It All Started with a Simple Act of Kindness

In 1984, the late Thomas R. McGehee, Chairman of Mac Papers, and his wife, Delia, met a 17-year-old boy named George Lee, who was battling cystic fibrosis. George loved golf, and when McGehee learned this, he arranged for George to play with Fred Couples in the Pro-Am of the The Players Championship (TPC). Following an exciting round of play, Couples gave George his driver. This simple act of kindness not only meant the world to George, but also his family. A year later, George lost his battle with cystic fibrosis and was buried with his prized driver at his side.
That could have been the end of the story, but Mr. McGehee realized the power of a dream fulfilled. Partnering with his friends, Hugh Jones (Chairman of Barnett Bank), Jay Stein and Jack Williams (Stein Mart) and Roy Baker (Chairman of the Board of Directors of University Medical Center), as well as his godson, Dr. Paul Wharton, they launched Dreams Come True, a non-profit organization dedicated to granting the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses.

We’ve Never Turned Away a Dreamer and We Never Will

Dreams come in all shapes and sizes; some children ask for a trip to Disney World, a cruise or the opportunity to meet a celebrity. For others, the dream is seeing snow or snuggling with their very own puppy. Whatever the dream may be, it’s the momentary reprieve from doctor visits, tests and medical treatments that makes all the difference.

As the First Coast’s only locally-based organization dedicated to making dreams come true, we are proud to say that we have never turned away a dreamer and we never will. We can do this because of the generosity of our donors, business partners, program sponsors, and the support of our Board of Directors. We are not affiliated with any national wish-granting charity and 100% of all donations go toward fulfilling dreams, unless otherwise directed by the donor.
Since 1984, Dreams Come True has fulfilled the dreams of more than 4,300 children in North Florida and South Georgia.

Your Donation

Dreams Come True of Jacksonville is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Your financial contributions may be deductible for federal income tax purposes. We recommend that you consult with your CPA to determine the extent of tax deductibility. Dreams Come True respects the privacy interests and preferences of our donors and website visitors. We are committed to full transparency in outlining what information we collect about donors and visitors, how it is used and how you can opt-out of those programs (online or by traditional communications) if you so choose. Learn more about our Privacy Policy at: https://www.dreamscometrue.org/privacy/

Our Team