Sunshine Foundation® Dream Village celebrates 20 years, 20,000 dreams and the support of volunteers

Drive about 20 minutes outside the Theme Park area of Orlando and you'll discover a unique organization that gives children the opportunity to fufill their dreams.

The sole purpose of the Sunshine Foundation®  is to answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children, ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to the financial strain that child's illness may cause. The Dream Village was built to faciliate their number one dream request: to visit the Orlando Theme Parks. Since opening their doors, they have been able to fufill the dreams of over 20,000 children who wish to experience a vacation in the Orlando area.

Hidden away from the busy tourism traffic, off CR 547 in Davenport, FL; the Sunshine Foundation® Dream Village just might be one of Central Florida's best kept secrets.

But after having that self-coined nickname for nearly 20 years, the Original Wish Granting Organization is ready to grow and expand. The Dream Village is housed on 22 acres transformed into a children's storybook. The resort is fashioned after the fairytale of Snow White, with seven cottages to house the vacationing families. The most recent additions to the complex include two cottages, a fully accessible pool and plaground, a mini-golf course. The organization plans to further expand the Dream Village to include more cottages, a catch-and-release fishing pond, and perhaps a ranch for horseback riding.

While the importance of donations cannot be overlooked, the Sunshine Foundation® Dream Village's greatest source of wealth is the vast volunteer base which supports the organization. With 85% of each donated dollar going towards a sponsored dream (on average $5000/family) and only two full-time employees, the Dream Village leans on its volunteers for a variety of tasks.

From the intricate hand-painted murals to flawless landscaping to social networking campaigns, each volunteer willing to donate their skills to this organization brings something to the table. The Dream Village encourages large organizations, individuals and even families to partake in their volunteer opportunities. One of these opportunities includes an new airport greeter program, where volunteers meet and greet visiting Dream Village families at the airport to make them feel welcome away from home. For ongoing volunteer opportunities, email Wanda I. Curtis - Family and Property Manager.

To embark on another 20 years of wish-granting, the Sunshine Foundation® Dream Village will start with a little spring cleaning. On Saturday September 25th from 8:00am to 4:00pm, volunteers will spend the day restoring the Dream Village to its opening day sparkle. Bring your coworkers, friends, family - everyone you can. You can also print out this flyer, or forward to anyone interested. This promises to be a rewarding day for everyone involved, and the Dream Village will also provide lunch for everyone in attendance. To RSVP, email Rich Mergo - Director of Development.

The Sunshine Foundation® has other events planned through the end of the year. In October, they will host their 3rd annual charity softball tournament in Winter Haven. The 20 team double-elimination tournament begins at 7:30am with music, food, entertainment and prizes throughout the day. In December, they will host the 2010 Holiday Gala at the Reunion® Resort in Orlando. Reserve your table before September 1st for a discounted rate. For more information on either of these events, please email the Sunshine Foundation® Dream Village directly.

Sunshine Foundation® Dream Village also emphasizes that you don't need to be in the Orlando area to show your support. Promote their Facebook page or Twitter posts, or refer a family to the organization. Start a fundraiser at your local organization. They will also accept electronics for recycling (e.g., cell phones) to earn points for new equipment for the Dream Village.

For more information about the Sunshine Foundation® and the Sunshine Foundation® Dream Village, visit their website.

Have an upcoming event and are in need of volunteers? Send an email to CFLVolunteering@gmail.com,  through Facebook (Orlando Volunteerism Examiner) or Twitter (CFLVolunteering).