Arizona stories of hope, strength and joy.
Edition 2: Fall 2013
Kyle’s Day at Chase Field turns into a wish to remember
INSIDE
3 Make-A-Wish® Arizona receives first $1 million gift 5 Abigail meets Buddy, the Cake Boss 6 Volunteers help make wishes possible
Kyle, 6, is a sports fanatic. He’s fanatic about his hometown team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s fanatic about his Arizona Miracle League baseball team, called the Diamondbacks. He loves to throw, hit and he regularly hits home runs before heading around the bases in his wheelchair, a requirement since he was diagnosed at age 1 with spinal muscular atrophy. Kyle’s life-threatening medical condition does not affect his sunny, can-do attitude. That great attitude was on display when two of his favorite players, shortstop Willie Bloomquist and centerfielder Adam Eaton, came to one of Kyle’s Miracle League game so they could “sign him” to the Arizona Diamondbacks. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Board of Directors
A Message from the CEO
OFFICERS
This August 31, Make-A-Wish Arizona wrapped up the 2013 Fiscal Year with a new record – 317 wishes granted in one year! This beats last year’s record of 288 wishes by 29 wishes! Our staff of 21 people could not be more proud of everything we were able to accomplish for our Arizona wish kids, as well as the 21 wish kids from outside of Arizona that we supported as “wish assists”.
Chairman C. Bradley Vynalek Quarles & Brady LLP
Vice Chairman Derrick M. Hall
Arizona Diamondbacks
Treasurer Ronald Butler Ernst & Young
Secretary Bruce Guest Arizona Business Bank
MEMBERS Kathy Bollinger Banner Health
Richard Cassidy RGC Group, LLC
Pam Crim
Cox Communications
John Cummerford Greenberg Traurig
Rick DeGraw SCF Arizona
Jon Ferlise US Airways
Ronald Guziak
Sun Health Services
Thomas Hatten
Mountainside Fitness
S. Todd Jarman BBVA Compass
Kenneth Krapf Bank of Tucson
Stephen A. Lenn, Esq. Sacks Tierney, P.A.
Ian Lopatin
Spiritual Gangster
Mike Marmis
YAM Management, LLC
Jennifer Moser
Rose+Moser+Allyn Public & Online Relations
Renee Parsons
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation
Sanat Patel
Crosspoint Capital/AVANA Capital
Gayle Porterfield
Cox Communications
Mike Primorac
The Why of Make-A-Wish Arizona
Why were we able to grant an additional 29 wishes this year? First, we worked smarter – we hired incredible people to fill out our team and trained an additional 100 volunteers. We now have almost 600 volunteers throughout Arizona making wishes come true. Plus, we added 11 new community leaders to our Board of Directors, doubling our Board contributions in one year! Second, we received some very significant and generous donations from our supporters. Bob and Renee Parsons, through their foundation, The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation, made the first million dollar donation—$1.385 million in fact – in Make-A-Wish Arizona history at our 2013 Wish Ball. Insight, a local Tempe-based company, donated $174,000 in corporate giving with one external corporate-employee campaign. Other companies, such as AAA Arizona, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Isagenix, and Go Daddy also provided increased support that helped us deliver imaginative and creative wishes.
Elizabeth Reich President/CEO Make-A-Wish® Arizona
Why do we continue to build these relationships and look for additional donations, both individual and corporate? Because, while these significant changes helped to make Fiscal Year 2013 a success, they only took Make-A-Wish Arizona one step closer to our vision of making every eligible child’s wish come true. We still have more than 350 Arizona wish kids waiting for their one true wish, and more than 400 referrals for wishes every year. Our wish kids are the WHY behind our drive to do more. They are the WHY behind our continued outreach and our continued enthusiasm. In fact, we are constantly reminded that the WHY behind the wish helps make the WHY of the wish happen for each and every child currently dealing with a life-threatening medical condition. This newsletter includes stories of WHY your donation to Make-A-Wish Arizona matters – stories of wish kids who truly benefitted from the impact of their wish experience. WHY do we do what we do? Because wish kids can never answer the question “Why me” but they can answer the question “Why Make-A-Wish Arizona.” Best Wishes,
Mediant Healthcare
Nicole Pryde-Johnson Lovitt & Touche, Inc.
