For some, dreams don’t fade with age — they simply wait for the right moment to come true. The Twilight Wish Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to granting wishes for low-income seniors, has been making those moments happen for more than two decades. Now, the organization is expanding its reach with a new chapter opening in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, June 17.
Founded in 2003, the Twilight Wish Foundation has granted over 7,000 wishes to seniors across the United States. These wishes range from simple comforts to extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Soon-to-be Executive Director of the Lehigh Valley chapter, Cierra Palmer, explained the heart behind the mission:
“They started chapters all over the United States. A Twilight Wish grants recognizes seniors for all they have done throughout their lives and shows them that they are appreciated and valued.”
Many of the requests are modest — a new walker, a laptop to stay connected to family, or even a night out with friends. Others, however, are deeply personal and emotional, reflecting lifelong passions and dreams never forgotten.
Such was the case for Kimberly Owen, who had adored singer Donny Osmond since childhood. Growing up in North Carolina, Owen wrote songs about the Osmonds and dreamed of meeting her idol. Twilight Wish made that dream a reality. She was flown to Las Vegas to see Osmond perform at Harrah’s, where she not only met him backstage but shared an hour-long conversation — and even performed a duet with him. For Owen, it was a moment suspended in time, touching a piece of her youth and bringing it forward into the present.
Another remarkable wish was granted to Bobbie Joe Flater, a U.S. Army veteran who served for 20 years, including during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Though he earned a Bronze Star for his service, there was one experience he had always hoped for but never achieved: flying in a fighter jet. At age 75, Twilight Wish Foundation made that long-held dream a reality, lifting the veteran into the sky in a moment of exhilaration and honor.
The new Lehigh Valley chapter will launch at The Birches of Lehigh Valley, a senior living community on Freemansburg Avenue in Bethlehem Township. The chapter’s presence will allow more local seniors to share their stories, voice their dreams, and see those dreams fulfilled.
Because sometimes, the wishes that matter most are those that help us remember who we are — and remind us that it’s never too late to feel valued, celebrated, and seen.