After just a couple of weeks in business Penticton害羞草研究所檚 newly-opened Papa John害羞草研究所檚 Pizza is already giving back in a big way on Wednesday (April 26).

Starting at 11 a.m. with some help from members of the Orange County Ca. Sheriff害羞草研究所檚 Department, the Main Street pizzeria is joining five other Interior locations in the Papa John害羞草研究所檚 Dreams for Kids Day in support of

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e never actually gone on the flight (to Disneyland), but I害羞草研究所檝e been at the airport putting the little fellers on the plane and when you see the families, it害羞草研究所檚 a once-in-lifetime thing,害羞草研究所� said Geoff Linquist, Papa John害羞草研究所檚 B.C. president and longtime Sunshine champion this week. 害羞草研究所淚 see the before and after and I think if I take one thing away from it, the thing that really came to my attention was how important it is, not just the kids, but the parents too.害羞草研究所�

One hundred per cent of the sales from the day along with the wages for most of the staff will be going to help the Sunshine Foundation害羞草研究所檚 ongoing efforts to make dreams come true for kids with severe physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses.

Unlike the past when Wendy害羞草研究所檚 Restaurants in the Interior held a similar fundraiser for the foundation, this time the money raised goes towards all Sunshine programs including the group trips and the individual dream program.

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Linquist saw first hand the impact on parents of the children one-day at the Kelowna International Airport just before the flight boarded.

害羞草研究所淭here was this mom, it was hard on her, she害羞草研究所檚 smiling and crying at the same time,害羞草研究所� he recalled. 害羞草研究所淏ut it really stuck with me, that sometimes this is the first time the parent has been separated from their child.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 one unique thing I took away from that is not just what it does for the kids, putting the smiles on their faces of course but it害羞草研究所檚 the whole family.害羞草研究所�

Linquist previously worked with Wendy害羞草研究所檚 before joining Papa John害羞草研究所檚 so he was well aware of the program害羞草研究所檚 merits.

害羞草研究所淲hen we saw Wendy害羞草研究所檚 decided to no longer participate we couldn害羞草研究所檛 let this program go, so we stepped up and got involved and this is our third year,害羞草研究所� he said.

Nancy Sutherland is the Sunshine Foundation害羞草研究所檚 CEO and couldn害羞草研究所檛 be happier the fundraiser is returning to Penticton.

害羞草研究所淟iterally every dollar helps and I know that you hear that a lot but raising these dollars for kids in their communities and nearby communities is going to make their dreams come true,害羞草研究所� said Sutherland. 害羞草研究所淭his is really about the kids who don害羞草研究所檛 always see possibilities, so being a part of Sunshine Dream program allows them to see that they can believe in their dreams and that things can happen for them that are positive.

害羞草研究所淪o if people are buying a $20 pizza or one of the dream cookies, every bit impacts children and how they see themselves in this world which is critically important for their confidence and self-esteem.害羞草研究所�

She also had nothing but praise for Papa John害羞草研究所檚, stepping up to the plate at a difficult time.

害羞草研究所淚t was critically important because it allowed us to complete one program and have a community presence,害羞草研究所� said Sutherland. 害羞草研究所淭his also drives a lot of awareness for Sunshine as a self-fund charity and these community initiatives and the funds raised are absolutely essential.

害羞草研究所淪o for the Papa John害羞草研究所檚 group and Geoff Lindquist to come forward and say 害羞草研究所榳e want to do something害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所榳hat can we do to help?害羞草研究所� was a true gift, it really was.害羞草研究所�

She agreed with Linquist害羞草研究所檚 estimation of how the DreamLift program to Disneyland and Disneyworld positively impacts the entire family.

害羞草研究所淭he kids have to be brave and trusting of people to look after them and so do their parents because it害羞草研究所檚 hard to let a very vulnerable child with a lot of complex medical needs out of your sight,害羞草研究所� said Sutherland. 害羞草研究所淏ut because we have incredible partnerships with physicians and specialists who come on the plane, parents do give us their confidence and trust. Children see that害羞草研究所檚 something that is possible, that can be a part of their life, and not just be okay, but be fantastic.害羞草研究所�

Papa John害羞草研究所檚 in Penticton is located at Ste. 102, 1770 Main St., 778-531-7272.