Cole “Junior” Rhoads lives with the challenges of autism. His speaking ability is limited, but it doesn’t matter. Children’s eyes say everything.
And for Junior, everything that gets him to shyly smile for a brief moment or two, comes in the form of his favorite football team. The Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles!
Credit: Sunshine Foundation
Recently the Sunshine Foundation and sponsored by Waste Gas Steel Fabrication in Fairless Hills, provided Junior with an array of Philadelphia Eagles themed items and a complete bedroom makeover as part of making a dream come true for him and his family.
“Junior” lives with autism and is excited about having his Eagles-themed bedroom being completed. Waste Gas executives, along with Sunshine Foundation president, Kate Sample, welcomed Cole and his family to their offices. They presented him with some additional Eagles items to enhance his bedroom makeover experience.
Lower Bucks Source supporter and Junior’s grandmother, DeAnna Shea was ever so grateful, along with her son James (Junior’s father) and his grandfather AKA “Pop-Pop” for Sunshine Foundation, bringing the Eagles makeover to fruition.
We’re just truly grateful for everything Rick at Waste Gas and Kate at Sunshine did for my grandson. I am deeply touched by the care and outpouring, Shea and Junior’s father, Jimmy said.
The Sunshine Foundation’s history is well documented dating back to a 1980’s story that appeared in then one of the most popular and read publications, Reader’s Digest.
Philadelphia police officer Bill Sample was assigned to a local children’s hospital. He encountered children with serious health issues and saw first-hand how these children’s families were burdened not only by mounting medical bills, but also by the frustration of not being able to provide their children’s special dream. In November 1976, Bill decided to make difference. He took out a personal loan and with the help of others sent Bobby, who struggled with leukemia, and his family to the mountains to spend a week snowmobiling, sledding and simply enjoying what Bobby told his nurse he dreamed of, “playing in the snow.”
Bill’s wife. Kate, took over her husband’s mission when he passed away, bringing bliss to children and families everywhere.
I’m only too happy to bring light to challenges may families face who have children living with challenges. We’ve been doing this now for about 30 years and often times its in partnership with Waste Gas Fabricating Company, Inc. who time and time again come through for us in a big way. Kate said.
Waste Gas, which is 100 percent employee owned, manages to maintain a low profile, yet successful business, a company official said, but we also understand our responsibility to the community at large, and sponsoring “Juniors” bedroom makeover took a nanosecond to say yes to.
Lower Bucks Source is proud to sponsor the Sunshine Foundations’ “Run, Walk, Bark for Dreams Run/Walk on May 17 by providing free advertising for the event.
Credit: Sunshine Foundation
Know a family or child you want to bring some sunshine too? Click here and mention Lower Bucks Source and the Sunshine Foundation team will do all it can to bring that dream to fruition.