HAMMONTON TEENAGER RECIEVES GIFT FROM THE SUNSHINE FOUNDATION
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HAMMONTON -- Members of the Hammonton community have been raising money to make a wish come true for one of their neighbors, and on Tuesday their hard work officially paid off. NBC40 was there for the special presentation.

The president of the Sunshine Foundation, Kate Sample, and members of the local Hammonton volunteer chapter made a few final adjustments before today's big announcement.

"You're going to Disney!" the crowd announced as Sam Villari exited his Hammonton home.

The Sunshine Foundation has been answering the dreams of chronically ill, physically challenged, and abused children for decades, and thanks to Hammonton's local chapter, Sam, who is only 16-years-old and has muscular dystrophy, will not get to spend time at the Sunshine Foundation's Dream Village in Orlando.

"We are just so honored to do this for him to spread a little sunshine and give him and his aunt and uncle something away from the doctor's visits, the therapies, surgeries, all the things Sam goes through every day," Sample said.

Sam lost his mother earlier in the year, and while being in the Sunshine State is always a positive, it's his mom's sister who will make this trip special.

"What's the first thing you want to do when you get there?" Sam was asked. "See my aunt, hopefully," he said.

"He's been through a lot this year. He lost his mom in February. It's been rough, but he's looking forward to everything. It's gonna be amazing because he has no idea what's coming or what's there. Nothing," said Sam's aunt, Anna Mae Pratzner.

Sam will hit the road on October 28, and while he's already busy making travel plans, took time to thank those who helped make the trip possible.

"It's definitely great how they can do this," Sam said. "Thank you, thank you for everything."

For more information about the Sunshine Foundation, and how to help make more dreams come true, visit the foundation's website, www.sunshinefoundation.org.