Second Wind Dreams was established in Henry County in 2006 with the guidance of the former Henry County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent. This group was established when the number of local senior citizens residing in the assisted living and senior center were asking for wishes and were unable to be filled due to the lack of family, funding, and resources, prompting a need within the community.  After multiple conversations with community leaders, four individuals, including the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent, began discussing and searching ways they could grant the wishes of all the residents, when they discovered Second Wind Dreams, a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the perception of aging through the fulfillment of dreams.    

The Second Wind Dreams Henry County group became involved with the non-profit, growing to more than 12 individuals serving on the group with their focus of granting dreams for seniors living in long term care facilities in Henry County.  The group receives the wishes through the long-term care facility directors at their bi-monthly meetings, they are discussed within the group and voted on.  In the beginning, Second Wind Dreams applied and were granted small grants which ran through the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension program because the program began under the guidance of FCS.  Since 2006, the Second Wind Dreams Henry County group has taken in over $60,000.00 in donations and grants and have paid out over $48,000.00 for 690 dreams!  With this large scale of donations and grants, the Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) recommended to the Second Wind Dreams group about becoming its own entity, allowing them to apply for additional grants to fulfill even larger wishes; therefore, the FCS Extension Agent provided guidance and support to the group in applying for their 501c3 status and the process was successfully completed at the end of  year 2022.  

The rapport from the community with Second Wind Dreams has been nothing but amazing and the families of the senior citizens have been 100% positive as the group continues to grant dreams, small and large.  The Second Wind Dreams group is continuing to grow in support throughout the community as their focus of granting wishes of senior citizens continues to get recognized.