Gift Recipient Guidelines

The following necessary Guidelines should be considered before submitting an application to Anna’s Celebration of Life Foundation. We would like for you to be completely informed of the process as collaboration and observance of these Guidelines will help this process flow more smoothly.

• The Request a Gift form must be filled out in its entirety and submitted to Anna’s Celebration of Life. Please provide us with as much information as possible in the Item or Service Requested section. Failure to provide truthful information is a basis for denial.
• The gift application may be submitted by a parent, legal guardian and/or doctor or therapist. In the event that a doctor or therapist is completing the application, it is still required to provide us with the names and contact information (including phone, e-mail and address) of the parent or legal guardian. We are required to include the parent or guardian in all communications regarding the child in need.
• After we receive your request, we will request a third-party verification of diagnosis and that the item requested is safe and will benefit the child. The third party will need to be a doctor, nurse, physical therapist, social worker etc and provide the information on signed letterhead with contact info provided.
  
• The item being requested must be for a child under the age of 18 (or 22 if still enrolled in High School). Gift recipient with special needs must live or be receiving medical treatment in the state of Indiana.
• The item being requested must be for the child’s benefit individually. Not intended to benefit the family. For example: paying an electric bill or purchasing a new video gaming system because an older sibling broke it – would not qualify as a necessary, life-enhancing gift for a child with special needs. Although those types of things can be necessary for family life, they are not allowable under the bylaws of this foundation.
• We are currently capping financial assistance for yard fencing, safety beds and/or service dogs to $3,000 (in most cases). It is the applicant’s responsibility to fundraise for the rest or seek an additional donor source in which we could collaborate with to fully fund your request.
• Gift Requests should be for a device, equipment, technology or other that is intended to increase the quality of life for the child, including safety and/or medical necessity.
• Anna’s Celebration of Life cannot provide cash, pay for therapies, medicine, special foods, surgeries, transportation, or education. It must be a request for an item, device or service that will enhance the life of the child. Not sure what to request? Ask your child’s doctor or therapist. More often than not, some of the ideal requests have included tools, devices or technology that is used in therapy that families can have at home.
• Anna’s Celebration of Life is privately funded by donations received by individuals, companies, and organizations, therefore availability of funds is a factor in the decision-making process. Anna’s Celebration of Life may request additional support, or encourage the applicant to find supplemental funding. Anna’s Celebration of Life Foundation might also, from time to time, partner with another organization to provide the gift. It is our fundamental belief that the community and the family being involved in securing the gift will increase the positive effect of a gift being awarded.
• If the application is approved and the Gift is delivered, we will assume permission in using pictures, letters, quotes from family etc., on our website, social media sites and/or marketing materials. We will, however, not use last names or other personal identifying information in conjunction with our social media efforts unless permission is specified by the family and/or it was a public fundraising event.
• If the child grows out of the device, we ask that you donate the item to another deserving family or organization. If after receiving a new life-enhancing gift, Anna’s Celebration of Life Foundation determines that a presented gift is being sold by a recipient family, the Foundation retains the right to legally pursue and collect 100% of the amount paid for the gift.
• Recipients are limited to one (1) gift per child with special needs per lifetime.
• Our goal is to assist as many children with special needs as possible. Please be considerate of the request being made and your ability to provide such need. We are a small, privately funded non-profit that relies on the generosity of individual and corporate donors.
• Although we don’t always like to base our decisions purely on numbers, we do use the current U.S. Poverty Guidelines (by county) as a determination for granting assistance. We reserve the right to deny an application based on household income-to-dependent ratio.
• IF YOUR GIFT REQUEST IS APPROVED, PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 8 WEEKS IN SOME INSTANCES FOR GIFT DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS.

Last Updated: January 7, 2026