We make dreams come true for children with a life-threatening illness by giving them hope to believe that tomorrow is worth fighting for.
Since 1988, The Reach For A Dream Foundation has brought hope, joy and healing to countless children by encouraging them to use their dreams to fight life-threatening illnesses.
We seek to alleviate the strain a critical illness places on children and their families by making their dreams come true. These dreams — ranging from meeting personal heroes to getting new toys or experiencing new things for the first time — provide them with a temporary escape and a much-needed distraction from often painful medical treatments. Most importantly, fulfilled dreams inspire hope, giving these children a reason to believe that tomorrow is worth fighting for.
Our national projects like Laughter Heroes, Dream Rooms and Dream Club provide ongoing support, enhancing the lives of these brave young fighters and their families.
Reach For A Dream relies solely on donor funding and public support to ensure the success of our initiatives. We’re proud of our Level 1 B-BBEE certification but mostly of making magic happen.
Reach For A Dream’s inception was inspired by an article about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, based in America. Owen Parnell, a past Rotary Club President, was struck by the opportunity to establish a similar venture in South Africa. On 7 July 1988, Reach For A Dream made its very first dream come true. The first dreamer, little JC Steinman, was treated to a wonderful birthday celebration including rides on a pony and a motorcycle.
From modest beginnings where we provided simple treats and entertainment to hospital patients, we’ve grown into a leading NGO, receiving the CSI Legacy award for Best NGO in South Africa in 2022. Our evolution has been driven by a dedicated team of staff, volunteers, YES4YOUTH graduates and board members, who work tirelessly to ensure every child’s dream is heard and fulfilled.
We are proud to have a committed and passionate Board of Directors, who volunteer their time to support our purpose and strategy.
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Vice Chairman and Treasurer
Thank you to our donors for making dreams come true.
To all our community donors (including media, influencers, celebrities, businesses and individuals) who support us – we salute you. You are valued dream-makers!
