History of the Foundation

In July of 1998, Cammi Granato and her family started the GOLDEN DREAMS FOR CHILDREN FOUNDATION with a generous grant from VISA INTERNATIONAL. The Foundation was organized to provide support for children with special needs.

The first endeavor of the Foundation was to participate in the Annual Heritage Festival in the town of Downers Grove where Cammi and her four brothers and sister grew up. A nonprofit organization could run a booth and get the word out about their organization. With the help of more than fifty families, the Foundation raised over $1,000 during a three-day period by selling bottled water and playing a game of floor hockey.

In August 1998, the GOLDEN DREAMS FOR CHILDREN Foundation was asked to contribute to the American Brain Tumor Association's reprinting of a book titled, Alex's Journey. We were proud to be counted among those who helped get this wonderful book into the hands of children who are diagnosed with such a devastating illness.

In September of 1998, the GOLDEN DREAMS FOR CHILDREN Foundation made a contribution to the Team Illinois Girls Hockey organization to help fund the growth of the sport at the grass roots level. Also in the fall of 1998, "Cammi and the Gold Medal" posters were printed to be given out to anyone making a donation to the Foundation.

1999 was a year to access the needs of the many organizations that have petitioned Cammi's help. To give unselfishly of one's talents or wealth is the universal way to better the world in which we live. When Cammi was born at the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood in 1971, there was no way of knowing that twenty-eight years later, she would come full circle with the establishment. When she toured the Ronald McDonald Children's Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center, Cammi was impressed with the dedication of the staff and the homey environment that the hospital had created to keep the family unit in tact throughout the hospital stay. She was equally impressed with the advanced technical procedures that cut right to the core of many problems and provide swift solutions allowing the patients to go home sooner than at many other hospitals.

Ronald McDonald Charities have donated the funds to renovate the children's hospital and have issued a challenge grant of 2.5 million dollars. The Golden Dreams for Children Foundation has pledged $100,000 toward that challenge grant.

"Believe in yourself and you can achieve the unimaginable!"

Cammi Granato
Olympic Gold Medallist
Women's Ice Hockey