Make-A-Wish Convoy 2023

Route Map for Make -A-Wish Mother’s Day Truck Convoy

Route Map for Make -A-Wish Mother’s Day Truck Convoy

1. Depart MPAA via Kennedy Court/Power Road

1. Depart MPAA via Kennedy Court/Power Road

2. Turn right on Auction Road

2. Turn right on Auction Road

3. Turn right on Junction Road (weight limit bridge straight ahead, no left turn for trucks)

3. Turn right on Junction Road (weight limit bridge straight ahead, no left turn for trucks)

4. Turn left on Mill Road

4. Turn left on Mill Road

5. Turn right on S Colebrook Road

5. Turn right on S Colebrook Road

6. Turn left on Mount Joy Road/772 at light

6. Turn left on Mount Joy Road/772 at light

7. Go through light at Esbenshade Road (LCBC Church on right after light)

7. Go through light at Esbenshade Road (LCBC Church on right after light)

8. Turn right on 283 West

8. Turn right on 283 West

9. Take Rheems/Elizabethtown exit, turn left on Cloverleaf Road at light

9. Take Rheems/Elizabethtown exit, turn left on Cloverleaf Road at light

10. Go through light at Schwanger Road

10. Go through light at Schwanger Road

11. Go through light at Norlanco Drive

11. Go through light at Norlanco Drive

12. Turn left on W Main Street/230 at light

12. Turn left on W Main Street/230 at light

13. Go through 7 lights in Mount Joy (Angle St, Orchard Rd, 772, Market St, Barbara St, Lefever Rd, Giant Shopping Center)

13. Go through 7 lights in Mount Joy (Angle St, Orchard Rd, 772, Market St, Barbara St, Lefever Rd, Giant Shopping Center)

straight

*IF RETURNING TO MANHEIM:

*IF RETURNING TO MANHEIM:

A. Turn left on Esbenshade Road

A. Turn left on Esbenshade Road

B. Turn left on Strickler Road

B. Turn left on Strickler Road

C. Turn right on Mount Joy Road/772

C. Turn right on Mount Joy Road/772

… Backtrack remaining route to Manheim and enter via Kennedy Court/Power Road

… Backtrack remaining route to Manheim and enter via Kennedy Court/Power Road

...Do not use South Esbenshade Road to return back

...Do not use South Esbenshade Road to return back

*IF DEPARTING AFTER CONVOY (trucks do not need to return unless specified):

*IF DEPARTING AFTER CONVOY (trucks do not need to return unless specified):

I. 283 West: turn left on Esbenshade Road and take ramp to left onto 283 West

I. 283 West: turn left on Esbenshade Road and take ramp to left onto 283 West

II. 283 East: do NOT turn on Esbenshade, continue straight through light onto 283 East

II. 283 East: do NOT turn on Esbenshade, continue straight through light onto 283 East

Schedule of Events

May 10 - May 15:

Online Silent Auction featuring Wish Kid Art, place your bids at www.wishconvoy.org

Sunday, May 14, 2023 Manheim Pennsylvania Auto Auction

1190 Lancaster Road Manheim, PA 17545

All events held at Manheim PA Auto Auction.

6:00am Truck Parking and Driver Registration Begins

Driver Tailgate available for drivers, breakfast for purchase (All trucks must arrive by 10:30 AM)

9:00am – 12:00pm Wish Family Registration

9:00am – 3:00pm Convoy Family Carnival (food trucks, games, costume characters, and more!)

11:00am – 1:00pm

Mother’s Day Chicken Dinner ($15 per dinner)

Drive-thru or dine-in at Manheim PA Auto Auction

Follow the signs

12:00 – 12:30pm

Remarks and Wish Angel Remembrance

Special remarks by Make-A-Wish founder Linda Pauling

1:30 pm Official Convoy Kick-Off and Departure

3:00 pm Carnival and Convoy concludes

Who Are Our Top 30 and Grand Drivers?

