The Sunshine Foundation Dream Village recently held its 1^st Annual Spring Family Fair. The 22 acre resort designed especially for the seriously ill children of the Sunshine Foundation was open to the public and filled with games and attractions for kids of all ages and abilities. Some of the day’s festivities included: live alligators, a baby panther and other critters from Crocodopolis and Hands-on Safari; pony rides from Party Acres; bounce house and safety house provided by Polk County Fire Department; Hummer, airboat and identification services for kids provided by the Polk County Sheriff Office; cookies provided by Divine Cookie Design for the children to decorate. Other activities included face painting, balloon artists from Iglesia Bautista de Monte Sinai, music and dancing provided by Marc Burgess Productions, and of course our own mascot, Sunnie the Sunshine Panther and his cast of friends! This free, family-friendly event was sponsored by NY Life, AT Radiology and American General Life and Accident Insurance Company. The new all-volunteer Central Florida Chapter of the Sunshine Foundation also held their Haircuts for Dreams in the main building! Next year’s Spring Family Fair plans to be even bigger and better for the local families and special needs schools in the Four Corners area of Central Florida.

The staff would also like to thank all the volunteers and donors that helped make this event a success: Amerigas, Best Buy Davenport, Cemex, Clarion Hotel Maingate Hair Cuttery, Jacksonville Jaguars, Market Street Café Celebration, Medieval Times, Pepsico-Gatorade, Regal Entertainment, Reunion Resort, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Sign-A-Rama Celebration, Starbucks Celebration and Wonder Works.

The Sunshine Foundation answers dreams to children from all across the United States who are chronically ill, physically challenged and abused between the ages of three and eighteen. Because the number one dream requested each year is to visit the central Florida theme parks, the Dream Village opened in 1990 near Disney World. Now celebrating 20 years and over 20,000 special children visiting the Dream Village! For more information on other 20^th Anniversary events or how you can become more involved with the Sunshine Foundation please visit www.sunshinefoundation.org or call 800-457-1976.