Jackie’s Dream, A New York City Adventure with Katy Nichole

At 11 years old, Jackie had one very special Dream, to meet her favorite Christian singer, Katy Nichole. Thanks to Toby’s Dream Foundation, that wish came true in a spectacular way with an unforgettable four-night trip to New York City filled with celebrity moments, family fun, and once-in-a-lifetime memories.

The highlight of Jackie’s trip was spending several hours with Katy Nichole in Times Square. Their time together began with brunch, and Katy took time to truly get to know her. Jackie’s favorite meal of the whole trip came from that brunch, chicken and waffles, made even more special by sharing it with her idol.

The day continued with shopping in Times Square. Katy and Jackie visited Golden Goose shoe store, where Jackie picked out a pair of “treat” shoes that Katy signed just for her. They also explored the colorful M&M’s store, sharing laughs along the way. Later, Jackie and her sisters even filmed a TikTok with Katy, dancing and singing to Katy’s hit song “Thorns,” a memory they’ll never forget.

One meaningful part of the day was learning more about Katy herself, her challenges, her resilience, and her love for simple joys. The connection between Jackie & Katy was so genuine that when Jackie’s mom later saw Katy post about the experience, she was touched by how much Katy had come to know and care for Jackie.

That evening, Jackie got to hear Katy Nichole live in concert. The most powerful moment came when Katy sang “In Jesus Name,” the song that had first connected Jackie to her music, helped carry her through nights at the hospital and through treatment. It was a moment of pure joy for Jackie, and when asked what made her smile the most, she said without hesitation, the concert.

The trip was filled with more than just music. Jackie and her family explored New York City, seeing Wicked on Broadway, visiting the Empire State Building’s Starbucks, the FAO Schwarz toy store, and Jackie loved walking through the big retail stops like the three-story Lululemon and two-story Alo. They also enjoyed the Central Park Zoo and a magical dinner at Tavern on the Green. That evening, the tailor from Golden Goose even delivered Jackie’s custom shoes directly to their dinner table, sitting down to chat and making the moment even more special. To top the Dream trip off, the family got to experience a Yankees game, thanks to Jackie’s dad’s company.

From beginning to end, Jackie’s Dream was more than just a trip, it was a celebration of hope, joy, and connection. For Jackie, the chance to meet Katy Nichole and share a day of laughter, music, and memories was nothing short of amazing. For her family, the entire trip was, in her mom’s words, “all wonderful.”

Toby’s Dream Foundation was honored to make this extraordinary Dream come true and to see the way it filled Jackie’s heart with joy is exactly why we do what we do. Thank you for the support from Katy’s team, KLOVE, Central Park Zoo and Tavern on the Green. We are also grateful for our funding partner Chartway Promise Foundation for helping us make this dream come true.