Each year, the first 30 trucks that kick off the 26-mile Convoy consists of the 30 drivers that raised the most money in the previous year’s Convoy. This tradition of celebrating the Top 30 fundraisers at the Mother’s Day Truck Convoy began very early in the event’s history. Since then, this special group of men and women have raised millions of dollars for our mission.

Up until 2017, raising $1,000 was enough to qualify for the Top 30. Once raising “a grand” no longer guaranteed a Top 30 spot, we created the Grand Driver designation. Every driver that raises $1,000+ but does not qualify in the Top 30 earns the Grand Driver title.

Congratulations and thank you to our Top 30 and Grand Drivers! This group of individuals receive special recognition leading up to the Convoy, at the Convoy and at a post celebration event in September.

TOP 30 DRIVERS

1 Michael Kindt $50,025.15

2 Keith Wagner $26,005.00

3 Marvin Sauder $25,780.00

GRAND DRIVERS

How to Get Involved in the Convoy

Interested in joining the fun? There are plenty of ways to get involved with the Mother’s Day Truck Convoy! To register to drive or to make a life-changing gift to Make-A-Wish, please visit wishconvoy.org or scan the QR code.

Have questions about the event or interested in volunteering?

us at convoy@philadesv.wish.org

3140 Mount Joy Rd.

Mount Joy, PA 17552

Between 283 & Mount Joy Phone 717-653-2652

Fax 717-653-8911

Make-A-Wish¨ Beginnings‥.

Linda Pauling, Make-A-Wish co-founder, wish mom, and volunteer will attend the 2023 Mother’s Day Truck Convoy

All his life, Christopher James Greicius dreamed of becoming a police officer. In his eyes, the police represented strength, power, and the goodness in life. Chris’ dream meant more than anything to him, but even he couldn’t have known that his wish would serve as the inspiration for the largest wishgranting organization in the world.

Chris and his mother Linda had become friends with U.S. Customs Officer Tommy Austin in 1977. The first time Chris met Tommy, Chris displayed his law enforcement skills by telling him, “Freeze, I’m a cop!” An instant friendship was created. Tommy had promised Chris a ride in a police helicopter, and in the spring of 1980 – when Chris’ condition worsened – Tommy contacted Officer Ron Cox at the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) about making Chris’ wish come true. Ron was more than eager to oblige, and he recruited other DPS members to create a magical experience for Chris.

April 29, 1980, was Chris’ special day – when Chris’ wish was granted. He called Tommy early in the morning and reminded him. “You haven’t forgotten? I’ve been up for an hour and I’m ready to go.” Ron arranged for a DPS helicopter to pick up Chris and escort him around the city of Phoenix, landing at the DPS. Three squad cars and a motorcycle ridden by Officer Frank Shankwitz welcomed their new friend. This 7-yearold bundle of energy immediately greeted Frank and told him how “neato” his motorcycle was; however, he passed on a ride, citing a lack of doors as his primary reason.

Chris was known as the “Bubble Gum Trooper” among his law enforcement buddies. He

went nowhere without his trusty bubble gum. He even took time out of his busy day to share a pack of bubble gum with the director of DPS. To top off what had already been an incredible day for this little dynamo, he was sworn in as the first ever and only honorary state trooper in Arizona history.

The following day Ron contacted John’s Uniforms, the company responsible for making the highway patrol uniforms, about mak -

wore on his uniform, and Frank explained that Chris needed to pass a motorcycle proficiency test before the wings could be presented to him. The officers set up a motorcycle course where Chris could take his test on his battery-operated motorcycle. Needless to say, Chris passed with flying colors.

ing a uniform for Chris. The company was so moved by Chris’ wish that it decided to get involved in adding to his wish experience. The owner and two seamstresses worked all night to custom tailor a highway patrolman uniform for Chris. On May 1st, several officers presented Chris, whose illness had taken a turn for the worse, with an official Arizona Highway Patrol uniform.

