called Dreams for Veterans, the only national program serving our nation’s military communities by fulfilling a final dream to terminally ill veterans and their families. Members of Congress, representatives of The White House’s Joining Forces program and Dreams for Veterans recipients including Santa Barbara local, 89-year-old leukemia and heart disease patient and U.S. Navy veteran, Ray, attended a Washington D.C. gathering to celebrate.
In soft launch for a year, Dreams for Veterans has already served over 100 dreams to terminally ill veterans and is projected to serve more than 600 within the next few years.
“It is a great honor to be joined today by The White House’s Joining Forces team, Members of Congress and most importantly some of our nation’s bravest who have had their dreams served by the Dreams for Veterans program,” says Dream Foundation Executive Director Kisa Heyer.
U.S. military veteran dreamers to date have served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. “We hope to serve as many as 400 veterans in 2016, and many, many more in the years to follow,” says Heyer. “Our goal is to expand our national presence and outreach efforts and be readily available to every terminally ill veteran in need of a final dream.”
Among the honored guests were those who received dreams from the Dreams for Veterans program, such as:
James (Arizona) passed away June 24, 2015 from terminal adenocarcinoma, one day before he realized his dream of visiting Washington D.C. with his wife and son. He was 55 years old. James served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1977 – 1981 before retiring as a Disbursing Clerk Second Class. Having served during peacetime, he shared with Dreams for Veterans that his most meaningful memory was pulling out of port and seeing the land disappear. “I always got a charge over that,” he had said. “When I was on watch, I would look out and realize that I was protecting family and loved ones back home.” Senator McCain’s office helped plan a memorable trip for James and his wife and son, including tours of the White House and U.S. Capitol, and visits to historic landmarks around the city—a trip he had to cancel at the last minute because he became unable to travel. As James’ wife Sheri expressed after he died, “My husband was overwhelmed by the Dream Foundation granting him his dream. Even though he didn’t get to go on the trip, it helped to restore his faith in the goodness of people.” James’ wife attended the event on his behalf. (Read more)
Dream Foundation to Honor Corporate Partner, Gentiva Hospice Foundation, for Efforts for Veterans
Dream Foundation – the only national dream- granting organization for adults and their families suffering life-threatening illness – will honor corporate Partner in Dreams Gentiva Hospice Foundation and salute the supporters of the newly launched Dreams for Veterans program at the 14th Annual Celebration of Dreams Gala. The event will be held Saturday, November 7, 2015 at the Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara.
“Their profound generosity and commitment have accounted for almost half of our total dreams served since Dream Foundation was established in 1994.”
The Gentiva Hospice Foundation has been a corporate partner for more than 16 years. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to supporting deserving families and organizations associated with hospice and palliative care and to giving compassionate assistance to those at the end of lifeʼs journey. The strategic programs supported by Gentiva Hospice Foundation are patient and family assistance; funding bereavement camps for more than 500 kids each year; support of educational programs for end-of-life and palliative care; and most importantly, fulfilling final dreams for terminally ill patients and families through partnership with Dream Foundation.
“We are thrilled to be partners with Dream Foundation and honored to be recognized by them,” said Paul VerHoeve, President of the Gentiva Hospice Foundation. “Together we have shared the joy and the true fulfillment that comes from helping to serve more than 9,000 final dreams. I can’t wait to see what the future brings.”
“Over the past 16 years, Gentiva Hospice Foundation has made a tremendous impact on Dream Foundation,” said Kisa Heyer, Executive Director of Dream Foundation. “Their profound generosity and commitment have accounted foralmost half of our total dreams served since Dream Foundation was established in 1994.”
Also being recognized at the Gala are CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. and its President/CEO Andy Puzder, as well as John Paul DeJoria, CEO and Co-Founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and The Patrón Spirits Company, for the vital support they provide to Dream Foundationʼs Dreams for Veterans program, which launched publicly in Washington D.C. in September.
Dreams for Veterans is the first national program that specifically serves and honors terminally ill veterans with the fulfillment of a final dream. The program provides the invaluable opportunity to honor and acknowledge veteran dream recipients while engaging and appreciating their families and communities.
Dreams for Veterans was established in September 2014 and operated in a soft-launched phase until last monthʼs public launch. Beginning in September 2014 and through to present, Dreams for Veterans has served the final dreams of 225 veterans. Without receiving any federal or state funding, the program would not be possible without the support and contribution of our founding partners.
CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc. has contributed to the fulfillment of hundreds of dreams since 2012 when the parent company of Carlʼs Jr.® and Hardeeʼs® premium burger chains selected Dream Foundation as a national beneficiary of its annual Stars for HeroesTM charity campaign. Founded in 2011, the program has supported 60 U.S. military charities nationwide.
