[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8758-8759]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO CHILDREN'S DREAM FUND

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                          HON. DAVID W. JOLLY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 14, 2016

  Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Children's 
Dream Fund on their 35th anniversary.
  The Children's Dream Fund was established in 1981 as the Suncoast 
Children's Dream Fund. Franise Geringer, a small South African boy with 
aging disease, had a dream to meet his hero, Pinocchio. The Sunshine 
City Jaycees of St. Petersburg raised funds for the family to visit 
Disneyworld and any excess funds raised would go to the family. 
However, the family denied the extra funds and instead chose for the 
money to go to helping other children.
  After twenty years, the Suncoast Children's Dream Fund was renamed to 
the Children's Dream Fund. It now serves children in West Coast Florida 
who are referred to by neighboring children's hospitals. It helps 
children between ages three and eighteen with life threatening diseases 
and has fulfilled over two thousand dreams. These dreams range from a 
celebrity meet, a trip, a gift, or most frequently, a week at the Give 
Kids the World Village in Kissimmee.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the Children's Dream Fund for their 
excellent work over the past 35 years. They have given hope to so many 
kids and their families in Pinellas County and West Central Florida. I 
ask that this body join me in recognizing their efforts.

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