The Dreamer: Spring 2023
Your dedication to Dream Kids is incredible.
I say this because time and time again, you are here. You are in our Dream Kids’ corner. You are part of the magic that makes a Dream come true.
Your caring heart has helped Dream Families see a light at the end of a long, dark treatment tunnel. The magic of your kindness has given Dream Kids and their families something they can look forward to, together.
And for that, we can’t thank you enough.
You are part of a very special group of people. This wonderful group of kind, caring people comes together for the kids who need this support the most. You see what families with sick children have to go through, and you take action to make their lives brighter.
And your actions continue to support Dream Kids and their families right here in your community.
Because of our entire Dream Community, The Dream Factory is turning 40 this year! That’s 40 years of magic, memories, and Dreams—made possible by you. That’s over 900 Dream Kids from your community. Dream Kids like Beckett.
Beckett is a Dream Kid living with Cystic Fibrosis. This adventurous Dream Kid loves the outdoors, plants, and animals. But his medical condition is serious. And his medical journey has been filled with appointments, needles, and medication.
But your caring, kind heart made it possible for Beckett’s biggest Dream to become a reality. Last fall, Beckett and his family took a magical trip to Australia.
Beckett got to see all his favourite animals, see places he’s always dreamed about, and make memories with his family. Memories that will last a lifetime.
You can read more about the impacts of your generosity in the spring edition of The Dreamer that I’ve included for you. If you have five or ten minutes today, I encourage you to take a look. Because there is something I’d like to share with you
A Dream Family’s journey is filled with many ups and downs. Some days are filled with appointments, surgeries, treatments and needles. And on days like these, it’s hard to see the light.
But you have helped them see that light — more than you know.
Through your gifts over the years, we have been able to provide every Dream Family with Dream Family Funds—a small way to show them that their Dream Community is there to support them. Every step of the way.
Through our Dream Family Funds, every single Dream Family has access to $3000 in financial assistance to help them during their journey. These funds may be used for anything the Dream Family needs. Things like hospital parking, childcare, a family meal, groceries, and everything in between.
This is a small way we help remind families that they have the light of a Dream to look forward to — despite how difficult things may be right now.
And because of your kind, caring heart, we are able to continue providing all Dream Families with this extra support. Dream Families just like Beckett’s.
Your loving gift today — of whatever amount feels right for you — will help bring more light to Dream Families experiencing some of their darkest days. But your gift will do more than that. It will encourage Dream Kids to keep looking for the bright light of a Dream Come True. It will remind them they have an entire community in their corner.
This is the impact you can have when you reach out in love to a child and their family struggling with a life-threatening illness. You’re giving them something they can look forward to. You’re giving their entire family something to look forward to. Thank you for being the light for Dream Families.
With gratitude for caring friends like you,
Andrew Kussy
Executive Director, The Dream Factory
40 years. Over 900 Dream Kids.
Picture: The first ever Dream Kid, Jamie meeting his hockey hero, Wayne Gretzky
2023 marks the Dream Factory’s 40th anniversary - a feat that would never have been possible without the kind, caring support from our incredible Dream Community. The Dream Factory began in 1983 and was originally called The Rainbow Society. The first “Rainbow of Dreams” was granted to 7-year-old Jamie, who was undergoing treatment for a brain tumour. Jamie’s Dream was to meet his hockey hero, Wayne Gretzky.
Since then, we’ve met over 900 inspiring Dream Kids.
Because of your support, we have been making Dreams come true for four decades! And we will continue to make more memories f0r Dream Kids and their families thanks to your kind, caring support.
The Dream Book 2022
Picture: Dream Kid James on his Dream Trip to Disney World
This past holiday season, we released our second annual giving guide, The Dream Book. We are thrilled to share with you that this year, we raised over $127,000 to help make more Dreams come true!
Once again, we are sending a big thank you to our friends at Bonafide Construction Solutions for matching the first $30,000 of gifts made by generous people like you!
Dreams like the ultimate videogame setup help Dream Kids to connect with their friends from the safety of their home, incredible backyard makeovers are a place they will spend hours playing, a bedroom makeover is where they can rest and recover, and vacations to faraway destinations will make memories with their families that will last a lifetime - like Dream Kid James!
Thank you for being part of the magic of a Dream Come True!
Beyond the Dream
In working with the medical community, we learned that despite our Dream Families excitement to have a Dream come true, many were still struggling with the financial strain that comes along with having a sick child.
To help our families, The Dream Factory established Dream Family Funs, which provide our families with up to $3,000 in financial assistance. These funds may be used for anything the family needs, be it hospital meals, groceries, bills, etc. This is our small way of reminding families that they have an upcoming Dream to look forward to - despite how difficult things may be right now for them.
“As a Dream Family, I can attest to how life changing these supports have been! Having some Dream Family Funds available while our son Beckett spent 8 months on chemotherapy helped take the stress out of hospital parking charges and ordering in food when no one would go to the grocery store of find time to cook. It made trips to the pharmacy less frightening.”
- Beckett’s mom, Desneige
Picture: Dream Kid Beckett and his family on his Dream Trip in Australia