Wish of a Lifetime

At one point, Gina’s world had all but disappeared. Addiction had taken everything. Her health, her independence, her sense of purpose. She spent her days isolated, barely strong enough to leave her room. But with the support of her community, she made the brave decision to fight. And little by little, she came back to life. Today, Gina is thriving. She’s sober. She’s hopeful. And she’s dreaming again. Of standing in Hawaii’s botanical gardens, surrounded by color and life, breathing in the peace of her new chapter. 🌺 Her wish is more than a trip. It’s a symbol of healing, renewal, and hope. And through Wish of a Lifetime from AARP, wishes like Gina’s become reality. Right now, in honor of GivingTuesday, AARP is matching all donations, dollar for dollar, through Monday, December 8, up to $75,000. Your gift today means double the impact, double the transformation. Let’s help more older adults move from surviving to thriving: http://spr.ly/60427foIg #WishOfALifetime #GivingTuesday #HealingJourneys #SeniorWellbeing #TransformationalGiving #NonprofitImpact #DoubleTheImpact #AgingWithPurpose #HopeInAction #GinasStory #DonorImpact #MatchedGiving

The sound of home can be a single chord. For Edgar, music became a bridge. First, between a son and his mother as dementia stole words, and now between an advocate and the older adults he serves. After years supporting Latino families facing Alzheimer’s, he carried one quiet dream: learn guitar so he could bring comfort to people who feel forgotten. Lesson by lesson, a new language returned. Chords under his fingers, songs in Spanish and English, hope in his voice. “I’m excited about the future… this is a gift that will keep on giving.” This is what a wish can do: restore passion, purpose, and connection. 💜 Read more about Edgar: http://spr.ly/604270qZs It’s GivingTuesday! AARP is matching all gifts, dollar for dollar, up to $75,000. That means your gift will go 2X as far to make life-changing wishes come true for seniors. Give today! http://spr.ly/604370qZt Give for the first song shared in a memory-care hallway. Give for the smile that says “you still matter.” Give for the next wish waiting to be heard. #GivingTuesday #WishOfALifetime #DoubleYourImpact #AgingWithPurpose #CommunityImpact #MusicHeals

Some people spend their lives quietly holding everyone around them together. Cathy is one of those people. After her husband’s accident left him with a severe brain injury, she became his caregiver while raising their two young children and returning to school to earn her teaching degree. She went on to teach for 35 years, bringing creativity, joy, and connection to generations of students. And she kept giving: to her community, her church, and anyone who needed someone steady, compassionate, and strong. When Wish of a Lifetime learned she had a lifelong dream to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in person, we were honored to help make it happen. Cathy and her family traveled to New York City, where Patti LaBelle surprised them with news that Cathy had been selected for Lifetime’s Gift of a Lifetime, complete with special gifts and VIP seats in Herald Square. “It was more than I ever could have asked for,” Cathy shared. For her, the real gift wasn’t the parade, it was being there together after everything they had walked through as a family. As we close this week of gratitude, Cathy’s story leaves us with one beautiful truth: Joy multiplies when shared, giving matters, and caregivers deserve to be celebrated just as much as the people they care for. 💜 Read her full story: http://spr.ly/60457qK8V Giving Tuesday is almost here! On December 2, AARP is matching all gifts, dollar for dollar, up to $75,000. That means your gift will go twice as far to make life-changing wishes come true for seniors. Give today! http://spr.ly/60467qK8n #GivingTuesday #FeelGoodFriday #WishOfALifetime #HopeLivesHere #InspirationForAll #CaregiversMatter

This season reminds us how powerful gratitude can be, especially when it’s reflected in the lives and stories of older adults we have the honor to serve. Every face in this collage represents a lifetime of wisdom, resilience, and hope. And every wish reminds us of the profound impact connection can have on well-being and belonging. Today, we’re deeply grateful for our partners, supporters, volunteers, and the communities who help make these moments possible. Happy Thanksgiving from Wish of a Lifetime. 💜 Thank you for helping us uplift older adults nationwide and bring their stories to life. #WishOfALifetime #GratitudeInAction #StoriesThatInspire #HappyThanksgiving