Chris had been fascinated by the motorcycle wings Frank

On May 2, 1980, Chris was back in the hospital. He was so proud and happy about being a patrolman that he asked that his uniform be hung in the window of his room and his motorcycle helmet and “Smokey the Bear” hat be placed on his dresser so he could see them. To make Chris’ wish even more complete, Frank ordered a set of uniform motorcycle wings. With Linda’s blessing, Frank presented Chris with the wings. Chris’ smile lit up

"It's been more than 30 years since my son Chris received his wish, and I am still amazed and inspired how one little boy's dream to be a policeman has touched the lives of so many thousands of people."

- L inda Pauling, mother of Chris, the boy whose wish in spired the founding of Make-A-Wish. Courtesy of Wish.org

the room. The following day, Chris Greicius passed away, but not before having realized his greatest dream.

Chris was to be buried in Kewanee, Illinois. DPS spokesman Allen Schmidt promised that two Arizona officers would make the trip to Illinois to say goodbye to Chris. Scott Stahl, a DPS officer and a native of Joliet, Illinois, joined Frank Shankwitz on the sad mission.

On the flight back to Arizona, Frank and Scott were reflecting on Chris’ magical experience. They saw how happy Chris was knowing his wish came true, and that the wish

seemed to take some of Chris and Linda’s pain away – replacing the anguish with smiles and laughter. They thought that if one boy’s wish could be granted, maybe the same could be done for other children. At that moment, the idea of the MakeA-Wish Foundation® was born.

Upon returning to Phoenix, the idea of granting wishes to other ill children was presented to many of the people that were integral in granting Chris’ wish. Linda and others endorsed the plan. Thus, the Chris Greicius MakeA-Wish Memorial –which later became known as the MakeA-Wish Foundation –was born.

This year we are honored to have Linda attend the 2023 Mother’s Day Truck Convoy. Linda will take time to meet with the drivers, give remarks during the ceremony, and ride along in the Convoy.

"There must be other children out there"

2702 Lebanon Road, Manheim, PA 17545 717-665-6089

Tuesday-Friday 10-7, Saturday 9-2

Celebrate World Wish Day With Us!

World Wish Day is celebrated on April 29th. This special day annually recognizes the 40+ years of granting lifechanging wishes for children with critical illnesses, and it is the anniversary of the wish that inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish.

It all started with 7-year-old Chris Greicius. While battling leukemia, Chris wished to be a police officer, but little did he know what this wish would create and how many lives it would transform. On April 29, 1980, Chris’ community in Phoenix came together to make his wish come true. Not only did this experience create hope and joy for all those who witnessed it, but it created a movement aimed to

restore hope for children and families when they need it most. Not long after his wish was granted, a team of individuals joined together and created what is now Make-Awish.

Now more than ever, wishes can bring hope, joy and a sense of normalcy back into the lives of wish kids and their families, and you can help make these life-changing wishes come true.

“It’s been more than 30 years since my son Chris received his wish, and I am still amazed and inspired how one little boy’s dream to be a policeman has touched the lives of so many.” - Linda Pauling, Chris Greicius’ mother & Make-A-Wish co-founder.

We hope that you celebrate World Wish Day with us. Start a fundraiser to go toward your Convoy fundraising efforts, post to social media, or wear a blue shirt. Raising funds and bringing awareness to Make-A-Wish is all that Linda Pauling can ask for.

Volunteers are needed for the 34th Annual Mother’s Day Truck Convoy! Volunteer support is needed before, during and after the Convoy. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available from games, concessions, merchandise sales, parking, the chicken

move to Juniper Village, I toured six other homes. What set Juniper Village apart was the smiles and eye contact of the staff and residents. We felt it indicated a happy environment. Juniper Village at Mount Joy is a truly pleasant place to live; clean and well-appointed. But most important is the care my husband receives. His needs are anticipated and fulfilled with kindness. His call bell is answered promptly. We are very happy with our choice. Thank you to all the staff at Juniper Village at Mount Joy for the excellent care my husband receives.”

