Jersey Shore non-profit grants dreams for area children

Dream Factory started 30 years ago in Kentucky and has grown into the nation's second-largest wish-granting organization.

The Jersey Shore chapter began their work in 2010.

"We grant dreams to the chronically and critically ill children of Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex Counties between the ages of three and 18," said Francine Chussler, Area Coordinator.

The entire family is included in the dream process since they are all affected by the illness.

"Children are referred to us through their pediatricians, through the social workers at the hospitals that they frequent, unfortunately,"

To date, they have granted 13 dreams, ranging from a hot tub to help a child cope with his condition to meeting Lebron James to meeting the case of 'The Walking Dead.'

Chussler said the non-profit is all-volunteer with the dream-granting operation funded solely on grants and donations.

"Sometimes it's not easy. We have a budget of $5,000 per dream, and we raise that money through the fundraisers that the five of us on our board do," she said.

In fact, they held their 5th Annual Oktoberfest over the weekend in Brick. It's their largest yearly fundraiser.

"Our donations have dropped off dramatically, especially in the last two years, three years since we've had the storm," Chussler explained.

In the wake of Sandy, though, chapters around the country stepped up to pitch in money to make sure the Jersey Shore chapter could continue to grant dreams.

Chussler said they are trying to gain exposure around New Jersey to fulfill dreams for as many children as possible.

"We take them as they come in and right now, we are in a little bit of a drought, believe it or not," she explained. "We haven't had a dream request in the last month of so."

Find out more about this great New Jersey non-profit by visiting the Dream Factory of the Jersey Shore website.