Basic Organization Information
The Dalmatian Dreams Foundation dba Dream Foundation
- Also Known As:
-
Dream Foundation
- Physical Address:
-
Santa Barbara, CA
93101
- EIN:
-
77-0405779
- Web URL:
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www.dreamfoundation.org
- NTEE Category:
-
P Human Services
-
P99 Human Services - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C.
-
P Human Services
-
P40 Family Services
-
E Health—General & Rehabilitative
-
E86 Patient Services - Entertainment, Recreation
- Year Founded:
-
1994
- Ruling Year:
-
1995
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Dream Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families who are battling terminal illness.
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Impact Statement from Nonprofit
Dream Foundation has led the way in meeting the
needs of adults with life limiting illness. When Dream Foundation was founded in 1994, there were many
wish granting organizations that provided care and comfort to children with
terminal illnesses; however, none offered these services to adults and the
family members that depended on them. Believing that individuals over the age of 18 needed and deserved the
same kindness and support, founder Thomas Rollerson grew Dream Foundation from
a start-up nonprofit operating out of his apartment to a nationally recognized
organization with a professional staff that provides a critical service to
thousands of people across the country.
Dream Foundation is the first and
largest national wish granting organization for terminally ill adults. Through the fulfillment of a final
dream, our objective is to provide a unique form of compassionate care that
gives peace, joy and resolution to our dream recipients and their loved ones,
including spouses, children, partners, extended family members and friends.
Dream requests occur
throughout the year and range the full spectrum of human hopes and wishes, from seeing a dear friend one last time, keeping a promise to young children for a special family trip or meeting a personal hero. Increasingly, we also find ourselves
granting more “basic needs dreams” that provide items to enhance a dreamer’s
quality of life during his or her remaining days, such as a water heater for warm showers; a
power chair to help with mobile independence; a hearing aid to enjoy last
conversations; a computer to communicate with loved ones across the
country.
No
matter the dream, the realization of a last wish provides solace and dignity to
the dreamer and his or her loved ones at a time when it is desperately needed.
Revenue and Expenses
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Financial Statements
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Chief Executive
Mr. Thomas Rollerson
Term:
Since
Apr
1994
Chief Executive Profile:
Thomas Rollerson was 29 years old when he lost his partner, Timothy Palmer, to AIDS. Before he died, Timm had a final request. Thomas called several children's wish-granting agencies and was told they couldn't help. He found a way to grant Timm's simple wish and before he died Timm told Thomas that he thought it would be wonderful if there were an agency to grant final requests to adults. And so, Dream Foundation was created in Thomas' living room with just one volunteer to help. Dream Foundation was created out of love and deep concern for adults at the end of life's journey and operates with love, inspired by Thomas Rollerson and the over 10,000 "dreamers" whose fading lives we have enriched through a dream come true.
Officers for Fiscal Year
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Highest Paid Employees & Their Compensation
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Program:
Programming
- Budget:
-
$2,630,541
- Category:
-
- Population Served:
-
General Public/Unspecified
Program Description:
We work with adults over the age of 18 who have a prognosis of one year or less. Most of the work we do involves entire families who are about to lose a loved one. 45% of our clients have young children . We help dying adults to achieve a final request, a wish or a dream, whatever it may be. Fulfilling a final dream helps families face what lies ahead for them and brings closure, relief and even peace. In the past 14 years we have granted over 6,500 dreams for terminally ill adults and that number increases each day. Currently we receive 100-140 dream requests each month. We never turn away a qualified request.
Program Long-Term Success:
In 2007 we processed 1,158 final dreams for terminally ill adults. We touched the lives of many more people as each of our "dreamers" has a minimum of 3 family members who are deeply involved with the impending death.
clients have a minimum of 3, often more, members of their family who are intimately inolved with the fading life of our client.
their immediate family who are intimately involved with the tragedy that has afflicted the family.
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Funding Needs
Funds to support dream fulfillment. Dreams cost an average of $1,000.
Request for In-Kind Contributions
In-kind resources to support dream fulfillment, including donations of airline miles, restaurant gift cards, amusement park vouchers, etc.