Success Stories

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• Global Impact

• Make-A-Wish Reaches Out to Little Dreamer

• “I Have A Dream” Foundation Turns Students' Dreams Into Reality

• The Living Bank Gives A Heart and Saves a Life

• America the Beautiful Fund “Digs In” and Feeds the Poor

Make-A-Wish Reaches Out to Little Dreamer

For almost a year, Kathryn had been undergoing discouraging and painful treatments for leukemia. She had been hospitalized five times. Her energy and her spirits were low. In her dreams, she escaped by flying off to Hawaii, where she would snorkel or relax as the gentle trade winds warmed and soothed her body. And she would swim and play with dolphins in the crystal clear blue-green water.

But in reality, Kathryn and her family lived in Alaska, where there was no Make-A-Wish chapter. And with their finances stretched to the limit and beyond by her illness, such an odyssey was out of the question. Or was it?

Since 1989, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has operated an Outreach Fund that makes it possible for children like Kathryn, who have life-threatening illnesses, but who live in areas not yet covered by Make-A-Wish chapters, to see their dreams fulfilled. Outreach is funded by the Make-A-Wish Foundation with the help of private donors and corporate partners.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington State sent Kathryn, her parents, and her younger sister to Hawaii, where Kathryn got to live her fantasy. With the guidance of experts, Kathryn coaxed the dolphin to roll over so she could rub its tummy. For a few magical days, Kathryn and her family were able to forget hospitals and treatments and just enjoy life.

"It was a carefree week - no worries, no concerns," dad said. "It's hard to put into words what a mental boost that trip was - not just for Kathryn, but for the whole family."

A new chapter was chartered in Alaska not long after Kathryn's trip, and her parents were among the first - and most dedicated - volunteers.

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“I Have A Dream” Foundation Turns Students' Dreams Into Reality

Arturo Zepeda, a child of Mexican immigrants, was “dying on the vine” when "I Have A Dream" Foundation (IHAD) adopted his class, said John Horan, Executive Director of IHAD's Chicago office. Evidence showed that Arturo was far beyond his class in potential. So IHAD worked to secure him a scholarship at the Latin School in Chicago, stuck with him through high school and helped him get into Notre Dame University.

 

Now, Zepeda - who is helping undocumented workers get their citizenship - wants to be a lawyer. Zepeda is one of thousands of students who could have become a drop-out. But with IHAD's help, he is a productive citizen.

 

IHAD sponsors "adopt" an entire grade from a public elementary school or a group from a public housing development and give them a year-round program of academic, social and cultural activities, from elementary school through high school, followed by college or vocational scholarship. And IHAD's success rate in graduating students from high school is impressive. Seventy-two percent of "Dreamers" from Chicago who have gone through the program graduate on time, compared to the normal 35% rate for children from the same areas IHAD targets. And about 64% of those who graduate go on to college, while only 18% of those who have not been exposed to IHAD move on.

 

 

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The Living Bank Gives A Heart and Saves a Life

Somewhere in the United States, someone is waiting on a national list, hoping against hope that a new heart will come in time. Others need lung transplants, or kidneys, or a liver to survive.

 

Patti Hickerson from Houston, TX, had just given birth to her first child, Christopher, when doctors told her tragic news - there was a problem with her heart, one that could kill her. Three months later, the 33-year old attorney suffered a stroke - and was saved by the heart of a 13-year-old boy who was killed in an accident in Louisiana.

 

When Dee Tapia was killed in a drive-by-shooting, her heart went to the father of someone her brother knew well. But her brother's friend had no idea that his dad's life was saved by Tapia's heart - until later. After the transplant, Tapia's brother asked the man to keep his sister's heart alive.

 

The Living Bank, which registers donors and facilitates transplants - gives hope that a tragedy can be turned into a lifesaving gift. Right now - at this very moment - nearly 4,000 people are standing by waiting for a transplantable organ. The Living Bank is trying to save these lives.

 

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America the Beautiful Fund “Digs In” and Feeds the Poor

With seeds donated by America the Beautiful Fund (ABF) , volunteers in communities across the country are clearing vacant lots, cleaning up abandoned gardens and using any plot of land they can find to grow food for low-income families, soup kitchens and pantries.

 

In Hyannis, MA, 3,000 low income participants in the Women's, Infants and Children's (WIC) Program have been able to feed their families with fresh home-grown vegetables.

 

In Alexandria, MN, a one-acre garden created by the Sheriff's Department that the inmates plant, weed and harvest, has grown 2,376 pounds of food. The food has been shared with the local food shelf.

 

In Texas, the Laredo Regional Food Bank volunteers have grown over 200,000 pounds of food for the needy since 1991 on a one acre garden behind the Food Bank.

 

With over 60,000 projects in all 50 states, America the Beautiful Fund is helping feed the hungry every day.

 

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