Wishes are needed even in twilight of life
Granting wishes is the name of the game for the Twilight Wish Foundation of Butler County.
The organization's mission is to honor and enrich the lives of senior citizens through inter-generational wish-granting celebrations.
Jean Bowen of the Center for Community Resources started the Butler County Twilight Wish chapter in 2010.
“I got involved to enrich the life of seniors. It is wonderful being able to help improve or bring joy to a senior's life,” said Bowen.
“Some wishes are common, like hearing aids, while others like a hot-air balloon ride take a bit more planning,” said Bowen.
“Recipients have to be over the age of 65 or live in a nursing home,” she added.
Wishes are submitted via the chapter's website: butlerco@twilightwish.org
Events such as the Feb. 20 Happy Hour Benefit, sponsored by the Sechler Law Firm, raise funds for the organization to provide the wishes.
“One of the wishes this year is a computer for a woman in a nursing home so she can do online classes,” said Bowen.
Wish applications are decided upon by both the organization's home office and the local chapter office.
“The application has to meet certain criteria such as income, age and appropriateness,” Bowen said.
Tricia Pritchard of Center Township is part of Butler's Twilight Wish.
“We have a wide assortment of baskets featuring themes such as a Penguins basket, a bowling party for Family Bowlaway, gift cards to local restaurants, a spa basket, and many more,” said Pritchard of the Feb. 20 event.
Planning events ensures wishes can be granted, and for Pritchard it is about letting seniors know they are not invisible.“I love senior citizens, and I often feel that our culture and society forgets them. I want them to know they are valued and appreciated,” said Pritchard. “And granting wishes is fun,” she added.For 10 years the Butler Chapter of Twilight Wish has been granting the varied wishes of area seniors.The chapter granted Henry Fowler's wish to visit his son in prison.Fowler, 72, had not been able to see his son in over four years and wished for transportation to Erie to visit him. This wish was granted on Feb. 24, 2017.Katherine Rapp, 74, a resident of Butler had her wish for a computer, desk and webcam granted, courtesy of the Butler County chapter.Rapp did not have family living nearby, and her main contact with family and friends was via the Internet. Her wish was granted in 2016.The Butler chapter was able to provide transportation for Butler County Special Olympics bowler Miles Morris to a Pittsburgh Penguins gameJane Rhodaberger, an 83-year-old resident of Cabot, had her wish to go to a Pirates game and meet second baseman Neil Walker granted in 2015.Proceeds from fundraisers also have been able to provide a shower bath grab bar for 87-year-old Loretta Brown, whose wish was to take a bath safely in her apartment.Other granted wishes included four sets of hearing aids and a trip to the Carolina shore for a mother and her two adult daughters, one of which was in hospice.The chapter also provided “Santa Sacks” to eight area senior centers.
WHAT: Twilight Wish's Happy Hour BenefitWHEN: 5:30 p.m. Feb. 20WHERE: The Back Alley at the 11th Frame Bar and Grille, 540 Fairground Hill RoadINFO: Visit butlerco@twilightwish.org or call 724-290-3288
