WISH: What Inspires Students' Hearts

The WISH Program helps youth in foster care attend camps, participate in sports, and engage in extracurricular and enrichment activities by providing grants to offset activity costs.

Purpose: To help youth dream big and reach their educational and enrichment goals by removing financial barriers to participation.

Eligible Request Categories

Education

• Tutoring
• Laptops and learning tools
• College needs

Enrichment

• Camps
• Extracurricular activities
• Sports
• Music or art lessons

Overall Self-Esteem

• Cultural connection activities
• Specialty clothing (not regular clothing available at Project Lemonade Store)
• Therapeutic needs
• Self-expression activities

Non-Eligible Expenses

WISH does not fund:

• Toys
• Furniture
• Cell phones
• Large equipment (e.g., trampolines)
• Gaming systems
• Utility payments
• Travel-related expenses
• Car repairs
• Clothing and shoes regularly found at Project Lemonade Store

Eligibility Requirements

• Age: 5 years and older
• Foster Care Status: Open ODHS/DCYF Child Welfare case, receiving ILP services, or finalized Guardianship status within the last 3 years
• Exclusions: Youth involved in CPS Assessment or finalized adoptions are not eligible

Renewal

• Youth showing continued commitment to the same activity can submit a one-time renewal request during the same calendar year
• WISH does not reimburse for activities already completed - Project Lemonade must pay directly to vendor

Review Timeline

• WISH review committee meets bi-monthly
• Submit applications 3-4 weeks prior to a funding deadline for standard review
• For urgent requests, email wish@projectlemonadepdx.org

Application Process

Frequency: Youth can apply once per calendar year (with one-time renewal option)

How to Apply: Complete the online application form

Required Information

• Application form completion
• Documentation of foster care status (verification conducted upon application submission)
• If WISH staff cannot verify status with ODHS, applicant must provide copy of:
  • Placement letter
  • Guardianship court order

Review and Decision

• WISH review committee reviews applications bi-monthly
• Committee responds to every application with a decision of:
  • Approved
  • Denied
  • Needs Additional Information

Payment Method

• Project Lemonade pays vendors directly - reimbursement for already-paid activities is not available
• Ensure vendors receive payment from Project Lemonade

Urgent Requests

• For time-sensitive funding needs, email wish@projectlemonadepdx.org
• Standard committee review occurs bi-monthly