Happening Hero: A Little Wish from a Big Heart

Wish recipient Judith Szabo with her case manager, Bernadette O'Connor

Judith Szabo, 74, recently had her wish for card-making supplies granted, thanks to locally-based nonprofit, Twilight Wish Foundation. Szabo enjoys making homemade cards for every occasion, often giving them to other residents in her government-subsidized senior housing facility for their own use. She also decorates her building’s bulletin board with a monthly birthday wish for other residents celebrating their birthdays and puts out candy treats for the other residents in her building. Doing these things gives Szabo great pleasure, but because she lives on a fixed income, she often can’t afford the cost of replenishing her card-making supplies.

Szabo’s case manager, Bernadette O’Connor, submitted the wish for craft supplies on her behalf. Szabo has lived a life full of service to others, raising four children and working as an LPN until she was injured in a car accident and unable to continue working. Despite being wheelchair-bound, she still is able to help out one of her daughters who was recently paralyzed following spinal surgery, cooking for her and providing emotional support. She also helps out in another daughter’s bakery during the holiday season, answering phones and taking orders. Her wish was granted on February 27th, 2013 when several representatives from Twilight Wish presented Szabo with a gift basket full of supplies and a gift card to A.C. Moore. Special thanks to A.C. Moore for donating the supplies and to a generous donor for the gift card.

Twilight Wish Foundation is a national nonprofit charitable organization whose mission is to honor and enrich the lives of deserving elders through wish granting celebrations that connect generations. Since its founding in 2003, Twilight Wish has granted over 1,866 individual wishes to seniors throughout the U.S. Twilight Wish grants wishes to seniors who are 68 and older or a permanent resident of a nursing home and earn less than 200% of poverty level. If you would like to nominate a deserving senior or get involved with Twilight Wish, please visit the website at www.twilightwish.org or call 215-230-8777 ext. 104.