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Dream
Foundation the Only National Dream-Granting
Organization for Terminally Ill Adults Hosts
Celebrities, Special Guests and Foundation Supporters at
Annual Gala to Help Raise Vital Funds
Dream Foundation the
only national dream-granting organization for adults and
their families suffering life-threatening illness held its
14th Annual
Celebration of Dreams Gala Saturday, November 7th at
the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara. Synonymous with
unparalleled entertainment and heartfelt dream stories, the
event drew a national audience of celebrities, special
guests and Foundation supporters.
Country/American musician
Natalie Noone daughter of Herman's Hermits legendary
frontman, Peter Noone, and Dream Foundation supporter and
event co-chair, Mireille Noone graced the stage. Raised in
Santa Barbara, Noone followed her dream of becoming a
musician to Nashville. Often surprising audiences with songs
in French and Spanish and accomplished guitar textures,
Noone's sound is a fusion like none other. She has also been
a Dream Foundation volunteer. Dream Foundation is thrilled
to welcome Noone home.
Giving a more classical
performance was the young Sara Stevens, who has been
training since the age of six. Currently working with
Broadway's The
Phantom of the Opera musical
director, Paul Schwartz, on an album, Stevens has just begun
to realize her musical dreams, and is bound to amaze and
delight with her powerful voice. At just 15 years old, her
talent is undeniable and truly remarkable.
O.A.R. (Of A Revolution),
founded in 1996 by Rockville, Maryland high school
classmates, lead singer Marc Roberge, drummer Chris Culos,
guitarist Richard On and bassist Benj Gershman, will also
perform. The band?s saxophonist Jerry DePizzo joined later,
while the group attended Ohio State University. Renowned for
their American rock sound enjoyed best in their powerful and
passionate live performances, the band has released eight
studio albums including their latest, The Rockville LP, an
album derived from their roots in Maryland.
Dedicated to celebrating the
more than 22,000 dream recipients the Foundation has served
since its inception in 1994, the 14th Annual
Celebration of Dreams Gala will include heartfelt
testimonials from three recent dream families, the Malones
from Arizona, the Hoods from California, and Tara Middleton
from South Carolina who will take center stage.
Sheri and Jimmy Malone are the
wife and son of 55 year-old- dreamer, James Malone, who
passed away in June, just one day before realizing his dream
of visiting Washington D.C. A U.S. Navy veteran who served
from 1977-1981, Malone was honorably discharged as a
Disbursing Clerk Second Class. Dream Foundation was honored
to have the Malones attend the public launch of its newest
program, Dreams for Veterans, on Capitol Hill last month.
Dream Foundation also
welcomed dream recipient William Hood and his wife Ellen.
With a life expectancy of 6-12 months due to cancer, Hood
received his dream last month when he and his family,
including son Robert (10) and daughter Madeline (14),
attended a San Francisco Giants game.
32 year-old Tara Middleton who
was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor last year
continues to fight for her life. Her final dream was
fulfilled when she met her idol, Tamar Braxton and appeared
on her talk show, "The Real." Tara continues to thrive as
the founder and CEO of Rare Rubies, an organization that
focuses on life coaching, consulting and motivational
speaking.
"Dream
Foundation is privileged to have such a generous, national
network of supporters, corporate and in-kind partners, and
volunteers who support the fulfillment of thousands of
dreams each year," said Dream Foundation Executive Director,
Kisa Heyer. "Our Celebration of Dreams Gala is about
enhancing awareness of the organization and its many
programs, celebrating our incredible community of
supporters, and most importantly paying tribute to the
dreamers and their families we are privileged to serve."
The 14th Annual
Celebration of Dreams Gala saluted the founding
partners of the newly launched Dreams for Veterans program:
CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. and its President/CEO Andy
Puzder, as well as John Paul DeJoria of The Patrσn Spirits
Company and CEO/ Co-Founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems.
Gentiva Hospice Foundation, which has been a Corporate
Partner in Dreams since 1999 and has helped serve more than
9,000 final dreams will be honored.
Dream Foundation acknowledges
the generous support of its event sponsors: Colleen
Barnett-Taylor & Michael Taylor, CKE
Restaurants, Inc., Genentech, Gentiva Hospice Foundation,
Dee & Andy Puzder, Tracy & Michael Bollag, The Himovitz
Family & El Capitan Canyon, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash
Indians, Wells Fargo, Bacara Resort & Spa, Patrςn Tequila,
John Paul Mitchell Systems, Walter Claudio Salon Spa, and
the many others whose dedication to the Gala and the
organization's mission is insurmountable.
Net proceeds
from the event are vital to maintaining and growing the
mission of Dream Foundation, which receives no federal or
state funding and relies solely on corporate and individual
contributions, grants and in-kind gifts. Dream Foundation
maintains a 4-star rating (the highest rating) by Charity
Navigator and has never turned down a qualified dream
request.
About Dream
Foundation
The only national
dream-granting organization for adults, Dream Foundation
enhances the quality of life for individuals and their
families battling life-threatening illness. Dream recipients
are those individuals who have been given a year or less
life expectancy. Dreams range from basic needs items, like a
working stove, to bedside reunions and meaningful
experiences with children and loved ones.
Founded in 1994,
Dream Foundation serves more than 2,500 dreams each year and
relies on a network of volunteers, sponsors and individual
donors.
For more
information, visit
www.dreamfoundation.org or call (888) 4DREAMS.
Follow our
Performers
Natalie Noone:
Instagram, Twitter & Facebook: /natalienoone
Sara Stevens:
Instagram, Facebook: /sarastevensmusic
Twitter: /sstevensmusic
O.A.R.:
Instagram, Twitter & Facebook: /ofarevolution
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