Who We Help
Facts About Foster Care
Many of the wishes granted by One Simple Wish are made by foster children through their families or through the social service agencies that support them. Foster children are an often invisible population. Foster children need our voice...and here are some facts to explain why:
 Over 500,000 children live in the foster care system each year. Foster care often includes multiple home and institution placements, sometimes within the same year or even month. Nearly 58% of children in foster care are children of color. Over 20,000 children age out of foster care every year with little to no support. Imagine turning 18 and having no family, no siblings, no relatives and no mentors to turn to. Children who age out of of foster care are several times more likely to end up homeless, addicted to drugs or incarerated. It is esimated that more than 250,000 prisoners in the US were once foster children. The average child in foster care remains in the system for more than 2 years, living away from their families, friends and familiar environments.
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Wishes We've Granted
One Simple Wish is proud to have granted over 2100 wishes since December 2008. Below are just a few stories. We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our work.
Photos from some of our wishes!
Thanksgiving Meals for Over 180 Families!
Thanksgiving Meal Kits included turkey, sides, snacks and more.
November 2010 - Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, One Simple Wish was able to distribute more than 180 meal kits to families in need throughout NJ.
For more on our volunteer opportunities, check out our MeetUp group.
Wish Granting In Action: Watch Identity Magazine owner, Susan Vernicek grant 30+ wishes for her 30th birthday!
October 2010 - Instead of asking friends and family for gifts for herself, Susan Vernicek asked them to support her 30 Wishes for 30 campaign and raised enough money to grant 39 wishes to children and families in need. Thank you, Susan!
Lunch Cruise on The Spirit of Philadelphia
The teens and staff from Boys and Girls Club of Trenton/Mercer
May 2010 - One Simple Wish treated the teens nominated for Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year to a cruise on The Spirit of Philadelphia.
Teens who receive this honor exhibit a committment to academic excellence and a strong focus on community service.
Free Prom Dresses for Teens In Need
Tammy, Age 18 - formerly homeless and now part of Mary's Place transitional housing program
May 2010 - Throughout February and March, One Simple Wish collected gently worn prom gowns and cocktail dresses and invited
teens from our Community Partner programs to visit our Dress Shop and choose any dress at no cost. Over 500 dresses were collected with 150 of them finding homes! Plus,
over 100 dresses were sold to the public for $10 to raise funds to purchase prom tickets for teens in need.
Click here to view photos from The Dress Shop!
Click here to check out some video from the Shop!
An Evening at Trenton Thunder for NJ Foster Families
May 2010 - One Simple Wish hosted over 100 foster parents and children in honor of National Foster Care Month. The children were treated to a visit
from Boomer, the mascot and were also invited to run onto the field and stand with the players during the National Anthem. The kids had a blast and plans are
already in the works for another evening at the ballpark!
"Just a quick note to let you know that our Foster Children truly enjoyed the thunder game. You have given them a memory that will last a lifetime.
I can not thank you enough for your help and dedication to these children in need. It is a wonderful organization and you should all be commended for your hard work!" - Foster parent
Free Art Classes for Trenton Kids
March 2010 - One Simple Wish is proud to announce the launch of Lissie's Art Sparks, an art program bringing free art classes to Trenton kids
in need. Classes are held for 10 weeks at Artworks Trenton and focus on intermediate level projects. Funds from Lissie's Wish
were used to help establish this wonderful program.
Click here to view more photos from the classes.
Click here to check out video from the first graduating class!
New Glasses Help Boy In School & At Home
December 2009 - One Simple Wish purchased glasses for Daon when his mom, a single mother of three was unable too afford them. Since getting his new glasses,
Daon is already performing better in school and at home!
"Thank you for a wish come true. You will never be forgotten" - Amainyua, Daon's mom
One Simple Wish Hosts New Years Party for Morris County Shelter
December 2009 - One Simple Wish provided Morris County Youth Shelter with funds to allow the residents to plan and prepare their very own New Year's party - something they all
truly enjoyed!
"My New Year's Eve was the most fun I've had in a really long time!" - BJ
"Planning our New Year's Eve Party was totally awesome!" - BS
Phildelphia Eagle Ellis Hobbs Makes Wishes Come True!
December 2009 - Philadelphia Eagles Cornerback Ellis Hobbs granted holiday wishes for 18 kids through One Simple Wish, creating a memorable experience for all.
“Zach had a great time with Ellis Hobbs. He spent one on one time with Zach and Zach truly was appreciative. It was a one in a million opportunity and something Zach will never forget.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.” – Zach’s mother, Patti
“William really enjoyed meeting Ellis. They spent a lot of time shopping for a suit for him to wear on his college interviews
and Ellis really got into it. They discussed different options and he helped him find exactly what he needed.
Thank you so much for this opportunity.” – William’s mother, Deborah
One Simple Wish Builds Playhouse!
April 2009 - One Simple Wish volunteers and Board members build an outdoor playset for the children of Angel's Wings, a temporary residential facility for foster children under 12 years of age.
Our Community Partner Network
One Simple Wish grants wishes for foster children, at-risk youth and impoverished families through our network of Community Partners listed below.
Affordable Housing Alliance
Anchor House
Angel’s Wings
Artworks
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County
Boys and Girls Club of Newark
Boys and Girls Club of Trenton and Mercer County
Center for Family Services
Chariot Riders
Children's Aid and Family Services
Communities in Schools of NJ
Community Access Unlimited
Crossroads Programs, Inc
Devereux Foundation Behavioral Health Group Homes
The Drenk Center
Dress For Success - Mercer County
EASEL Animal Rescue League
Family Success Center of Burlington County
GEMS - Girls Educational and Mentoring Services
Happy Hands Foundation, Inc
HomeFront
IEP Youth Services, Inc.
Isles, Inc
Mary’s Place
Mercer Youth Advocate Program
Middlesex Youth Advocate Program
Might Writers
MonmouthCares
Morris County Youth Shelter
NJ Division of Youth and Family Services
NJ Foster and Adoptive Family Services
Ocean's Harbor House
Our Lady of Lourdes Health Foundation
Paterson Task Force/Hilltop Haven Family Shelter
PEI Kids
Rainbow House
Ranch Hope, Inc
Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children
St. Peter's Orphanage
TILT
TRIAD House
UIH Family Partners
The Urban League of Essex County
Volunteers of America, Northen NJ
Womanspace
Women's Heart Foundation
YMCA Preschool - The Greater Trenton Area
Youth Consultation Services
YWCA - Trenton, NJ
To become a Community Partner, please click here for more information.
Submit a Wish
To submit a wish to be granted by One Simple Wish, please contact one of our Community Partners above. If you are not a member of any of the partner programs listed, please contact us and find out how to locate a church or social service agency in your area to submit a wish on your behalf.
