Dream Chronicles APRIL 2021, ISSUE 2 awish.org • 401-781-9199
Dear Friends,
Spring Appeal Dedicated To Wish Families As we enter Spring and all the hope that it brings, both in terms of access to vaccinations and a return to “normal,” we continue to see the toll that this pandemic has taken on our Wish Families. To help alleviate both the financial strain and emotional toll that comes with raising a child suffering a life-threatening illness, our Spring Appeal is dedicated to our Wish Families. As you know, we created the Meghan Duffy Hardship Fund in memory of my daughter to provide emergency resources to our Families. These requests are limited to $1500 per year for any Wish Family that documents a need.
To date, we have provided twelve families with emergency assistance to cover expenses including: automobile related costs, utility bills, clothing, food, and rent. This stop-gap funding allows families to catch up financially and keep their family whole. Our families have said that without this safety net, they could have been evicted, would not have been able to home school their children without internet access, and would not have been able to take their children to doctor’s appointments without a car on the road. I am so proud of this work, as I know that it gives families peace of mind financially while they continue to care for their Wish Kids and navigate pandemic challenges. To continue offering the Hardship Fund to families, we need the generosity of our dedicated supporters. Won’t you join me in committing to ease the financial strain on our families through a donation to the Meghan Duffy Hardship Fund? I promise you that you will be making a tremendous investment in our Wish Families and their children during this difficult time. Thank you so much for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you in person in the coming months. With every good “Wish,” Colleen Duffy Board Chair
It has been an exciting yet challenging time for A Wish Come True as we continue to weather the COVID-19 storm. Winter months were difficult, but finally there is a light at the end of the tunnel with vaccinations happening and businesses slowly opening again. Our partners at Give Kids the World began taking Wish Children and their families in January, giving hope to our Rhode Island and Massachusetts families. We were able to grant a few Wishes locally, which was very exciting, and we continue to expand our Wish of Wellness program for our Wish Families.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, this newsletter is in honor of Wish Moms and Wish Dads that have a child struggling with a life-threatening illness. I watched my Mom and Dad be so strong when my younger brother was diagnosed with Leukemia. They did everything in their power to protect the rest of us as they were going through the ordeal of losing a child. No parent should ever have to go through that. I wish my parents had an opportunity to talk to others for support or find a place to relax. That’s one of my driving forces behind our efforts to create a Wish of Wellness for our Wish Parents. This new initiative offers incredible resources to parents, siblings and the Wish Children well beyond the actual Wish. We hope that you will consider joining us in supporting the expansion of the Wish of Wellness program. These people have been the true rock stars, supporting their families during an incredible crisis and dealing with the worst pandemic in our history. Please enjoy these amazing stories about these resilient and passionate Wish Families. Mary-Kate O’Leary Executive Director