Yonkers girl's wish granted

  • 2014-09-17
Jaylene Rodriguez, a resident of Yonkers and a student at Fern Cliff Manor, had long dreamed of going to Disneyworld; a wish that recently came true.

The Sunshine Foundation, an organization that grants the wishes of children who are physically challenged, seriously ill, or abused, paid a visit to the home of Jaylene, who has Down syndrome. Kate Sample, the president of the Sunshine Foundation and a member of the staff at Fern Cliff Manor, arrived on the 13-year-old’s doorstep with a Mickey Mouse doll, a SpongeBob SquarePants figurine, and balloons.

Sample told Jaylene and her family that they were being given a trip to Disneyworld, LEGOLAND and Universal Studios in Orlando. The trip is five days long.

The Sunshine Foundation has a Dream Village in Orlando, which is where the family will stay during their trip. The Dream Village is completely handicap accessible and designed to meet the needs of the children and families the organization serves. Although the highlight of Jaylene's trip will most likely be her visits to the theme parks and studios, the Dream Village has a lot to offer as well. It features a playground, pool, and mini golf course.

Since its founding in 1976, the Sunshine Foundation has helped grant the wishes of 36,000 children like Jaylene. She could have also used banner printing to announce the news to the Rodriguez family.