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Terminally Ill Veterans Get Chance for Final Wish
By Leo Shane III
After honeymooning in California’s Yosemite National Park in 1950, Navy veteran Ray West and his wife, Jean, returned there each of the next 48 years to celebrate their anniversary.
Then his health began to fail, and his family had to break the anniversary tradition. When the 89-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia and heart disease in late 2014, his only wish was one more trip with his family to the park that had become “our home away from home.”
He was granted that wish in May, thanks to help from the Dream Foundation’s new veterans program, launched just before West’s diagnosis. The group picked up lodging costs for the journey and helped ease travel issues related to his illnesses.
“It wouldn’t have been possible for us to do that without them,” an emotional West said at a foundation event in Washington, D.C., last week. “My dream really was fulfilled.”
The foundation, created 20 years ago, began discussing a veterans-specific program in recent years as staff and volunteers saw an increasing number of aging former service members reaching out to their organization for help. (Read more)
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Veterans Journal: Dream Foundation Grants Wishes for Terminally Ill Vets
Dreams for Veterans, a program of the Dream Foundation started in 2014, gives back to terminally ill veterans and their families through the fulfillment of a final dream. Dream recipients are U.S. military veterans 18 and over with a life expectancy of 12 months or less.
The only national dream-granting organization for adults, Dream Foundation enhances the quality of life for individuals and their families battling life-threatening illness. Dreams range from basic needs, such as a working stove, to bedside reunions and meaningful experiences with children and loved ones.
Founded in 1994, Dream Foundation grants more than 2,500 final wishes each year and relies on a network of volunteers, sponsors and individual donors. CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc., Southwest Airlines and entrepreneur and philanthropist John Paul DeJoria are founding sponsors of this program. For more information, visit dreamfoundation.org/veterans. (Read more)
Chandler Family Fulfills a Loved One’s Last Wish with Washington Trip
By Elizabeth Blackburn
WASHINGTON – James Malone and his stepmom, Sheri, looked like any other first-time tourists in Washington last week as they went from monument to monument, posing and taking photos.
But the Malones were doing more than making memories – they were also fulfilling a loved one’s last wish.
The Chandler family was in Washington with Dreams for Veterans, an organization under the Dream Foundation that grants wishes to terminally ill veterans like Jim Malone, the late father and husband to James and Sheri.
A Navy veteran who was in active duty from 1977 to 1981, and in the Navy Reserve from 1982 to 1987, Jim Malone was diagnosed in September 2013 with stage-four esophageal cancer. His doctor and social worker at the time suggested that he fill out an application to Dreams for Veterans.
Jim’s dream was to take his family to Washington, D.C.
“He really just wanted to share his love of the country and why it was always so important to him,” Sheri said of the trip. She said her husband’s love of country “is personified in D.C, and that is why D.C. was so special to him.”
Jim didn’t think his wish would be considered, but told Sheri that if she wanted to “waste her time” she was welcome to fill out the application. She did, and Dreams for Veterans granted Jim’s wish in June 2015.
Sheri said Jim felt undeserving, because he had never served in combat, but being granted his wish left him feeling overwhelmed and grateful.
James said the wish-granting party at a Carl’s Jr. – which partners with Dreams for Veterans on the program – allowed him to “see my hero smile one last time.” Jim Malone died later that month, on the morning the family was scheduled to travel to Washington.
Four months later James and Sheri were invited to a Washington event at which other families and veterans would be talking about their wishes. The Malones decided to go.
At the Capitol Hill event Thursday, James Malone talked about his dad as his “hero.” He had the crowd laughing with his father’s story about trying to re-enlist after 9/11, when Jim Malone said “they told me when they need a 40-year-old fat pool guy, they’ll call me.”
Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Mesa, gave the family a flag that flew over the Capitol in Jim Malone’s honor.
“This flag was flown for the Malone family in honor of James Malone to honor the life of U.S. Navy veteran James Malone. Your deep love of the country will never be forgotten,” Salmon said as he presented the flag. “Thank you for your patriotism, selflessness and brave service to your country.”
Sheri said that in addition to the trip, Jim’s other wish was to see his son graduate from high school.
He was there to see James graduate from Chandler High School this spring and to learn James had received a full scholarship to attend Arizona State University, where he is now in his first semester studying business.
The trip to Washington included a meeting with Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, and a tour of the Capitol in addition to stops at monuments along the National Mall.
“It’s felt like Jim’s been with us today,” Sheri said. “It was a last gift from him.”
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