Jack Roosa Raytheon
Thomas M. Roskos, Jr. Merit Investments, LLC
William Shroyer
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
Jameson Van Houten
Stonegate Financial Group, LLC
Marcie White Insight
Dave Woodward
Community Leader
Elizabeth Reich President/CEO Make-A-Wish® Arizona
I wish to be….an Arizona Diamondback CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Why? Because Kyle’s wish was to be a “real” Arizona Diamondback baseball player, and the team was excited to help make that wish come true. “I understand you have a big wish, that you want to be a real baseball player for the Diamondbacks,” asked Bloomquist. “Will you come be a part of our team?” “Oh yeah,” said Kyle. And then he noticed who was asking. “Aren’t you Willie Bloomquist?” A day to remember On Kyle’s wish day, the Diamondbacks went all out – outfitting Kyle with his own jersey and team locker at Chase Field. His locker came complete with bats, hats, gloves and t-shirts, even his own bobblehead. He was able to practice hitting with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and second baseman Aaron Hill at the Sandlot and “struck out” third baseman Martin Prado during some practice swings. After a full day of practice, Kyle ended his day as No. 5 on the Diamondback’s roster by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch of the game. “I was not even nervous, because I was on the team,” said Kyle. That’s all Kyle ever wished for You can see Kyle’s complete story at www.wishaz.org or check out his “My Wish” segment on www.espn.com.
Make-A-Wish® Arizona receives first $1 million gift In April 2013, Make-A-Wish® Arizona was honored to receive its first $1 millon-plus donation from Bob and Renee Parsons of The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation at the 2013 Rat Pack Wish Ball presented by Go Daddy. In total, the Parsons donated $1.385 million at the event, making it the largest donation from an individual that the Arizona chapter has ever received. “Make-A-Wish Arizona brings hope and joy to kids in our community who are going through very serious medical issues,” said Bob Parsons. “The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation is rooted in hope and we believe, by funding wishes, we will make a difference.” This gift helped to support the chapter as it reached a record number of wish kids in Fiscal Year 2013 – a total of 317 wish kids received their wishes in one year. In addition, it will help to support the wishes of the more than 350 wish kids currently waiting for their one true wish. “This type of donation not only helps our current wish kids, it helps our future wish kids as well” said Elizabeth Reich, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona. “By showing their support of Make-A-Wish Arizona, Bob and Renee Parsons have proven that the impact of a wish goes beyond the wish kid and their family, into the community at large.”
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The Great Wish Ball scheduled for Saturday, April 5 Make-A-Wish® Arizona is pleased to announce that the 2014 Make-A-Wish Arizona Wish Ball will be held Saturday, April 5 at The Phoenician with the theme of “The Great Wish Ball”, a Gatsby-inspired event. The 2014 Great Wish Ball will celebrate the mission of Make-A-Wish Arizona by raising funds to grant the wishes of Arizona children with life-threatening medical conditions. The wish ball has long been a significant event for the chapter. The 2013 Rat Pack Wish Ball presented by Go Daddy was marked by a generous $1.4 million donation from The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation, raising a total of $2.4 million toward future wishes. Approximately 470 people attended the 2013 event. “We are thrilled to hold our Wish Ball at The Phoenician, which is recognized for its history, its culinary excellence and its incredible ballroom,” said Elizabeth Reich, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona. “The Phoenician has been a great partner to Make-A-Wish Arizona, enhancing many wishes over the years, for both Arizona wish kids and for wish kids who travel to Arizona for their wishes. We are excited that we can build on that relationship by holding our most elegant event at their resort.” The Wish Ball includes a dinner, silent and live auction, and entertainment for guests, as well as bringing together donors with wish families and wish kids who attend as guests of Make-A-Wish Arizona.
I wish to have a jet ski Only a couple of weeks after receiving his wish to own a Jet Ski, Dominic, 14, is getting to be quite an expert on the lake, turning “360s” and going as fast as he possibly can to beat those who are riding with him. His need for speed is quite okay with his family, because just two short years ago, Dominic had to slow everything down due to a diagnosis of brain cancer. It was only after two brain surgeries and a round of radiation and chemotherapy that Dominic started to get back to his old self. It was also about that time that Make-A-Wish Arizona approached Dominic about his one true wish. “At my last chemotherapy treatment, someone mentioned Make-A-Wish to my mom and we looked into it,” Dominic said. “But there were so many kids in the hospital, so many kids that could have wishes, I didn’t think I really deserved a wish.” Fall 2013 – 4
Make-A-Wish Arizona, however, knew that Dominic was very deserving of a wish and went to work, with his wish granters and Make-A-Wish Arizona staff partnering with RideNow Sports in Tucson to make Dominic’s wish come true. Together, they secured a new jet ski in Dominic’s favorite colors, plus they enhanced his wish with life vests to make his wish “safe”. They arranged the wish reveal as a big surprise! “My dad told me we were going to the store to pick up the old jet ski but when I walked in, everyone was there and I saw my wish granters and the green and black jet ski and I knew my wish came true,” he said. Since the big reveal, Dominic has taken his new “wish ski” to the lake twice, learning how to really make it fly. “I love to go faster than everyone else and I’m learning to do tricks,” he said. “Plus, now we have two jet skis so we can go out and race. It is the best wish ever.”
