Dreams for Seniors Charity Inc. is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2005 in Pekin, Illinois, by Debbie Davison. Her dream was to create a volunteer organization dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of what has unfortunately become an overlooked and underappreciated segment of our society, our senior citizens.
To date, the team of local sponsors and volunteer has helped make dreams come true for 80 seniors in central Illinois—and there are more dreams on the horizon. We are excited to announce that a new branch of Dreams for Seniors Charity is starting in Leesburg Florida! Classic Home Health Services contacted the organization expressing interest in starting a branch of the charity in Florida. Debbie and husband Dennis had decided to move to The Villages, and Classic Home Health Services was chosen to be the major sponsor of the new Florida charity branch. Dreams will be granted in the counties of Sumter, Hernando, Citrus, Lake and Marion counties.
Dreams for Seniors Charity is comprised of volunteers only. There are no paid positions. 100% of all donations are used to grant dreams to deserving seniors. Donations are tax deductible.
“It is a way we can say thanks and make dreams come true in the senior years for those who have spent
their lives making dreams come true for you and me”
“We’ve just met so many wonderful, deserving dream recipients and their families. It’s an honor to be able to assist in making their dreams come true”, said Debbie. As the owner of Home Health Care Plus in Pekin Illinois, she was inspired to start the organization by a shut-in she’d been visiting named Opal, who was just turning 100.
“I asked Opal if she could have any dream for her 100th birthday, what would After sharing a good laugh, Debbie and Opal settled on three months of paid rent for her apartment and a month of free breakfasts, and Debbie and Dreams for Seniors Charity has been granting wishes ever since.
“It’s just so rewarding. You never know what’s going to happen,” she said.
Here are other dreams which have been funded through Dreams for Seniors:
Martha O. was an active businesswoman until a freak fall in her home left her a quadriplegic – unable to use her arms or legs. She missed using her computer and communicating with her friends and family.. Her dream was to receive a computer program, which would allow her to work with the computer again. Dreams for Seniors Charity provided Martha with a new voice activated computer with needed adaptations specific to Martha’s capabilities. At Christmas, she made beautiful Christmas cards with her story to send family and friends. She sent one to our charity which we treasure in our dream scrapbook!
Grace J.
Grace is a dream recipient whose life we actually saved! She was returning home from 3 months in a nursing home after a fall. The discharge planner heard her bathroom floor might have a problem, and referred Grace for a dream. We set a time to meet, and the closer we walked to her front door, the stronger the smell of rotten eggs…a natural gas leak! Grace was sitting at her kitchen table unaware that her house was literally filled with gas and unable to smell it! We quickly evacuated Grace, and called the gas company who arrived quickly. They shut off the gas supply to her house and found that her kitchen stove had been leaking gas into her closed up house, filling it. It was only a matter of time before not only her house exploded, but her neighbors also. After the house aired out, the volunteer contractor checked her bathroom floor and found no problems, so Grace chose for her dream a new kitchen stove as well as a outdoor yard cleanup. Grace then safely returned home and loves her new stove!!!
Anyone can refer someone for a dream, including the seniors themselves. To qualify, seniors must live within the 5 counties in Florida, be 68 years or older with a chronic or critical disease. They must have the physical and mental ability to participate in the dream’s fulfillment.
Dreams must fall within the organization’s spending guidelines, typically between $100 and $1,000. Dreams are granted as donations are made, through fundraisers, memorials, and sponsors identified on our website.
We encourage you to get involved in our efforts to brighten a senior’s life. To find out how, check out the Get Involved section of our website: www.DreamsforSeniorsCharity.org
A major sponsor plaque will list the names of contributors of $5,000 or more, and will be listed on the Dreams for Seniors Charity web site.
Dreams for Seniors Charity looks for individuals, organizations and corporations to help us create the unexpected thank you” experience. Where ever you live, however much time and energy you can contribute, we welcome your volunteer support.
Initial volunteer needs include: A tax accountant and a lawyer with experience in non-profit organizations mainly for questions and guidance; 2-3 persons with PR experience to do presentations to groups about the charity; 1-2 people to assist with day to day emails, scheduling talks and other organizational tasks. The estimated weekly commitment varies depending on the volunteer work.
There are no monthly meetings for most volunteers; we have developed a computer “talent bank”. Volunteers specify talents they have and types of things they like to do. As dreams requests come in, we match the dream to the volunteer talent bank.
There will be training for all volunteers, and an experienced Charity member will accompany on all dreams.
The safety of our senior dream recipients is of upmost importance. It is beneficial to have Home Health Care be a major sponsor because those dealing in direct patient care have been background checked and fingerprinted. One of these people will be at the actual dream screenings and dream granting.
To refer a senior for a dream or to contribute toward making a dream come true, contact us at:
Dreams for Seniors Charity, Inc., c/o Classic Home Health Services, Inc., 1504 South Street, Leesburg, FL 34748
For questions or comments, contact Jane Bloom, The Other Daughter, 425-299-6020 www.theotherdaughter.org or send an email to janeinthevillages@gmail.com
