Kids & Family

Dream Foundation to Fulfill Dying Alameda Army Veteran's Final Wish to See His Mom

Dream Foundation and Carl’s Jr. will fulfill U.S. Army veteran and terminal lung cancer patient Phillip Van Ingram’s final wish to visit his mother in Chicago.

Dream Foundation, the first and largest national wish-granting organization for adults and their families suffering life-threatening illness, partners each year with CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., as well as their Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s franchisees, for the national burger chain’s Stars for Heroes campaign which raises funds to deliver final dreams to U.S. military heroes and veterans.

Van Ingram, 54, had served in the U.S. Army in Germany for six years, receiving an honorable discharge in 1982. Currently residing with his sister, he has not seen his mother in many years. As she is in poor health and unable to travel—and due to Van Ingram’s limited prognosis of six months or less—this trip may be his last chance to see his mother.

In advance of the reunion, Van Ingram will receive a celebratory delivery of his dream package and itinerary at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 19th at his local Carl’s Jr., 871 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, Calif., 94501.

His sister Lois, who will be traveling to Chicago with him, will also be present. The press is invited to cover this dream delivery.At the Carl’s Jr. “dream delivery” event July 19th, Carl’s Jr. restaurant crew and representatives from the Carl’s Jr. franchise operator TWM Industries will serve as local “dream host” volunteers.

The team will present Van Ingram and his sister with their dream trip itinerary, a celebratory lunch, and other special surprises to enhance the dream experience. 

As Dream Foundation serves the final wishes of adults nationwide from one small office in Santa Barbara, Calif., the organization works with its corporate “Partners in Dreams” and affiliated volunteers to ensure dream experiences maintain a personal touch and sense of community. CKE Restaurants as well as Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s franchisees have been long-time partners of Dream Foundation.

“Truly, it is an honor for us to serve those who have so bravely served our country,” says Kisa Heyer, Executive Director of Dream Foundation. “Phillip’s final wish is to spend a few special days with his mother, and we are delighted to help him achieve this dream. We are also proud to share the experience with CKE, Carl’s Jr. and our national dream host volunteers.”

—Information submitted by Dream Foundation 


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