Racing has always been woven into Mike’s story. From watching track days with his father to sharing Formula 1 races with his grandson, Brooklyn. Years ago, Mike’s life nearly ended after a massive heart attack left him with less than a one-percent chance of survival. A successful heart transplant saved his life, but the long recovery took an emotional and financial toll. Through it all, his family remained his anchor, especially Brooklyn. The two spent hours watching races together, their shared passion becoming a symbol of hope and resilience. With help from Wish of a Lifetime, Mike and Brooklyn’s dream came true as they attended the F1 U.S. Grand Prix in Austin. “It was flawless,” Mike said. “Getting to share this with Brooklyn was so special. It’s a gift that will never be topped.” Mike’s story is a reminder that joy itself can be healing, and that the moments we share with those we love often become the greatest victories of all. Read his story: http://spr.ly/604179UJL #WishOfALifetime #HopeLivesHere #WishWednesday #InspirationForAll #Resilience #Family #Formula1Racing

The hug that won’t let go. The first note after years of silence. A name traced in stone with trembling hands, finally said out loud. These are the moments a wish creates. Not grand gestures, but breath-catching ones: a sister found after fifty years, a shoreline goodbye that brings peace, a quiet stand beneath redwoods that whispers, “There is still more I can do.” Giving Tuesday is around the corner! AARP is matching all gifts, dollar for dollar, up to $75,000. That means your gift will go 2X as far to make life-changing wishes come true for seniors. Give today! http://spr.ly/60447eAxK Give for the airport embrace that says “you’re home.” Give for the long-put-off dream. Give to say, you still matter. 💜 #GivingTuesday #WishOfALifetime #DoubleYourImpact #HonorEveryAge #AgingWithPurpose #CommunityImpact

When Joyce was four, her father, Paul, was lost at sea aboard the USS Gudgeon during World War II. She grew up with no memories of him, just two photos and a lifetime of wondering. That loss shaped her life in quiet ways. Joyce poured her love into others, raising four children on her own and serving in healthcare, living by her personal motto: “Family first, people always.” But the ache of never knowing her father never left. With the help of Wish of a Lifetime, Joyce traveled from Washington to Hawaii to stand where her father once stood. To see his name engraved on the Submarine Memorial Wall and step aboard a sister submarine to his. “It was just wonderful,” Joyce said. “I feel closer to my dad after this trip. All these years I just had two pictures — it did a lot for me in my heart.” Her story reminds us that some connections can span oceans, generations, and time — carried by love that never fades. 💜 Read her story: http://spr.ly/60407nUCG #WishOfALifetime #HopeLivesHere #HonoringOurHeroes #LegacyOfLove #InspirationForAll

This Veterans Day, we can do what history did not: welcome Vietnam War-era veterans with dignity and gratitude. Many returned to a divided nation, only to face silence, misunderstanding, or even hostility. Voyage of Valor is rewriting that story through a yearlong journey of storytelling, connection, and a powerful tribute in Washington, D.C. Every gift is a gesture of gratitude. Every dollar helps us say, “You are seen. You are valued.” Support a program that restores honor, strengthens community, and ensures these stories lead the next generation. Join us: http://spr.ly/60437paCf #WishOfALifetime #VoyageOfValor #VeteransDay #CorporateGiving #SocialImpact #Veterans #Philanthropy

This Veterans Day, meet Maggie, a woman whose service didn’t end when the uniform did. She devoted 22 years combined to our country: first in uniform, then in civilian roles that supported the mission behind the scenes. She raised three children, often alone, and kept giving, quietly, consistently, to those around her. Today, her wish is humble yet profound: to experience New York City at Christmastime, to feel wonder again, and to be reminded that her service and her story still matter. Donate today to help bring light to someone’s life, like Maggie’s, where a single wish can rekindle joy, honor a legacy of service, and remind her that she’s never been forgotten: http://spr.ly/60447paoy #WishOfALifetime #VeteransDay #SocialImpact #WomenVeterans #Veterans #SeasonOfGiving #Philanthropy #Nonprofit #AgingWell #GiveJoy

A son’s final salute. Stephan grew up on his mother’s quiet stories of service, discipline, dignity, and the women who marched through doubt together. Only later did he learn she served in the historic Six Triple Eight, the only Women’s Army Corps unit of color deployed overseas during World War II. When he found her name on the roster years after her passing, he cried. Validation of a legacy he’d always felt but never fully knew. His wish: to travel to the White Cliffs of Dover, where a ship’s captain once told his mother, “When you see the cliffs, you’ll know things will be fine.” To stand where she found hope and honor her service with his own. Stephan’s story is one of many unfulfilled wishes waiting to come true. Your donation helps grant meaningful wishes for older adults facing hardship, isolation, and long-held hopes. Donate today: http://spr.ly/60407pQFu #WishOfALifetime #VeteransDay #SixTripleEight #HonorHerService #WhiteCliffsOfDover #GiveJoy #StoriesThatHeal