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Josh, 2012
I wish to give my siblings an amazing Christmas
Josh
wish granted, 2012
brain tumor
Josh, 2019
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Josh was granted his wish in 2012. This wish kid has a big heart, and his wish was to give to his family. Josh’s Mom says:
“On our Christmas tree hangs a beautiful glass star that reminds us of Joshua’s remarkable wish seven years ago. It reminds us of the power of giving…. something we all can do, every day. We may not be able to give our wish from Make-A-Wish to our siblings, but we can all give a smile, an encouraging word, a hug or a bit of our time to help others. Giving is so magical that it can transport us away from our worries and cares. It’s powerful enough to help us forget that we are sick, even if just for a moment—a priceless moment in time.
Josh continues to be a giver, even now. He gave his time as he served others in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after being cancer free for two years. He has remained cancer free and gives his all to his schooling and work as he is working towards a degree in Computer Science at Brigham Young University-Idaho. Josh gave his heart away to his niece Lillie, when he became an uncle for the first time in October. He still finds great joy in gift-giving and puts a lot of thought and love, and sometimes even humor, into each gift that he gives. Josh gives the best hugs, his smile will brighten your day, and if you ever need anything, he will be the first to give. “
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Great Polar Bear Challenge
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Registration is now open for the 17
th
Annual Great Polar Bear Challenge, an event benefiting Make-A-Wish Idaho. Held at Lucky Peak Reservoir and Spring Shores Marina for the past seventeen years, hundreds of people come out to grin and “bear” it for children suffering from critical illnesses.
Day of registration starts at 10am with the plunge happening at 11am. This year we are expecting 250+ people to jump, water ski or wake board with about a thousand spectators joining in the fun. There will be a costume contest and prizes for top fundraisers. There will also be coffee and hot chocolate donated by Dutch Bros and doughnuts donated by Albertsons!
Many thanks to KTVB, Channel 7 for their longtime sponsorship of this event.
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Hi! My name is Alec Sarrazolla. I currently hold the position of Chairman of the Board for Make-A-Wish Idaho and have proudly served on the board for over 5 years. I got involved with Make-A-Wish because two of my friends, AnnMarie Johnson and Sean Minor, were board members and invited me to my first Serving Up Wishes Gala in 2014. The morning of the event, I was playing golf alone and was joined by a young teenager named Sam, who caught up with me after I played a few holes. I didn’t know him very well but we played the next 14 holes before he had to leave for a doctor’s appointment. I didn’t find out until that night at the gala that Sam was a wish kid and was currently battling cancer. The experience I had at Serving Up Wishes that night and learning about Sam’s fight inspired me so much that I felt I needed to do more with my time. From that night on, I made it my mission to tell the story of Make-A-Wish and to help Idaho kids like Sam receive their one true wish while they battle their critical illness. I encourage all of you to help me tell the story so that we can make a difference in the lives of all Idaho kids who need our help.
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Karla Wagner began her volunteerism with Make-A-Wish in 1997, with her daughter who needed volunteer hours for an honors class in high school.
We chose Make-A-Wish in honor of my niece who was 12 years old and had been battling leukemia since she was 5. My husband, Jim, soon joined me as a volunteer and we began a 22 year journey as wish granters and fund raising volunteers. When he was transferred to Austin, TX in 2004, we continued our work as wish granters for Make-A-Wish of Central and South Texas. We returned to Boise in 2014 and have come back to Make-A-Wish Idaho and the special children they serve. We have met dozens of wonderful children and families and look forward to every interview we conduct. We have seen the joy that Make-A-Wish delivers on so many adorable faces and know the incredible power of a wish. I have seen it give children the drive to continue treatment, stay true to their meds, and know that there is something special to look forward to while they battle the illnesses that threaten their futures. Helping these children realize their dreams is truly an honor.
Jim and I enjoy camping in our 5th wheel, gardening and reading in our spare time. We have both retired from our careers but have started a new business (Summit Wellness store selling wellness products in Boise) just to keep life exciting!!
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My name is Julie Thomas, I have been employed with Make-A-Wish Idaho for 15 years. I reside in Pocatello, I am the only staff not located in our office in Boise. I was born and raised in Jerome, Idaho. I have been married for 26 years, my husband recently retired as a Detective and is currently working as a Fire Investigator. We have two daughters, one is attending Idaho State University and the other is attending Boise State University. We also have a very vocal German Shephard named Jaxx. We love to spend time together as a family; we enjoy camping, traveling and laughter!
I love Make-A-Wish; I am very passionate about our mission! I divide my time between granting wishes; supporting our amazing volunteers and raising funds. My favorite part of the job is building relationships; not only with donors and volunteers but with our wish families as well. Each and every wish child holds a very special place in my heart!
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Another way to make wishes come true is to consider donating gifts of appreciated securities or mandatory IRA distributions. Donations of appreciated securities that have been held for more than a year can be donated to Make-A-Wish Idaho, which provides a charitable tax deduction AND avoid capital gains tax. If you’re 70 ½+, and you make a charitable gift from a traditional IRA to Make-A-Wish Idaho, no federal income taxes will be incurred on the withdrawal.
As always, please consult your financial professional for investing advice. If you would like to discuss one of these gift options, please email
Janie Best
or call 208.297.6822.
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A Wish is the Gift of Being a Kid Again
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Volunteer wish granters bring that gift to life by infusing magic, connection, and joy into the process. If you love children, enjoy being creative, and have great attention to detail, wish granting might be the perfect fit for you. Our volunteers help wish children remember to look forward to something positive during a difficult time. Be the bright spot in a child’s life! Email
Mecale Causey
, our Volunteer Engagement Manager or call 208.297.6837 for more information or simply
start the process now
!
ext Link
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