Originally published February 1, 2013, last updated February 20, 2014

Twilight Wish: Making Dreams Come True

 

Elinor Foltz, president of the Twilight Wish Foundation, a national 501c3 organization that grants wishes to seniors, talks about what it is like to see a senior get their wish granted.

Q: How many wishes do you grant a year?

A:  Approximately 200 or one every other day.

Q. What are some of the wishes that stick out in your memory?

A. A few years ago we had a woman who, for her 100th birtday, wanted to go out in the sidecar of a motorcycle with a “handsome young man.” He picked her up and took her for a 45-minute ride. After the ride was over she looked up at the driver and asked, “Are you married?”

A. Gus, 82, wanted a new flagpole. This ended up going from a very simple wish to a very elaborate wish. Our Director of Volunteer Management & Special Events actually had a contractor working in her home who was part of Warriors’ Watch. They got more than 50 people to come to this gentleman’s house, helped him raise the flag himself, and presented him with a POW-MIA coin and military beads of different colors. The most interesting and unexpected thing happened at the very end, a plane flew overhead and on the belly of the plane was a huge American flag. By total coincidence, the plane tipped its nose as if to bow and salute.

Q. What is it like to see a senior get their wish granted?

It is a very heartwarming and fulfilling experience. It brings a lot of joy to the people granting the wish.

Q. Why do you think this foundation is important?

We need to educate the world that just because you turn 80-years-old, it doesn’t mean your life is over. Just look at Betty White for example. Elders still have a lot to offer, particularly if they have good health. We have to stop reinforcing negative elderly sterotypes. Sadly, in today's society, we don’t tend to revere our elderly like many cultures do. It's a shame because they have so much wisdom to impart. That's why Twilight Wish is on a mission to make the world a nicer place to age, one wish at a time.

Q. What is the best way for people to get in touch with you?

Our website: www.twilightwish.org