Finding Purpose, Connection and Inspiration in Dreams Brought to Life

When Wish of A Lifetime joined the AARP family a little over two years ago, we looked forward to helping thousands of older adults fulfill their lifelong dreams.?Now we are thrilled to be a part of bringing these possibilities to life.?

Robbie Robinson, an electric vehicle enthusiast, is a wonderful example. As you can see in the video below, Wish of A Lifetime brought Robbie to a GM plant rolling out electric vehicles, where he toured the facility and then took a memorable ride.?Recalling earlier days of burning holes in his pants as he converted his hybrid into a plug-in, then getting an up-close view of the auto industry’s EV transformation fully recharged his optimism and eagerness to inspire others to adopt EVs.?

Anne Fiyalka is another case in point.?Eighty-five years after taking a short flight, as a high school student, with Amelia Earhart, Anne got to recreate that flight, at the age of 101.???

James H. Harvey III, a Tuskegee Airman, also got to soar again, in a sense, thanks to Wish of A Lifetime from AARP.?Four years after the end of WWII, he and other Tuskegee Airmen won a competition testing aerial skill.?Somehow the trophy disappeared, and the airmen never received official recognition.?Wish of Lifetime from AARP heard the story, contacted the Air Force Association, and more than 70 years after the competition, an official ceremony was finally held.?

Since Wish of A Lifetime was founded in 2008, the wishes it has granted cover a broad spectrum.?Marguerite Miller, who, as a 12-year-old in France, worked alongside her mother to hide Allied pilots who were shot down, had a lifelong wish to skydive.?Wish of Lifetime made it come true.?

Bertha Nunn dreamed as a child of becoming an actress, but family caregiving responsibilities took priority.?Then, in her 80s, Wish of A Lifetime got her an appearance on a tv commercial for toothpaste.?

Salvatore Reale, a retired firefighter and New York Yankees fan since the 1930’s, got to throw out the first pitch at a Yankees game.?

Wish of A Lifetime from AARP redefines aging?as it fulfills longstanding dreams.?Turning these wishes into reality renews a sense of purpose and connection, and inspires others to pursue their own dreams.?

I am proud to work with colleagues who bring dreams to life. Drawing a lesson from his own work for a healthier planet, Robbie Robinson said something in the video that applies beautifully to Wish of A Lifetime from AARP: “There are so many things people can do if they don’t just think about themselves anymore, but they think about others.”?