The Dream Foundation will honor its corporate partner Gentiva Hospice Foundation and acknowledge supporters of the newly launched Dreams for Veterans program at its 14th Annual Celebration of Dreams Gala on November 7. The Dream Foundation is the only national organization that grants wishes to adults facing life-threatening illnesses. Founded in 1994, the organization, which is headquartered in Santa Barbara, served its 20,000th dream in 2014.
“For families who have been financially devastated by medical expenses, a dream is the comfort of knowing the heating bill will be paid,” explains the foundation’s website. “For those with young children, it’s creating happy memories and having fun. For young adults, a dream can be meeting a personal hero. And for children facing the impending loss of a parent, a dream is receiving support and compassion.”
Two notable attendees at Saturday’s gala will be Sheri and Jimmy Malone, wife and son of dreamer James “Jim” Malone, who passed away one day before fulfilling his dream of visiting Washington, D.C. Malone was a U.S. Navy veteran who served 1977-1981. He received his wish from the Dream Foundation through the newly launched Dreams for Veterans program, which serves terminally ill vets. The program has been serving veterans since 2014, but was formally launched in mid-September of 2015.