Go on, Make a Wish
Wish of a Lifetime program makes dreams come true for seniors By Nick Fortuna
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ebbie Grubb has never seen a kangaroo, a lemur or the adorably bug-eyed rainforest mammal known as a kinkajou, but she knows what their fur feels like and what they smell like, and in her mindâs eye, the picture is crystal clear. Grubb, 72, who was born blind and has become a prominent advocate for the disabled, had an experience to remember in November 2016, when she got to make some new friends at the Exotic Animal Experience attraction in Orlando. Sheâs among 15 residents from Freedom Village Bradenton to have their wishes granted by the Wish of a Lifetime program, which has made dreams come true for almost 2,000 seniors since it was founded in 2008. Wish of a Lifetime was started by former professional athlete and business executive Jeremy Bloom to honor his grandmother, Donna Wheeler, who helped raise him. With funding from corporate sponsors, the nonprofit has created rewarding and life-affirming experiences for seniors in all 50 states. Wish of a Lifetime started out modestly, with about 10 wishes granted in its first year, but itâs on track to finish 2019 with about 250 wishes granted. Any senior may apply, and the program receives hundreds of requests each year. From every dollar contributed to Wish of a Lifetime, 75 percent goes toward fulfilling wishes, 17 percent supports fundraising efforts, and 8 percent covers administrative costs. âThere is so much life that our seniors have left to live, and yet they find themselves in-
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Freedom Village friends cheer on Jim Willis on as he readies for his hang gliding experience. Photo courtesy of Tara Tomlinson Photography.
credibly isolated, so what Wish of a Lifetime does is provide opportunities and reminds seniors of their incredible legacies through the granting of a wish,â said Jared Bloomfield, special projects manager for Wish of a Lifetime. âI find it incredibly rewarding to unearth and tell these amazing stories.â Grubbâs story certainly qualifies as noteworthy. She grew up around animals and has had four guide dogs over the years, including current buddies Dena, 13, and Kopper, 4. An avid reader since childhood, she especially enjoyed the adventures of Disneyâs âWinnie the Poohâ and the bearâs kangaroo friend Kanga, so when it came time to select her Wish of a Lifetime, the young girl inside her knew just what to pick.
With a busload of friends from Freedom Village, Grubb arrived at Exotic Animal Experience for a hands-on lesson in zoology. She said that unlike people with good eyesight, who can take in a visual all at once and hold that picture in their mind, the blind have to use descriptions from other people and senses like touch and smell to construct a mental picture piece by piece. The residents of Exotic Animal Experience helped her do just that by being themselves. The lemur jumped on her and let her touch its fur, the kangaroo stood patiently as Grubbâs hands traced his ears, and the kinkajou seemed disappointed when Grubb ended their cuddling session. For Grubb, it was an experience to savor.
