Doylestown Group Makes Wishes Come True

In 2009, George Koschorreck, of Doylestown, was just about to turn 75 years old.

His sister, Patricia Smith, wanted to surprise her brother with a party. She filled out a request form on the website of Twilight Wish Foundation, a Doylestown-based nonprofit dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of low-income senior citizens.

Koschorreck was very surprised when a knock sounded on the door of his Doylestown home.

“They came to my house and brought cake and so many nice things and a plaque,” he said. “The surprise was them coming to the house – they showed up with the party at my door.”

Those who think one person can't make a difference haven't yet met Cass Forkin, founder of The Twilight Wish Foundation.

The Lunch That Started it All

While out having lunch with her daughter in 2002 at the Dublin Diner, Forkin noticed a group of seniors fumbling for change to pay their bill.

Preferring to remain anonymous, Forkin paid their check but was soon approached by the group of women. What they said to her next was the inspiration that launched a foundation that would change the lives of seniors around the nation.

“We didn't know there were people like you still out there," Forkin said the women said. "We thought you had forgotten us."

An executive in the healthcare administration field, Forkin never forgot the appreciation those woman expressed for her small, kind deed. She filed for nonprofit status and the Twilight Wish Foundation was born.

Its mission? “To honor and enrich the lives of deserving elders through wish granting celebrations connecting generations.”

Forkin believed there was a great necessity for addressing the needs of seniors that were not primarily medically related. “The smaller things in life that often bring the most joy like getting your hair done, lunch with a friend or a trip to the shore.”

The foundation granted its first wish in January 2004 when an 81-year-old woman, unable to afford a marker for her son's grave, made a wish for a tombstone.

It was granted, as were the more than 1,500 wishes that would soon follow.

With the backing of many politicians and businesses, Twilight Wish began expanding to include 12 regional chapters in 11 states, including New York, Florida, New Jersey and Arizona.  remains on Doylestown's Union Street, and a staff of 5 part-time employees are very involved in helping to grant wishes.

Mary Farrell, director of the group's community relations and a Doylestown resident, said it's very fulfilling to make such a big difference in someone's life.

Farrell recalls one Warminster woman who made a wish for her wheelchair-bound husband. Getting from their condo to the parking lot was difficult, so she wished for a walkway to help ease the burden. Twilight Wish volunteers built it for them.

So what kind of wishes are seniors asking for?

“We've done some denture wishes,” said Farrell, adding these wishes are one of the most difficult to grant because even though they might get services discounted, it's not easy getting a discount on the dentures themselves. But that doesn’t stop them from trying.

Michael Kogan, of Kogan Prosthetics in Jamison, granted Fairless Hills resident Claire Maser a pair of orthopedic shoes.

Kogan said Maser had worn the same pair of shoes for 14 years and had swollen feet and one leg that was shorter than the other.

Because Medicare will not cover orthopedic shoes without an official diagnosis of diabetes, Maser and hundreds of others in need of special shoes are left to endure great pain.

Kogan went one step further and created two pairs of shoes custom-made for Maser's specific needs.

“This is what we should be doing as human beings," Kogan said. "Think about what would happen if the entire world did that – it would be a much better place if people stepped up to help others."

Barbara Neal, of Warminster, realized her life-long dream in 2007 when she rode in a train caboose. Neal said she had wanted to ride in one since she was a little girl.

“It was an obsession when I was a child,” said Neal.

After seeing a commercial for Twilight Wish, she contacted the group, never expecting her wish to be granted because she thought there weren't any cabooses left.

“I was so surprised when they arranged it. They had me bring my grandchildren and great-grandchildren..when I think about it now, I cry – I never thought I would do it.”

The caboose ride took place in Delaware and she received a beautiful collection of photographs documenting the event.

Neal, who recently celebrated her 78th birthday, said as she was riding in the caboose, she just couldn't believe she was there. “I'll never forget it as long as I live, it was something better than I could have ever imagined.”

 Other wishes granted by Twilight Wish include:

• A Vietnam vet who wanted to fly a fighter jet. A local pilot donated part of the cost.

• 12 seniors from Neshaminy Manor went to the playoff games for the Phillies

• A surprise visit by the Philly Phanatic to residents at the Peter Becker Nursing Home in Harleysville.

• New dentures for an 89-year-old woman in Greenburg, PA

Requirements for having a wish granted include being at least 68 years old, having a history of giving back to the community and meeting an annual income of less than $21,660.

People can get involved and help make a senior's wish come true in many ways. For information on becoming a sponsor, making a wish, granting a wish or starting your own chapter, contact the Twilight Wish Foundation.

Maybe you could help make the world "a nicer place to age, one wish at a time.”