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Charity Drives Auto Show

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By LIZ BLEAU, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

GIBSONTON - The Dream Factory, a charity that grants wishes for sick children, is itself a dream come true for chapter organizer Julie Duncan.

Duncan, 36, of Brandon, who organized the chapter this year, is putting the final touches on the fledgling charity's first car show scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday in the Wal-Mart parking lot, 9205 Gibsonton Drive.

Establishing a chapter is something Duncan has wanted to do for some time. For her, the Dream Factory is a family tradition - her mom and her sister have organized chapters in their hometowns in Tennessee and Louisiana.

Admission to the car show will be a donation of any amount to Dream Factory of Florida. In addition to the cars on display, the event will have face painting, a balloonist, petting zoo, bounce house and food stands.

Duncan's sister Rhonda Pierce founded the Memphis, Tenn., Dream Factory chapter 13 years ago. The group's convention last year in Orlando inspired Duncan to start organizing the chapter for this area, the first in Florida.

At the convention, she learned about Give Kids the World, a village near Disney World that offers families with ill children the opportunity for a low-cost or cost-free vacation.

'This allows families with sick children to stay in a nice place and have a really good time together,' Duncan said. 'There's transportation to Disney World, and the kids have access to free ice cream 24 hours a day.'

The mother of two healthy children recognizes the struggles of parents of sick children.

'I have been so blessed in my life. I cannot imagine how the parents of some of these children suffer,' she said.

Duncan, whose husband, Jon, is in the military, has worked with military spouses organizing other charity events, which she said helped her with the Dream Factory work.
Dream Factory operates almost completely on volunteer help, which allows up to 90 percent of donations to be used for granting wishes, Duncan said. About 6 percent goes to support the charity's headquarters and staff of four.
Dream Factory also grants wishes for chronically ill children and their families.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: A fundraising show of all types of cars, models and years, along with food, face painting, a petting zoo, balloons and games

WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: 9205 Gibsonton Drive, Gibsonton, in the Wal-Mart parking lot

COST: Attendance by donation

INFORMATION: Julie Duncan, (813) 323-1427

Reporter Liz Bleau can be reached at (813) 865-1557 or lbleau@tampatrib.com.

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