eligibility

For overall eligibility in one of the four Macdonald Family Charity Dream categories, a child must be between the ages of 2 and 18 years old when the application is received or the dream is granted, and they and their family must reside in northern Colorado (Larimer or Weld counties) and the cities within these counties.

Dream Eligibility for a Terminally or Chronically Ill Child

A child is eligible for a Macdonald Family Charity dream if the child meets the following criteria:

  • The child must be between 2 and 18 years old.  They must have reached their second birthday or not have reached their eighteenth birthday at the time the application is received or the dream is granted.
  • The child must reside in the Northern Colorado area identified as Larimer and Weld counties and the cities within these counties.  
  • The child must have been diagnosed with a life-threatening or debilitating medical condition, i.e., a progressive, degenerative, or malignant condition that places the child’s life in jeopardy or restricts the child from normal childhood activity.
    • A progressive medical condition tends to become more severe as time goes by.
    • A degenerative medical condition is the gradual deterioration of cells, tissues, or organs that have impairment or will result in the loss of function.
    • A malignant medical condition is threatening to life and may include cancer or AIDS.
  • A doctor’s medical release must accompany the application for a dream.  A review by a Macdonald Family Charity medical advisor may also be conducted.  A child’s doctor must agree the child is well enough to take part in their dream.

Dream Eligibility for Child Injured in an Accident

A child is eligible for a Macdonald Family Charity dream if the child meets the following criteria:

  • The child must be between 2 and 18 years old.  They must have reached their second birthday or not have reached their eighteenth birthday at the time the application is received or the dream is granted.
  • The child must reside in the Northern Colorado area, identified as Larimer and Weld counties and the cities within these counties.  
  • The child must have been diagnosed with an injury from an accident that includes disfigurement, paralysis, amputation, or is of disabling nature.  
  • A doctor’s medical release must accompany the application for a dream.  A review by a Macdonald Family Charity medical advisor may also be conducted.  A child’s doctor must agree the child is well enough to take part in their dream.

Dream Eligibility for a Foster Child

A child is eligible for a Macdonald Family Charity dream if the child meets the following criteria:

  • The child must be between 2 and 18 years old.  They must have reached their second birthday or not have reached their eighteenth birthday at the time the application is received or the dream is granted.
  • The child must reside in the Northern Colorado area, identified as Larimer and Weld counties and the cities within these counties.  The child must currently be in the foster care system and residing with a Larimer or Weld county foster care family.
  • Documentation such as court records proving foster care status must accompany the application.

Dream Eligibility for a Child from a Family with a Low Income

A child is eligible for a Macdonald Family Charity dream if the child meets the following criteria:

  • The child must be between 2 and 18 years old.  They must have reached their second birthday or not have reached their eighteenth birthday at the time the application is received or the dream is granted.
  • The child must reside in the Northern Colorado area, identified as Larimer and Weld counties and the cities within these counties.  
  • The child/family must be of low income. Low income is defined as a family participating in two or more county, state, or federal low income assistance programs.  Programs include Food Stamps (FS), Medicaid, Colorado Works, Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), Aid to the Needy Disabled (AND), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), Diversion Program (Individual Responsibility Contract), Medicare/Medicaid (QMB, SLIMB, QI-1), Child Health Insurance Plan (CHP), Free or Reduced School Lunch Program, Social Security Supplement (SSI).
  • The family must agree to provide financial status statements and records.