I wish to meet Buddy, the Cake Boss Even at the age of 14, Abigail knows what she wants to do with her life – she wants to create amazing cakes that look and taste great and nothing, not even her life-threatening seizure disorder, will get in her way. To prove it, Abigail decided that her one true wish would bring her a step closer to the person she most wants to be—Buddy Valastro, the owner of Carlo’s Bake Shop and celebrity cake creator from TLC’s The Cake Boss television program. “I watch all the episodes more than once, sometimes twice or three times,” said Abigail. “Meeting him in person was way better than I ever imagined it could be. I am going to practice hard so that I can go back and work with him.” Buddy invited Abigail to his bake shop to create a cake of her very own with his help, offering instruction and assistance when needed but mostly just “hanging out and talking” according to Abigail. She and her family toured his factory, and met all the
people who help to make his Hoboken, N.J., bake shop such an incredible success. “Buddy came in after the tour and talked to us about what kind of cake we wanted to make,” said Abigail. She sketched out a jungle theme, complete with a glitter icing base with zebra stripes and small jungle animals crawling on an edible rock waterfall. “I make birthday cakes and Super Bowl cakes but nothing like what I did there,” she said. “Now that I know how to do more, I’m going to try stacking and making animals and flowers.” She will have an easier time with those tricks of baking thanks to Buddy, who sent her home with some of the tools of the trade that he uses in his work. And, while the cake was a true work of art when completed, Abigail had no problem digging in to her creation. “It tasted better than anything I have ever had before,” she said.
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Our volunteers make an impact on Arizona wish kids This year, we are excited to share that we have more than 600 volunteers around the state of Arizona currently helping Make-A-Wish Arizona in our mission to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. From helping to plan events to creating epic wish experiences featuring wish kids’ communities, families and friends, our volunteers are what allows Make-A-Wish Arizona to grant more than 300 wishes each year. In 2013, Make-A-Wish Arizona instituted a recognition program to honor these heroes – the Volunteer of the Month program— to share WHY our volunteers are incredible. Here are a few of those honored this year.
Lynne Tinker Lynne (pictured above, at left, with wish kid Dwayne) is an avid wish granter, assisting with 17 wishes in just the one short year she has volunteered with Make-A-Wish Arizona. In addition, she was a part of the 2013 Walk for Wishes committee, which broke records for participation and for money raised. She continues to help with the 10th Annual Walk for Wishes event, to be held on October 27. Her creativity and a flexible work schedule make her a sought-after co-wish granter, but it is her life motto, “Fun…with a focus” (also the motto of her team building business) that truly makes her a Volunteer of the Month. An “almost-native”, Lynne dedicates her free time to Make-A-Wish Arizona and her two cats, Jake and Elwood. And what would she wish for if she had just one true wish? “To win the lottery so I could become a full time wish granter!”
Cathy Nash and Norma Cervantes Cathy and Norma (pictured, left to right, above with wish kid Margaret) have become quite a powerful wish granting team for the Southern Region of Arizona, granting more than 60 wishes between the two of them, approximately 25 of the wishes together. Cathy has volunteered for three years, Norma for more than two years. Together, they create perfect wish experiences for many wish kids, including rush wishes and non-verbal wish kids. Both are humble, with Cathy saying that she is the one who is blessed having been involved with these wish families and Norma working so hard to make sure the Spanish-speaking wish kids don’t have to wait to have their one true wish granted. Their favorite wish was one they worked on together – a wish for Olivia, 9, who wished to have a butterfly-themed celebration of life party. “It was amazing to see a community come together to celebrate the impact Olivia had made in just her short 9 years,” said Cathy. How in sync is this “Dedicated Duo”? Both said their one true wish would be to stomp out these diseases that bring kids to Make-A-Wish in the first place.
