13th Annual Golf Tourney Raises $150K for Wishes!



We thank all the sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor Banner Industries, organizers, and participants who took part in last week’s 13th Annual Tech Valley Charity Golf Tournament. Together, you raised approximately $150,000 for Make-A-Wish Northeast New York wish kids! Amazing!

Special thanks also go out to wish kids William and Wyatt and their families for coming out and sharing their stories! What a great day and evening!

From getting his invitation to meeting storyteller Professor H.D. Owlsley through discovering his wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort would be granted, Make-A-Wish Northeast New York wish kid Barrett had a wondrous Workshop of Wishes experience!

Thank you to all who came out this week to Van Patten Golf Club for the Coldwell Banker Prime Properties Golf Tournament to benefit Make-A-Wish Northeast New York. Special thanks to wish kid James and dad, Wade, for coming out.

We are celebrating the 30th year of our Adopt-A-Wish Holiday Campaign - and 35 years of granting wishes as a chapter - starting with campaign kickoffs in the North Country on Nov. 15 and in the Capital Region on Nov 17, featuring our wish ambassadors such as Amelia (pictured above).

That may sound like a ways off, but start planning now to volunteer at one of our mall booths for a shift or two (or three, or ...). This vital campaign only works with YOU. Details to come shortly.

Raina von Zerneck has joined the chapter as administrative coordinator, replacing Margaret Richards, now the chapter’s manager of medical referral outreach.

von Zerneck comes to Make-A-Wish Northeast New York from the Capital Region Chamber, where she worked on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives under Make-A-Wish Northeast New York Board member Jason Benitez.

A Queens native, von Zerneck is a December 2021 graduate of the University at Albany, where she double majored in psychology and music. She resides in Slingerlands.

Make-A-Wish Northeast New York wish kid Jade wished to have a spa and tea party day - and it was a special day, thanks in part to a carriage ride and princesses. Thank you to The Tailored Tea and so many others for making Jade's day so memorable.

Do you know a child who may be eligible for a wish? Just go to wish.org/refer-a-child, or contact Manager of Medical Referral Outreach Margaret Richards at mrichards@neny.wish.org or 518-456-9474.

North Country: Elvis will be in the house for Make-A-Wish! Reservations for dinner and the show needed by Oct. 20; if you just want to see the show, make a reservation ... or just show up!

In this space and elsewhere, I have often talked about the Make-A-Wish community. But, in truth, that is shorthand. What really drives our mission, what enables us to be so successful in creating life-changing wishes for local children and teens battling critical illnesses, is the fact we are a community of communities.

This thought struck me after considering our summer of events ranging from our Walk For Wishes to golf outings, Wish Jump to the Adirondack Nationals Car Show. Yes, we are a community united in the firm belief that wishes are not just a nice thing to do, but a necessary means to helping our wish families overcome the challenge of a critical illness. We know this because of the positive and lasting impact a wish has on a wish kid and their families.

But our Make-A-Wish community is in fact a federation of people from all walks of life and backgrounds.

And that is one of the beautiful things about our mission. In a time when so much can divide us, we come together in the service of children who need our help the most. It doesn't matter who you are or where your come from or what your other interests are. It doesn't matter if you are a sponsor of means or someone pulling one of your few dollars from your wallet to put in a donation jar. It doesn't matter what community you primarily identify with on a daily basis.

You are part of the Make-A-Wish community. You make a difference, and we could not be more thankful.

With immense gratitude,

Bill Trigg

CEO

Make-A-Wish Northeast New York