Kerry

“We are beyond thrilled with my Mom’s care at Juniper Village at Mount Joy. The staff is wonderful and cheerful, which helps all of us when these decisions for more care are being made. Mom is happy and loves the staff. We as a family highly recommend Juniper for your loved one’s care, it is a paradise.”

Pam C. five-star review on SeniorAdvisor.com

Meet Our 2023 Convoy Ambassadors

Brooke, Kalvin, Rosalyn, and Ryley are Wish Kids who have been nominated to serve as our Convoy Ambassadors! As Convoy Ambassadors, they will share their story and inspire our drivers to raise funds so that other children can have their life-changing wishes granted. On the day of Convoy, Brooke, Kalvin, Rosalyn, and Ryley will give the start single for the Convoy to begin!

Name: Brooke

Age: 9

Diagnosis: Cancer

Hometown: Mount Joy, PA

Brooke’s Wish: I wish to go to the San Diego Zoo

Name: Kalvin

Age: 6

Diagnosis: Cancer

Hometown: Elizabethtown, PA

Kalvin’s Wish: I wish to go to Disneyland

Name: Rosalyn

Age: 6

Diagnosis: Leukemia

Hometown: Elizabethtown, PA

Rosalyn’s Wish: I wish to sing on America’s Got Talent

Name: Ryley

Age: 6 Diagnosis:

Hometown: Lancaster, PA

Ryley’s Wish: I wish to have a hot tub

The History of the Mother’s Day Truck Convoy

The idea of the Mother’s Day Truck Convoy was born over 30 years ago, and it all began with Wish Kid Matt Strausser. Matt was fascinated with big rig trucks, so it was no surprise when he wished to ride in a big rig and talk to his sister Heather on the CB radio.

Ken Laukhuff, Make-A-Wish board member and president of Teamsters local #771 at the time, decided to take on the wish. He reached out to multiple companies with the same hopeful request – to see if they would be willing to donate both a truck and driver who could give Matt a ride. The idea was well-received, however each company explained that they would have to look into both the insurance and compliance of the delicate situation. Not too long after, Ken heard back from everyone with the good news that they all wanted to participate and take a Wish Kid for a drive. With eight committed companies, the idea of the Mother’s Day Truck Convoy was officially put into action. After an article inviting more

trucking companies to participate was published in the local newspaper, the number of companies wanting to join in on the fun grew from 8 to 44. With that many trucks expected, all the Wish Kids in the Lancaster area were invited to ride in the trucks as well. The date for the first Convoy was set for Mother’s Day that year, May 13, 1990.

Back then, the shops in the Lancaster Shopping Center were closed on Sundays, and they gave permission for the trucks to start and end the Convoy on their property. With the number of participants, volunteers and spectators expected that day, the next piece to figure out was food and beverages. Thankfully, local companies were willing and able to donate what they could, such as orange drink from Pensupreme Dairies, hot dogs from Kunzler, charcoal from Miller & Hartman, pretzels from Anderson Bakery and rolls, ice, bags from Aument’s IGA in addition to the chicken bar-b-que they lent for the day.

Everyone contributed their

time and expertise to make sure the event would go over well. State Police provided an escort while volunteers took care of the stands. One of the Wish Kids was unable to get up into a truck cab, so a State Trooper gave him and his mother a ride in the back of the cruiser complete with a hookup to his CB radio. J.C. Hale, the founder of Make-A-Wish Lancaster, and his wife Carole attended their niece’s wedding the day before, which included a large tent rental. The tent needed to be returned on Monday, making it the perfect concession set up for the Convoy the very next day. All the small details that day came together perfectly, and the first Convoy was able to raise $8,000! Everyone’s experiences from the day helped

make the obvious decision that the Convoy should become an annual event.

