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Wishmaking Monthly
Hope Shines Brightly
Virtual Gala Set for June 10
Our Hope Shines Brightly Virtual Gala is now slated for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 10. It will be a night of storytelling and hope designed to highlight the power of a wish® and how wishes are a lifelong gift to wish kids and families.

Headlining the evening will be Tiffany Rowe, a professional life coach who is very much attuned to the Make-A-Wish mission. Not only is she a former Make-A-Wish® America Board member, but she is also a wish alum. And what a wish: In 1988, the then-15-year-old met and was later called on stage to dance in concert with Michael Jackson! No surprise she is Chair of the National Board Alumni Association.

"I have been a 30+ year volunteer for Make-A-Wish® and the mission is in my very bones," she said. "My dedication to Make-A-Wish® started with the granting of my own wish, while battling and surviving a terminal bone marrow failure diagnosis.

"I could never give back in equal measure to the impact my wish had on my life and it is my honor to travel the country as a National Spokesperson, raising awareness and support for our incredible mission. I also served for seven years on the Make-A-Wish® America National Board of Directors and I am currently the Chair of the National Board Alumni Association. I am very, very proud to play an active role in helping our chapters reach every eligible child."

Inspiring stories of local wish children will be highlighted. Of course, there will be our online auction, with items ranging from vacations to gift certificates from local merchants and so much more that meets every price point.

And you can be part of that auction. We are gathering wish kid art and wish family offerings for our annual Gala. 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 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!

Finally, if you are a business owner and would like to offer a product, experience or gift card, we would love to hear from you!

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!
The Winter Soldier Says Hey ... But Why?
So Make-A-Wish Northeast New York staff members recently shared a Zoom call with Sebastian Stan, aka Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier of "Avengers" fame.

Wait, what? But why?

Good questions. And the great answer is coming in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned.
Walk, No, Run to Sign Up
Ready for summer? Ready to see all of your Make-A-Wish Northeast New York friends? We definitely are, and that’s why we are already pining and planning for our 2021 Walk For Wishes, slated for Saturday, Aug. 14, at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy. 

We plan to see everyone live and in person. But if you’re not quite ready for that – we still encourage you to participate from wherever you are! Let’s Walk Together and Wish Together as we raise the much needed funds to grant life-changing wishes.

August may seem like a long way off, but the time to form your team and start fundraising is NOW! Did you know that teams that start fundraising more than 90 days before the event raise up to THREE TIMES more than those that wait? Don’t wait! Sign up by clicking on the link below.
Chamber's Benitez Joins Board of Trustees
The Make-A-Wish Northeast New York Board of Trustees has elected Jason Benitez as its newest member of the Board.
 
Benitez is vice president, Talent and Inclusion, for the Capital Region Chamber. He is responsible for strategic direction, guidance and implementation of the Chamber’s talent and workforce development, as well as its inclusion and diversity initiatives.

“I’m thrilled to be associated with a great organization such as Make-A-Wish,” Benitez said. “It is my hope I can bring a lens for diversity, equity and inclusion that builds upon all the good Make-A-Wish Northeast New York does in our region. That includes finding new, creative ways to better connect our important mission to a wider array of communities.”  
An Un-BEAR-ably Adorable Gift
Jason Lee, marketing and communications supervisor for Six Flags Great Escape Resort, and Make-A-Wish Northeast New York Chief Operating Officer Bob Bullock showcase holiday bears donated by the resort for wish kids. The bears are part of an annual holiday promotion at the resort: For each bear purchased in the hotel gift shop, an identical bear was donated to Make-A-Wish as a gift for a local wish kid.
 
This is just the most recent in a series of promotions by our friends at Six Flags Great Escape Resort designed to help the chapter and its wish kids and families. Thank you, all! 
Why We Love Wish Granters (continued ...)
Wish granter Cathy Scala dropped off these high-end goodies from Walt Disney World® Resort. Not only does their purchase benefit Make-A-Wish, but we are going to auction off the bundle for our Make-A-Wish Northeast New York Hope Shines Brightly Virtual Gala in the spring. Cathy even brought over more toys for our wish closet that we will give out to wish kids. Thank you, Cathy!
Make-A-Wish Northeast New York CEO Bill Trigg (center left) and staff welcomed the chapter's new class of wish granters to their training in late January. Wish granters are the volunteers who work directly with wish families and help a child realize their true heartfelt wish. We could not create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses without them. Welcome aboard, class!

There are many ways you can assist the chapter. Interested in volunteering? Go to wish.org/volunteer, or contact Ray Gawlak, manager of volunteer engagement, at rgawlak@neny.wish.org or 518-456-9474.
The Make-A-Wish Family Gives Back
The only thing more inspiring than wishes are our wish kids. Here Make-A-Wish Northeast New York wish kid Evan, one of the ambassadors for our recent Adopt-A-Wish Holiday Campaign, presents the chapter with nearly $900 in donations he personally raised for the fundraiser. Way to pay it forward to help future wish kids, Evan!
New Champlain business Central Nutrition donated its tips to Make-A-Wish Northeast New York. More? The owner Dawn Boulerice is a new wish granter!

We are always humbled by people like Dawn, without whom there would be no life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Thank you! And thank My NBC5 for the story.
Before the Wish Comes the Referral
As winter drags on, you can't be blamed for looking ahead to the warmth of spring and summer.

But every day, local kids like Gabe are dreaming of something else: their life-changing Make-A-Wish Northeast New York wish!

Do you know of a child like Gabe who may be eligible for a wish? To learn more or make a referral, visit wish.org/refer-a-child, or contact Manager of Medical Referral Outreach Abby Connor at 518-456-9474 or aconnor@neny.wish.org.
The Power of a Wish
Make-A-Wish Northeast New York wish alum Avery stopped by the office last month to wield some of her awesome princess magic.

By why was she in front of a green screen?

Again, we are asking for your patience. We have a lot of exciting stuff in store in the months ahead.
Sponsors Make Wishes Come True
It is simply because of the generosity of people, businesses, foundations and civic groups throughout the 15 counties we serve that we are able to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. That includes a whole host of people who give their time and money to our mission. But allow me to take this moment to talk about one particular group of donors – our event and wish sponsors.
 
Sponsors (i.e., individuals and companies who make significant gifts to support our fundraising events and/or to fund wishes) were a big reason why our recent Adopt-A-Wish Holiday Campaign proved immensely successful, despite a downturn in revenue from malls due to reduced traffic and a lack of volunteers. Sponsors will also be key to the success of our Hope Shines Brightly Virtual Gala on June 10, and our Walk for Wishes in August to generate vital funds for wishes to be granted this summer and through the end of 2021.
 
Our Adopt-A-Wish sponsors have the ability to fund entire wishes, and all sponsors can have a positive impact on multiple children who are eligible for wishes. Sponsors not only benefit from the exposure their good deeds receive, but also from the knowledge that their investment changes the lives of local children and families in profoundly positive ways. What a wonderful way to invest your charitable dollars!
 
Right now, we are looking for sponsors for our virtual Wish Gala. If you, your company or someone you know is interested in being part of the hope that shines brightly for our wish families, I invite you to contact me (wtrigg@neny.wish.org) or our Director of Development Kirsten Broschinsky (kbro@neny.wish.org). You and/or your company can make a real difference for a local wish child or teen through your support! We want you to be part of our Make-A-Wish Northeast New York family.
 
With immense gratitude,

Bill Trigg

CEO, Make-A-Wish Northeast New York