Kain is a fun-loving 17-year-old. He likes to play music and sing, watching the Fast and Furious movies and taking scenic road trips to look at nature. Kain also enjoys traveling, but he suffers from a nervous system disorder which makes it impossible for him to fly in an airplane due to the risk of seizures.
He inherited a 1960 Chevy Corvair from his uncle. The vehicle was dingy, rusty and battered. Kain and his father bonded over repairing the engine and getting the car moving again, but there was little they could do about the way it looked.
“Kain has been an awesome part of my life,” Kain’s dad, Dennis said. “He’s taught all of us a lot of patience and how to smile even when you don’t feel like it. He’s been a blessing from the very beginning.”
Kain wished for his classic car to be restored, and through the power of a wish and the wish community, Kain’s car was transformed into something that could have been featured in a Fast and Furious movie. The car was now a deep cerulean blue. The polished chrome glinted in the sunlight, and the refurbished upholstery gave the Corvair that new-car aroma. It was everything a 17-year-old (or anybody) could want!
Kain didn’t see the finished product until the wish reveal. The car had been tucked away in a garage at Lupo Motors. Kain’s dad led him through the showroom and into the garage. All his friends and family were there to see the smile on Kain's face.
“It’s beautiful,” Kain said, beaming. “It’s beautiful.”
The engine that Kain and Dennis repaired roared to life, and they drove off into the world in that beautiful, blue car.
Check Out Kain's Wish Video Here:
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I have four kids. My oldest is 23 and my youngest is three. I’ve been married to my husband for ten years. I have lived in Ohio, Utah, and Maryland. I’ve been here in Idaho for 17 years, and I love it here. I love the weather. (I hate humidity). Boise is a really good place to raise a family. There’s lots to do, and it’s just a good environment for my kids.
My son Jack is a wish kid. His wish was granted in 2014. We went to Boston and met the Ghost Hunters, who were awesome. It was everything you could hope for in a wish. We had this amazing trip, and I just, seeing what our wish granters did for us and how fun it was and everything, knew that it was something I wanted to be a part of. So when we got back, I signed right up and started granting wishes that spring.
The first wish I helped with was for a little girl. We went to her family’s apartment for the initial visit to get to know them. The girl and her siblings were so cute. She already knew that she wanted to go to Give Kids the World. I totally fell in love with the little girl.
Once I went on a shopping spree for a wish kid and that was so fun. The wish kid was just awesome. He wanted to make everyone happy. He was so polite. He was 14. and not the typical 14-year-old I was expecting. His big request was that the limo driver got to eat lunch with us. That just totally impacted me. I left their house both times, overwhelmed. He talked to his mom the whole time with such kindness, checking in, like, is this okay? He was just a sweetheart, always trying to make sure everyone else was taken care of.
My favorite things about being a wish granter are the impact of the wish and seeing the families and how excited they are. And while things are still hard for them, after everything they’ve been through, it brings so much joy; it’s lasting joy. It’s something that they can always look back and think, "that was amazing." I know firsthand that that’s how you feel. The families are always so grateful and happy.
The most fulfilling part is getting to know the different families and being able to be part of something. Anytime anyone asks me about it, I’m like, you should do it. It's amazing; you will never regret it. You will love it.
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I am very proud to say that I was born in Idaho and raised right here in the Treasure Valley. I grew up in the Caldwell area, graduating from Vallivue in 2003. I was fortunate to graduate and play basketball at Boise State. After graduation, I spent 6 years playing professional basketball throughout Europe. While in Boise one summer, I met the love of my life, Lindsay. We later got married and have two children. Nyia is five years old and Braylen is one. We love raising our children in Idaho and enjoying everything the valley has to offer.
I was introduced to Make-A-Wish® in 2005 while a student athlete at Boise State. I was one of the servers at Serving Up Wishes. I immediately felt a deep connection with the children and the organization. My wife has been a wish granter for Make-A-Wish, and we both share a great passion for Make-A-Wish. I am very honored to be a member of this incredible board and look forward to serving for many years!
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Mark Johnson and Larry Flynn took us through a night of hope, heartfelt wishes and humor. Wish kid Stacia shared her uplifting story of recovery. She explained how her own wish experience inspired her to write a book to help other children who are battling cancer.
Due to your generosity this year, we raised over $155,000. That means we will be able to grant 23 wishes to Idaho children this upcoming year as a result of the success of Serving Up Wishes. Your investment in Idaho wish kids is about more than granting a wish—it’s about being part of something bigger than ourselves and about our community coming together to show up for one another, especially during these uncertain times.
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Missed It? Watch the Whole Program Here |
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Watch Leo's Wish Video Here |
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Help make wishes come true this holiday season with Families for Wishes! You can help Make-A-Wish Idaho to grant life-changing wishes for Idaho kids by participating in the holiday Families for Wishes campaign! We have developed a simple way for you to create a fundraising campaign during the holiday season. You’ll be able to customize your own website (with our support!) and have the ability to send email messages, social media posts and text messages to family and friends through an easy-to-use app. You can help us bring joy to wish kids throughout the state through this fundraising project. For more information, please contact Janie Best at jbest@idaho.wish.org.
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Thank you for participating in this year’s virtual Walk For Wishes Magic Valley presented by Plant Therapy. We were able to raise over $29,000. That translates into almost 5 wishes.
We have wishes that are waiting and every day of waiting is one day too many. With your support, you will bring experiences of hope and joy to waiting wish kids who are isolated and vulnerable. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
Between both of our fundraisers this month, we will be able to grant 28 wishes!
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The Great Polar Bear Challenge benefits Make-A-Wish Idaho and is held on January 1, 2021 each year. Located at Lucky Peak Reservoir and Spring Shores Marina, it is an exciting and fun-filled event. For the past seventeen years, thousands of people have come out to brave the chilling weather to raise funds for children in Idaho suffering from critical illnesses.
Follow Make-A-Wish Idaho on Facebook to find out more information on when you may register for The Great Polar Bear Challenge.
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Why You Should Share Your Estate Plan
With Your Loved Ones (and With Us)
You’ve planned for the future. Your will is written and other documents are drawn up. Thanks to help from your estate planning team, you feel confident your future and your family’s future is secure. But there is still one more step you need to take: Share your plans with loved ones and cherished organizations.
By making your future plans known, you not only ensure your wishes are carried out, you help your loved ones plan for their futures as well.
If you’ve included a gift to Make-A-Wish in your estate plan, please let us know. Like your loved ones, it helps us plan for our future so we can continue to grant life-changing wishes to every kid who needs one. Plus, when you tell us about your gift, you also join a committed group of supporters in our Legacy of Wishes Society.
Did You Know?
More than half of people who leave charitable gifts in their wills do not notify the organization, leaving the charity at risk for not receiving the intended gift.
Are We in Your Plans?
If you have listed Make-A-Wish Idaho in your estate plan and have not yet notified us, please contact us. It would be our pleasure to thank you for your generosity.
© The Stelter Company
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of printing. The information in this publication is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results.
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You can make a difference while you shop Amazon Prime Day deals on October 13 & 14. Simply shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/82-0408150 or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon Shopping app and AmazonSmile donates to Make-A-Wish Idaho
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