Last month Children’s Dream Adventures completed our first family adventure!!!

Earlier this year our organization received a Walmart Community grant from Walmart store #5347 in Estero, FL and the Walmart Foundation, which was matched by our director Margaret Diamond, that was combined with additional donations from Pat Johnson, Jason Brainerd, The Adventure Center at Plantation on Crystal River Resort, FOE 1583 Ladies Auxiliary, Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter, and South Hills Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat.

CDA selected an amazing foster mother who has been licensed for over 10 years and still accepts emergency and respite care assignments, including the same night that they returned home from their adventure. Tragically, she lost her husband and high school sweetheart who was also a police officer in 2021, while they were in the process of adopting their third foster child, in addition to her and her husband’s 2 natural children, the oldest of whom just graduated from USAF basic training before the trip.

The family gave us some awesome trip ideas and CDA combined some of the family’s ideas and sent the family on a 5 day/4-night adventure to Crystal River, FL where the kids enjoyed the zipline and plunge pool at their vacation rental. The family had a great time on their private manatee tour at the adventure center at Plantation on Crystal River and tubing at Rainbow Springs State Park. The family also enjoyed a trail ride with Orange Blossom Trail Rides and took in a Mermaid Show and touch-tanks on the way home at Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter.

Thanks again to all of our generous donors and sponsors who made this trip possible!!!