Resident Makes Dreams Come True For Some

OCEAN CITY - Finding true happiness in a career can be hard to come by. The road is full of bumps, turns and dead-ends that all try to shake the resolve of anyone in search of their lifelong dreams. However, along 66th Street there is a condominium where one gentleman has successfully navigated that road and seems happier than ever.
That man is Wayne Littleton, program coordinator for Ocean City's Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation, a group poised to help children who suffer from life-threatening diseases and their families along a metaphorical road of their own littered with plenty of obstacles that sometimes make every day a challenge.
Going on its 25th anniversary, the Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation provides hospital and retreat housing services to critically ill children and their families.

One of those retreats is operated by Littleton, who says the foundation has been a part of Ocean City for almost 20 years.
'Basically what we want to do is give them a relief from their everyday stresses,' Littleton said. 'They come here and it's almost like they can forget about their problems for the time. No phone calls, no doctors, no treatments. It's a chance for them to renew their spirits and to regroup because a lot of them are facing some serious challenges.'
Littleton, who has been a part of the Believe in Tomorrow House By the Sea for 11 years, six of which have been as program coordinator, said Ocean City's retreat housing assists 160-170 families a year, totaling approximately 600 kids and adults. Most of the families come from the mid-Atlantic region but some have come from as far away as Australia where a break in Ocean City between surgeries at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore was a welcome reprieve for one family.
'A lot of foundations are •€˜one and done', he said. 'With us you really get to know our family because you can come down as much as you want, sometimes they will come until they are 18 years old.'
For the children, just coming to Ocean City is an adventure in itself since many have never even seen the beach or ocean before, something Littleton said we all take for granted at times.

Once at the retreat, everything is provided to the families through donations and funds raised by Littleton and his team of 90 volunteers, who he says, 'give their heart and soul here.' However, they aren't the only ones providing assistance as Littleton said the town itself is crucial in backing the foundation and what they are for. This includes free passes to Trimper's Amusement Park and Jolly Rogers, tennis and golf lessons from members of the community, and even fishing trips hosted by the Ocean Pines Angler's Club.
'The businesses and the public really step up,' Littleton said. 'It's a very generous community here, the people are just great.'
The only thing Littleton wishes the foundation could do is service more children.

'The kids come here and I'll be honest, we spoil them rotten,' Littleton adds with a smile. 'I mean that's our goal here, we just want to spoil them.' As for finding his way to Believe In Tomorrow Children's Foundation, Littleton said it was a news article that caught his attention and lead him down his newfound path.
'One day, on the front page of the USA Today,there was an article that the organization had just granted its 50,000th wish,' he said, 'I looked at this article where they sent this inner city youth to the Midwest to a cowboy camp and it was just the coolest thing.'
Soon after, Littleton said he had the article clipped out and was on the phone trying to figure out how he could become involved.

Littleton knows he must be doing something right as he said the foundation in Ocean City has received thousands of letters in their 20 years, all of which are kept along with photos and other items children send as part of their gratitude. However, the greatest gift Littleton receives is when the family makes him a part of their own family.
'One of the things about our program is you really do get to know the children because they are here and you just fall in love with them,' he said. 'We are actually very good friends with some of the families now so I'll always be a part of their kids' life.'