Nickolas Rolls With His Wish |
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Nickolas’ original wish, to go to Walt Disney World® Resort, could not happen because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Make-A-Wish Northeast New York wish kid rolled with it … and ended up with an amazing next-best thing.
Wish parents Kristie and Sean led the blindfolded 11-year-old Amsterdam youth behind Albany RV for a surprise wish reveal: A loaded camper the youth could call his own.
“Oh, yeah,” mom said, as a stunned Nickolas pulled off his blindfold to a round of applause.
“Today was a total surprise,” wish mom Kristie told chapter CEO William C. Trigg, III. “We told him we were going to the mall.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
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We Need Volunteers Like You
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This year, we celebrate 28 years of the Adopt-A-Wish Holiday Campaign! We invite you to join us again this year to raise funds for local wishes! As you might expect, there will be changes and challenges as we approach this year’s campaign – but we know that all of you are up to the task! We’re seeking volunteers to support the campaign both selling stars in some of our usual spots, as well as considering joining with us, and our ambassadors, to raise funds through our holiday Adopt-A-Wish Hero Challenge.
Starting October 5, volunteers will be able to sign up online for slots at the malls to sell stars. Please be aware of some very important changes:
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ALL volunteers over the age of 18 need to complete a Conflict of Interest form and a background check BEFORE signing up for a volunteer slot. (If you have already completed one as a wish granting volunteer, you do not need to do so again.)
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Only TWO volunteers will be allowed per shift – this is a regulation set by the malls, and we will respectfully abide. To safely accommodate this, there will only be one signup slot, then you can include the names of the two volunteers (including yourself) in the notes. Please make sure that your volunteer partner (who will also have to fill out the Conflict of Interest form) is part of your family or your quarantine pod.
- ALL volunteers will be required to wear a mask during their shift, gloves when handling any money, and commit to cleaning the booth at the end of your shift.
These changes are for the safety of all, including each of you – our most precious assets! This campaign is only successful with your dedication and the generosity of your time and talents – so THANK YOU!
If you are interested in volunteering for a shift at the mall, or learning more about our Adopt-A-Wish Hero Challenge, please email Director of Development Kirsten Broschinsky at kbro@neny.wish.org.
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Now you can support Make-A-Wish and look awesome doing it!
We’ve officially launched our Wish Store with our Make-A-Wish Northeast New York-branded gear, thanks to our partner, Wicked Smart, LLC.
Be sure to check out the store for great items, including some that will only be available for a limited time! And be sure to check back as items will rotate throughout the year!
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A Milestone for Make-A-Wish |
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After 40 years of wishes, Make-A-Wish reached its biggest wish granting milestone yet. On Wednesday, Make-A-Wish celebrated having granted 500,000 wishes worldwide since the organization’s founding in 1980. The historic feat was commemorated with the granting of Karina’s selfless wish “to give kids a day to forget they’re sick.”
Make-A-Wish partnered with Karina, a 16-year-old with lymphoma from Newman, California, to recreate her carefree days at summer camp by developing a virtual camp experience called “Kamp Karina,” with several activities designed to put a smile on the faces of children in need.
Leading most of the activities as camp counselors were prior wish recipients showing off their impressive skills and talents. Wish kid-led camp activities included: a magic show, a science class, a dance tutorial featuring dance phenom Leon “Kida” Burns, a couple musical performances and story time. There was also a Frozen-inspired drawing class featuring one of the supervising animators of Frozen 2, Hyun Min Lee, and Josh Gad, the lovable voice of Olaf, courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Disney is a long-time supporter of Make-A-Wish and has granted more than 140,000 wishes dating back to the first official wish. In true Disney fashion, there were other magical surprises included throughout the Kamp Karina program.
