Q. Who is eligible to apply for a Carpe Diem adventure?
A. Any adult who lives in Berks, Chester, Montgomery, York,
Lebanon, Lancaster
or Schuylkill
Counties and has a life-threatening medical condition that has
been diagnosed by a licensed physician or medical professional. Restrictions
apply to employees, former employees, board members and committee
members of the BCCF. See the on line application for details.
Q. Does Carpe Diem USA only pay for the adult participation in the adventure?
A. No, the person
requesting the adventure must be an adult with a
life-threatening condition, but Carpe Diem USA will pay for immediate
family members to participate as well. For example,
an adult with ALS
wants to take
the family to a local amusement park for the day, we will
pay for the spouse and children as well.
Q. How do
I request an adventure?
A. The person requesting an adventure must fill out
an application on the
Berks County Community Foundation's web site (www.bccf.org).
The applicant for an adventure must give permission for the BCCF to contact
their
physician and for the physician to release information about his or
her condition and prognosis.
Q. Can I
request an adventure for someone else?
A. Unlike organizations who provide
services to children with life-threatening
illnesses, Carpe Diem USA provides adventures and experiences
for adults.
Since there is no parent/guardian relationship, the person requesting the
adventure must give permission
for release of medical information.
Therefore we are unable to consider third party requests for adventures.
Q. How does Carpe Diem USA select individuals for an adventure.
A: The BCCF screens all applications to ensure medical eligibility,
verifies
availability of an "adventure provider,"
and passes the information to a
committee of local volunteers
who decide to grant requests based on
available funds.
Q. What is the cost to me if
I am selected for an adventure?
A. There is no cost to anyone. Carpe Diem
pays for the entire adventure.
Q. How do I make a donation to Carpe Diem USA, and is it tax-deductible?
A. Since Carpe Diem USA is administered as a pass-through fund of the Berks
County Community Foundation, your gift is tax-deductible. You may make a
credit card donation by going to the BCCF web site, calling the Foundation at
610-685-2223 or mailing your check or money order payable to "Carpe Diem
USA Fund."
Carpe Diem USA Fund
Berks County Community Foundation
237 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601