Making Dreams Come True

The Dream Factory of the Jersey Shore held their Annual Gift Auction Thursday night, November 6, at the Elks Club 2151 in Manasquan. The well attended event was a huge success. The organization collected and assembled over 100 main auction gift baskets and 6 grand prizes. The Elks Club provided some lite fare with a cash bar available. Music for the evening was donated by DJ Jimmy Givens. In addition to volunteers of the Dream Factory, members of Be The Change organization at Kean College were on hand to assist in handing out the gifts during the evening. Greg Peterson, of Strikes Against Sarcoma, was in attendance and made a donation of $750 to the Dream Factory of the Jersey Shore on behalf of Strikes Against Sarcoma.

In 1980, The Dream Factory began with one all-volunteer chapter in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Since then, The Dream Factory has grown into the second-largest children’s wish-granting organization in the United States, granting over 25,000 dreams since its inception –all while maintaining a grassroots approach. It is the only children’s wish-granting organization that does not limit its mission to children who have life-threatening illness. The organization believes children with chronic illnesses and disorders also suffer from substantial emotional and physical pain. They strive to provide hope and relief from the trauma and corresponding stress and depression that both the children and their families can endure on a day-to-day basis. Doctors agree that providing a dream can improve the quality of life for these children and extend the life of a critically ill child.

During the auction, Dream recipient, Kyle Maccia of Wall Twp., who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, spent a few minutes talking about the experience he had in 2011 with the Dream Factory. His dream was to meet Taylor Swift. The organization flew Kyle and his family to Las Vegas for him to attend a Taylor Swift concert and then meet her after the snow. Further, Kyle addressed how it enriched his life. In the 5 years since the inception of the Jersey Shore Chapter, the organization has provided dreams to 14 children. Most recently, Matt Michalski of Manchester had the opportunity to meet LeBron James while the Miami Heat played at the Barclay Center in New York. Matt was on the court with the team, posed for pictures with LeBron and even got a pair of sneakers autographed by LeBron. The Dream Factory of the Jersey Shore has provided a personal meeting of the cast from “The Walking Dead”, a trip to Walt Disney World, a musical instrument for a student going to college, a hot tub for therapeutic relief of arthritis, a trip to Discovery Cove and others.

Over 120 people attended the Gift Auction on November 6th. Luanne Wood, Screening and Selection Coordinator of the organization, said “We would like to thank everyone that attended, donated and supports The Dream Factory. What we raised at this event will provide 2 children with dreams! It is all about the children.”

For more information on The Dream Factory of the Jersey Shore visit their website: www.dreamfactoryincnwj.org