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Mourning the Loss of Pete Cowie |
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Make-A-Wish Northeast New York honors the life and mourns the death of long-time wish granter Pete Cowie, who passed recently. Working side-by-side with his wife of 48 years, Toni, Pete granted 19 wishes, and was working on his 20th and 21st. A man of many passions, he brought an undeniable enthusiasm to each and every wish.
“This is one of the best and most rewarding things anyone could do,” he said of being a wish granter.
Pete Cowie was 72. He will be missed by many, but his positive impact will live on for years to come.
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Drive On Out (or In) to
Make-A-Wish Movie Night
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Join us for a night at the drive-in! Ozoner Drive-In (837 Rte. 29, Broadalbin) is hosting wish families for a family movie night this Saturday night! You will have a choice of features on the two screens: Either a Harry Potter double feature, "The Prisoner of Azkaban" and "The Goblet of Fire," or "Rocky Horror Picture Show" (with prop bags available) followed by "The Phantom of Paradise."
Reservations are required, so don’t wait: RSVP directly to our Manager of Volunteer Engagement Ray Gawlak at rgawlak@neny.wish.org or by calling the office at 518-456-9474. Some restrictions will apply; offer includes one carload per family without charge. (Additional cars will need to pay the regular show fee.)
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Be a part of our Gala Silent Auction! We are starting now to gather up wish kid art and wish family offerings for our annual Gala next spring. Wish kids are invited to draw, paint, color, sculpt, sew, or whatever type of artistic talent they want to share. We’ll include your masterpiece in our auction! Wish kids of ALL ages are invited to participate!
Additionally, we would like to invite wish families who own a small business, are artisan crafters of some type or have special opportunities that they can offer for the Gala to reach out. We’d love to include you in our Gala. Wish kid and wish family items were ALL THE RAGE during our 2020 Virtual When Stars Align Gala! If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Director of Development Kirsten Broschinsky at kbro@neny.wish.org or Development Manager Jen Cullen at jcullen@neny.wish.org for more information!
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At Guilderland Hannaford, Wishes Are in the Bag(s) |
Make-A-Wish Northeast New York has been selected as the beneficiary of the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program! Each time a $2.50 reusable Community Bag is purchased at the Hannaford at 5239 Western Turnpike in Guilderland during the month of October, we will receive a $1 donation. Thank you, Hannaford and its shoppers!
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We Will Continue to Get Through This Together |
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We always do what we can, the best we can, while aspiring to do more. So it goes, especially in the age of COVID-19.
This principle was on display this week when we granted Nickolas’ wish. When the 11-year-old’s initial wish, to go to Walt Disney World® Resort, could not happen because of the coronavirus pandemic, wish granters and staff worked with him and his family on an alternative.
And what an alternative: A camper! Nickolas was thrilled, and so were we. (Thank you, Albany RV!)
This is yet another example of adapting alongside our donor partners to continue to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. From granting wishes to fundraising, flexibility is our new mantra.
Which brings us to our 28th Annual Adopt-A-Wish Holiday Campaign, which kicks off in November. You can read above about our call for volunteers. Yes, the campaign will look a little different. But some things will not change:
First, this is a vitally important fundraiser. In these difficult times, even with some wishes on hold, we are morally bound to work harder than ever to raise the monies needed to grant wishes, especially since they will come fast and furious once the pandemic ends. And;
Second, we need you. We always have, and always will. But especially now.
In terms of numbers, no single fundraiser relies on volunteers more than the Adopt-A-Wish Holiday Campaign. Without the people who generously donate time to staff our booths at malls and elsewhere, there could be no campaign, and no way to raise these crucial funds.
Like Nickolas’ wish, this campaign will look a little different than we first planned. There will be challenges. But we will work through them, just as we have gotten through all the challenges we have faced throughout these past seven months, during this most challenging of years: Doing what we can, the best we can, together.
With immense gratitude,
Bill Trigg
CEO, Make-A-Wish Northeast New York
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Make-A-Wish Northeast New York
3 Washington Square
Albany, NY 12205
(518) 456-9474
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