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Linda Lieberman Linda Lieberman (pictured at left with Lily) considered Make-A-Wish Arizona one of her favorite charities long before she volunteered as a wish granter. Starting in February 2012, Linda has already completed 10 wishes and is working on more this year. Her most memorable wish was for Lily, a 12-year-old cancer patient, who wanted a playhouse. As a wish granter, she was able to see a community come together – friends, family members, even strangers – to make this girl’s wish come true. “We had unbelievable support from friends and the community. Friends donated materials and made custom curtains. Strangers donated all sorts of amazing items. Off-duty firefighters painted the exterior, added wood flooring, and created a garden. Once Lily saw the house, we couldn’t get her out of it. She was giving tours by flashlight! She passed away a few months later but I know that we fulfilled her wish beyond her wildest expectations. I will always remember Lily. Sometimes the wishes that require the most work are the most rewarding.”
Marie Fillhart and Samantha Atchley Marie and Samantha are a mother-daughter wish granting team assisting our Northern Arizona wish kids. Since 2007, Marie has granted 27 wishes. She brought Samantha into the Make-A-Wish Arizona family in 2009, and together they have completed 15 wishes. Their absolute favorite wish was the first wish Marie and Samantha granted together, for Arley, a Northern Arizona wish kid. Arley’s love of Disney created a perfect opportunity for his wish to go on a Disney cruise. Samantha recalls that while sending Arley and his family off, she had never seen a little boy so excited for a trip. “I love to see the kids’ excitement after all of the hard things they have been through,” Samantha says. “I love to help them take a break from everything and just have fun being a kid.”
I wish to go to Atlantis Like most 12-year-old girls, Haley loves to spend her time on the phone texting and talking with friends. Unlike most 12-year-old girls, Haley also has to spend time in the hospital, dealing with her life-threatening cystic fibrosis. That is why the decision behind her wish was so important. Haley wanted to do something active and fun with her mother and two brothers, an adventure they could all take together. “Make-A-Wish Arizona gave me a week where I could live my wish and put everything else aside,” said Haley. “It was so amazing.”
first and giving them a tour of the cock-pit. But it culminated in a week of extra attention at Atlantis, including a special perk that was Haley’s favorite part of her wish. “My favorite part of my wish was swimming with the dolphins,” said Haley. “They were so smooth, gliding through the water. It felt like flying.” Haley also enjoyed the rides at the waterpark and just hanging out with her mother and her two older brothers. “It made me feel really special,” said Haley. “Make-A-Wish Arizona is amazing. They can make any wish come true.”
It started at the airport, where the staff of US Airways made Haley and family feel like VIPs, escorting them onto the plane
Go Daddy® continues its Season of Wishes® support For the third year in a row, Go Daddy will be the title sponsor of the Make-A-Wish® Arizona Season of Wishes campaign, running from November 1 through December 31. This year, Go Daddy has donated $20,000 to match dollar-for-dollar all donations to the campaign. How can you make sure we meet and exceed Go Daddy’s match? There are many ways to get involved in the Season of Wishes including:
• making a direct financial gift at www.wishaz.org • donating frequent flyer miles and/or hotel reward points at www.wishaz.org • shopping for special holiday-themed products at one of our local or national corporate sponsors • creating a Friends and Family page to campaign directly to your personal connections • adopting a wish through your church, business or organization • donating items that we can post on our Season of Wishes eBay auction
Make-A-Wish Arizona has a goal of exceeding the 317 wishes granted in fiscal year 2013. Help us grant the wish of a child facing a life-threatening medical condition by supporting Make-A-Wish Arizona this holiday season. Visit www.wishaz.org and look for our special Season of Wishes information on our home page.
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Make-A-Wish® Arizona 711 East Northern Ave Phoenix, AZ 85020
wishaz.org | 602.395.9474 facebook.com/makeawishaz twitter.com/makeawishaz youtube.com/makeawishaz
Sign up a team today and Walk for Wishes Make-A-Wish® Arizona is excited to announce the 10th Annual Make-A-Wish Arizona Walk for Wishes® presented by CheapCaribbean.com on Sunday, October 27 at 8 a.m. at Tempe Marketplace. This signature 5K and 1 mile walk/run event, sponsored by Zipp’s Sports Grill and Goldie’s Neighborhood Sports Café, will feature fun and activities for the entire family. Stores and restaurants through Tempe Marketplace will open early to support participants. Local corporate sponsors are hosting special booths with games and prizes too! Most exciting is that walk/run participants will get a chance to be a part of an actual wish reveal – scheduled to happen before the start of the races! With more than 400 wish kids referred to Make-A-Wish Arizona every year, our goal is to raise enough funds so every eligible child’s wish can be granted. Visit www.wishaz.org and support Arizona wish kids by forming a Walk for Wishes team today.
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5K 8 a.m. Tempe Marketplace 1mile
Sunday, October 27
fun run/walk
fun run/walk
Register today at www.wishaz.org