CAYUGA—Residents supported by Community Living Haldimand (CLH) are continuing to dream big as the organization has once again granted wishes.
The Jennie Deagle Dream Fund is a charitable endeavour created to honour the legacy of CLH founder Jennie Deagle. Deagle, who retired in 1984 and passed away in 2017, is remembered to this day as “instrumental in creating a firm foundation for growth and continued success for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. She envisioned meaningful lives where voices are heard, choices are unlimited, and community involvement occurs naturally. Jennie’s Dreamers are living legacies to this remarkable lady as they work to transform their wishes into realities,” shared CLH office assistant Nancy Bosch.
“She was an amazing lady,” added Deanna Schaus, one of the members on the dream fund committee.
From a trip to Prince Edward Island to great seats at a WWE match in Toronto, seven recipients had their dreams fulfilled this year.
First launched in 2019 through a funding donation from the Golden Horseshoe Antique Society, of which Deagle was a member, the fund has granted a combined 39 dreams in the years since.
Schaus said that once all applicants have applied for the annual fund by submitting their wish, members of the committee meet with the dreamers “so we can learn more about them and help us know more about the individuals, what they want, and how we can help them, to make it possible to fulfill the dream.”
The committee was excited to grant two dreamers a trip within Canada this year, thanks to the “giving, generous, and supporting community” that helps to back the dream fund through donations.
“Jennie was a firm believer in inclusion, that all people, all children, all adults, should be able to be included in regular society,” said Schaus, noting Deagle’s initial inspiration behind founding CLH was to create a school environment where her son Jim would not be treated as lesser-than because of his cerebral palsy and mental development delays.
She called the dream fund committee and team a “big network of people” all working together to keep Deagle’s dream of an inclusive and open society alive. Current committee members include Schaus, Deagle’s daughter Joyce Osinga, Anne Long, Suzanne Rauwerda, and Shari Booker.
This year’s dreamers include:
Tim – for a trip to PEI with his sister to relive a trip they took there as children.
Leah – funds toward the purchase of a new bedroom set, with her mother Donna sewing matching draperies, comforter, and pillows for the room.
Cole – Maple Leafs tickets, as he is excited to take his brother to a game this season.
Jessica – camping equipment to get back to camping like she did as a child with her family. She said, “My dream was to go back to camping and I received a tent, sleeping bag, camping chairs, and a sleeping pad from the Jennie Deagle Dream Fund. My dream benefits me because I used to go camping with my family and it made my mental health much better. Having my dream come true means the world to me. Thank you Jennie Deagle Dreamers.”
Blair – WWE tickets for a lifelong fan.Blair stated he wanted to go to the WWE event because he’s really big into wrestling and he enjoys watching the shows. He cannot remember who his favourite wrestler is, but he had a fantastic time at the WWE event. His dream was to see WWE live and the dream fund was able to make that dream come true.
Clinton – a trip to the Calgary Stampede with his father. Clinton Bell has been dreaming of attending the Calgary Stampede with his dad for many years. According to CLH, the pair met with and talked to many people, and got a behind-the-scenes tour. He enjoyed the tractor pulls and the opportunity to chat with the owners and drivers afterwards. He liked the daily rodeos as well and didn’t even mind climbing the steps to the seventh level each day (Clint counted 1,092 stairs total).
Lance – Blue Jays tickets for him and his brother-in-law, “My dream was to go to a Blue Jay game in Toronto. I received two tickets, a Blue Jays t-shirt and jersey, and bought two decals for my door from the Jennie Deagle Dream Fund,” explained Lance. “I was happy because I remember Jennie helping all of us for a long time. I liked going to the Rogers Centre to see what it looked like and also the Blue Jays won their game! Thank you.”
Schaus noted that successful applicants are eligible to apply again for a new dream every five years, in order to ensure the high demand for the funds are equally distributed to as many dreamers as possible.
She further encouraged those whose dreams were not fulfilled this time around to apply again next year.
The committee will meet in November to begin planning for the 2025 fund.
To donate, visit clhaldimand.com/donate-now.
