Posted at: 04/03/2009 10:31 AM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 04/06/2009 11:35 PM
By: Jennifer Johnson

2009 ESL Jefferson Award Winner: Laura Walitsky

Laura Walitsky has three kids of her own. She also has 100 Dream Factory kids. "They're just kids and they deserve something really wonderful," Laura said. The Dream Factory grants the dreams of critically and chronically ill children.

She can tell you about each child and each dream. Dream 50 was Michael Collins of Greece who was fighting cancer in 2004. He wanted to go shopping. The Dream Factory secured a $1,500 shopping spree for him. His dad said it was priceless. "To see him doing something other than going to a doctor getting a blood transfusion, chemo treatment, blood test, today's a day where he can just walk around and do what he wants to do," James Collins said in 2004.

Laura has now helped 100 Rochester-Area kids. In March the Dream Factory celebrated 10 years for the local chapter. Laura is founder and executive director and has helped in some way on every dream. Kids have gone to Disney World (and stayed at an amazing place called Give Kids the World). Kids have met celebrities including Keith Urban, Emeril Lagasse and Jim Kelly. One got into the Notre Dame football locker room and went to a game. Another flew over the Grand Canyon. Marc Buchholz of Fairport went to the White House and met then President George W. Bush. Marc nominated Laura for the ESL Jefferson Award.

Granting a dream is often hard to pull off. ften time they have to be planned around hospital stays or doctor visits and kids who have fragile immune systems usually can't travel with the public. But Laura says all the hard work is worth it. "Some of the kids have passed away and I've gone to the funerals and her photo album of her trip to Disney World was there and the next time a child passed away I went to that funeral and the same thing."

Twelve-year-old Elizabeth Hart of Webster is Dream #100 for the Rochester Chapter. She met Broadway sensation Idina Menzel last month and knows who to thank for her dream come true. Elizabeth said, "Thank you, you're really awesome Laura, you rock, you're amazing."

As for Laura, she is ready to get back to work. "We want to do more dreams, that's why we are here."

The Dream Factory has 38 chapters with over 5,000 volunteers. Because there are no employees on the local level, 84-percent of all money raised by The Dream Factory is used directly to grant the dreams.

To find out more about the Rochester Chapter, go to www.dreamfactoryrochester.com.