The next year, J.C. Hale worked with Burle Industries to host the Convoy in their spacious parking lot. 170 trucks joined the fun and helped to raise $32,000. The third annual convoy in 1992 helped establish the official event set-up that would be used throughout the following years – tents for concessions and registration, an auction, live music and games were included as entertainment for the wish families and community to get involved with. Convoy Clowns were introduced to collect donations and spread joy throughout the day. That year, 226 trucks participated and $50,000 was raised to help grant life-changing wishes.

As the Convoy’s success increased each year, so did the number of wishes the chapter was granting. To help this cause, J.C. Hale wanted to expand Convoy outreach to a national level, and then-Executive Director Anne Rickert decided to contact a national trucking magazine to provide coverage for the event. While it took some convincing to attend, the photo journalist knew within an hour of being at the Convoy that she would return and com -

mitted to joining again the next year. Hale’s decision to increase outreach was a pivotal moment in the success of the growth of the Convoy. It increased financial support and driver participation as well as exposure to the communities Make-A-Wish served, which increased the number of people who attended the event.

J. C. and Carole Hale retired as President and Vice President/Secretary in March of 1996, which was the tenth anniversary of the founding of Make-A-Wish Lancaster. That year, trucks from all over the country joined the Convoy. Sixty Wish Kids were given the opportunity to ride with drivers, and $130,000 was raised – a record at the time.

The Convoy received more and more national attention each year, begging the question if it was possible to set a Guinness World Record. Up until 2003, the longest truck convoy in the Guinness Book of World Records was 95 trucks. As the second convoy had 170 trucks, it was obvious they’d be able to claim the title. With 288 trucks in 2003 and 391 the next year, they held the record until 2015 and reclaimed it again in 2016.

The Convoy moved to Manheim Pennsylvania Auto Auction in 2020, but due to the pandemic Make-A-Wish was unable to hold the event. In 2021, the Convoy was limited to 100 trucks on the route. In 2023, the Convoy is expected to have hundreds of trucks participate with the goal of raising $600,000+ to help grant life-changing wishes in the Susquehanna Valley.

Wit h You Every Step.

As a family-owned and operated company, we have been proudly serving Lancaster County and the surrounding areas for over 30 years.

With our quality products, exceptional service, and competitive prices our staff is committed to building great relationships with every customer.

Thank You Convoy Committee!

This group of esteemed individuals are the backbone of the Mother’s Day Truck Convoy. Every year, they devote their free time, expertise and resources to ensure that each Convoy is better than before. Thank you to the Convoy Committee – you are truly granting life-changing wishes right here in the Susquehanna Valley!

Convoy Committee Members

Terry Finch, chair

John Show, co-chair

Lisa Kauffman, co-chair

Amy Nolt

Andy Strevig

Beth Stevens

Carol Nessinger

Darel Seibert

Daryl Miller

Dave Schell

David Croll

Deni Hostetter

Dick Mayer

Eli Ebersole

Erin Hogan

Hailey Dougherty

Heather Dougherty

Heidi Martin

Jeannie Strevig

Jeremy Leffler

Jeri Price

TOP QUALIT Y CBD PRODUC TS -

Joanne Fatta

Jodi Greiner

John Crispeno

John Wimer

Joy Dickson

Ken King

Linda Grube

Mark Nolt

Marisa Seubert

Nate Kershner

Patty Taggart

Rob Finch

Sam Dabellas

Susan Hall

Tod Neifert

Tony Kulp

Willie Wilhelm

LLC We

Delivery,

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196 North Erisman Rd., Manheim • 717-653-9580 garmansmulchlancastercounty.com R092579 Located in Manheim, PA Manheim Chamber Member and Supporting the Manheim Community

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Driver Shawn Brown drove in the 2022 Make-A-Wish Convoy