Dream applications halved as the social workers and doctors who usually help complete them couldn’t see their patients face to face. And there was a sharp increase in the number of Dream applicants who asked for devices such as tablets that kept them connected with family, loved ones and even their care teams.

Restrictions to movement forced limits on Dreams involving travel. When it was permitted or safe to do so, we fulfilled Dreams that involved in-state travel, or journeys of shorter distances to allow Dream recipients to reunite with family or loved ones, or to visit special sites. And we continued to provide essential items such as lift chairs to help mobility, or new beds to provide pain-free rest to those who need them.

As family theme parks like Disneyland or Disney World were closed for much of the year, we brought Disney to Dream families with special “Disney in a Box” deliveries, full of specialty items.

And, thanks to the additional support of photographers from our volunteer photography network, we also began offering Dream recipients “Porch Portraits”—safe, socially distanced photography sessions in addition to the Dreams requested. The results gave Dream recipients, their families and friends moments of joy captured in beautiful images to treasure.

Unable to hold in-person fundraising events, we went virtual. Our fall event, Magical Moments, included a special advanced online screening of “Language of Dreams,” a short film by award-winning director Peter Sasowsky which premiered at the 2021 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Our thanks go out to our Dream community of volunteers, corporate partners and individual donors who continued to help us make Dreams come true, even as they also faced the effects of the pandemic.

It was a year in which we all discovered that there is no such thing as too small when it comes to kind gestures. Thanks to you, now, we are determined to Dream more than ever and continue to serve those who most need us as they face the end of life. Thank you for standing with us.

In appreciation,

Kenny Slaught
Chair, Dream Foundation Board of Directors

Kisa Heyer
CEO, Dream Foundation