Nonprofit granting wishes for hospice patients seeks support in Las Vegas

Think of it as the Make-A-Wish Foundation for hospice patients.

Caitlin Crommett's nonprofit organization DreamCatchers connects high school and college students with senior citizens who are expected to die within six months. The organization then does its best to fulfill a final wish or dream for those hospice patients.

Dreams are granted by the students and are typically on a small scale. They may include a great meal from a favorite restaurant, seeing a relative or experiencing a hobby once more.

"We're trying to give people a happy ending," said Crommett, the group's founder and a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind. "That's the goal, and it's just the best thing. I think once people have granted one dream, they'll want to do more."

Crommett and fellow Notre Dame student Katie McElligott were in Las Vegas in July to recruit schools and hospices to join their cause. It was the last stop on a trip that included Raleigh, N.C.; Washington, D.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Phoenix.

They met with officials at Bishop Gorman High School, 5959 S. Hualapai Way; Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School, 2015 S. Hualapai Way; and Carrington College, 5740 S. Eastern Ave. They also contacted Creekside Hospice, 3675 Pecos-McLeod Connect, No. 500; and Solari Hospice Care, 5550 S. Jones Blvd.

Solari spokeswoman Nancy Prenzno said the hospice is looking forward to working with the clubs if they get started. Solari would provide the schools with names of patients and their wishes, then schedule a day and coordinate care for the patient during the fulfillment of their dream.

Crommett started DreamCatchers at 15 as a club at Tesoro High School in Las Flores, Calif. She had been volunteering at a nearby hospice since she was 12 and had all the contacts.

Crommett got the idea after watching "Patch Adams," starring Robin Williams as a doctor. The first wish her club granted was for a lifelong sailor who wanted to go out on the water one last time. He and his family were treated to a day on a sailboat and were served lunch.

At 16, Crommett was chairwoman of the board of directors of her own nonprofit group. Several nearby high schools had DreamCatchers clubs by the time she graduated. During her senior year, her club granted about 20 dreams.

For one dream the club decorated a woman's room like a fancy restaurant and served her a five-course meal. They threw another woman a 100th birthday party. They also flew a man's sister in from Seattle so he could see her one last time. Crommett said the man held his sister's hand the entire time.

McElligott is new to the organization and has yet to grant a dream but said she is "really excited to start granting dreams when we get back to school."

"It sounds pretty rewarding, and I can't think of a better way to use your free time," she said.

Crommett and McElligott are seeking sponsorships to be able to fund more dreams and help more clubs get started.

Crommett said students at any school can start a club, and her nonprofit group will help with startup money.

For more information about starting a local club or to donate, visit dreamcatchers1.com, email Crommett at dreamcatchercaitlin@cox.net or call 949-282-5948.

Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 224-5524.