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I wish to meet . . . dolphins Anthony, 5 renal failure
GEORGIA & ALABAMA CHAPTER
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I wish to go to . . .
Hawaii Ryan, 7 leukemia
Occasionally in life there are those moments of “unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.” – MLK, Jr.
GREETINGS Dear Friends, Our 2011 Fiscal Year Annual Report tells a story that we are proud to share. Each page of this report captures an extra special moment – a moment of hope, a moment of strength, a moment of joy. Every moment is cherished by some very deserving child whose wish you granted through your continuing generosity to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama. With your outstanding commitment to our fundraising initiatives, volunteer opportunities and wish granting experiences, you have directly helped our children, right here in our local communities, fight the life-threatening medical conditions they face each day. You are a vital part of our dedicated family of board members, volunteers and staff, who help make children’s dreams come true. Their unique wish experiences truly transform both them and their families in remarkable and lasting ways. This past year, your timely support and dedication enabled our Chapter to grant the heartfelt wishes of 391 children throughout Georgia and Alabama. That is more than one wish, every day of the year! And these children are close by - in our towns, right around the corner, or in our own neighborhoods. This achievement is an amazing testimony to both your support and dedication. As you look through our Annual Report, we urge you to open your heart and listen to the voices of our “wish children” saying, “thank you.” Thank you for giving needed financial donations. Thank you for sharing your precious time. And thank you for helping to create such moments of incredible hope, strength and joy. With deep appreciation,
George A. Georgiou Chairman of the Board
John J. Brennan
Chief Executive Officer
Our mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
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by the numbers TYPES OF WISHES 6%
68% 24%
24%
6%
68%
1% 1%
Sources of FundING
I wish to go... I wish to have... I wish to meet... I wish to be... Other
FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES 8%
30% 17% 10%
43% 30% 17%
43%
10%
Corporate Events Individuals Grants
9%
83% 9% 8%
83%
Program Services Fundraising Administrative
*Make-A-Wish receives no local, state or federal government funding.
16 years the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama has been granting wishes locally
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391 wishes
$4.1 Million
525 volunteers
granted in FY 2011 throughout Georgia and Alabama
supporting the Foundation in Fiscal Year 2011
supporting wish granting efforts in 2284 communities across both states
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION
SPECIAL EVENTS
in GEORGIA Celebration of Wishes Gala Nearly 500 guests gathered to commemorate the 6th Annual Celebration of Wishes Gala in October at The St. Regis Atlanta. Under the leadership of Gala Chairman, Hank McLarty, this signature event, which raised nearly $400,000, honored several individuals for their leadership and commitment. Gala honorees included Jonathan Sheriffs, recipient of the Power of a Wish Award; Bill Powell, recipient of the Hope, Strength and Joy Award; Board Member of the Year, Gary Ludgood, who received the Debbie Tillman Award and Kelli Tracy, who was honored with The William Blake Kuller “Indomitable Spirit” Award. Guests enjoyed silent and live auctions, dinner, dancing and musical entertainment from cancer survivor and wish recipient, Kevin Sharp, and Yacht Rock Schooner. Monica Pearson and John Bachman of WSB-TV served as Mistress and Master of Ceremonies for this transformational event, where guests were able to share in the power of a wish®.
Walk for Wishes In celebration of the hope, strength and joy that a wish provides, hundreds of walkers took to the streets surrounding Atlantic Station for the annual Walk for Wishes in April. Wish Ambassadors were on site to share personal stories of their wish experience and thank participants for their support. Over $140,000 was raised to fund wishes throughout Georgia and Alabama, with the support of key sponsors Novelis and AT&T, and Honorary Chairperson, Carl Hansson.
Tournament of Wishes The 15th Annual Tournament of Wishes, presented by Alcatel-Lucent, brought over 200 golfers to the Atlanta Athletic Club in May. This corporate entertainment outing gave golfers an opportunity to play on the site of the 2011 PGA Championship while interacting with past wish recipients, who ignited the day with their hope and strength. Special thanks to Tournament Chairman, Roddy McCrory, and Sponsorship Chair, Will Lowry, for their support and leadership in raising over $150,000 at this event.
in ALABAMA Ride for Wishes Cyclists took part in the ride of their lives as over 200 individuals participated in the annual Ride for Wishes. This two day cycling event featured distances for cyclists of all levels, including a 17 mile fun loop and a true century ride. With plenty of rest stops, great fellowship and the white, sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast, key volunteers Russ Bailey, Jason Barksdale, Ramsey Pursell and the Birmingham Southern College Chi Omegas helped make this a memorable event for all!
Make-A-Wish® Dream Team A new year brought a new group of dedicated runners, who trained to complete the Mercedes HalfMarathon in February. Each runner pledged to raise $100 for every mile they ran in the marathon and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama remains grateful to all participants for making the Dream Team a success once again!
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IMPACT
Share The Power Of A Wish®
A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their life-threatening medical conditions. Arianna, 14 congenital musculoskeletal anomalies
I wish to have…
Emmonte, 12 sickle cell disease
I wish to go… To Disneyland
An above ground pool
95% of parents say that having a wish come true allows children to experience life as much more than just an illness. Nadia, 7
disease of the nervous system and sense organs
I wish to be… A princess
Jackson, 7
disease of the nervous system and sense organs
I wish to have…
Therapeutic riding lessons
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MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION
Having a wish come true can present a positive turning point in the treatment of a medical or health condition.
HOW TO HELP Right now, there are hundreds of children with life-threatening medical conditions in our towns, neighborhoods and communities, waiting for their wishes to come true. You can make a life-changing difference for them and know that your support will remain local, in Georgia and Alabama. Here is how you can help.
Corporate Giving Sponsor an Event:
Corporate sponsors are essential in helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama accomplish its mission. Through the generosity of businesses ranging from family-owned local enterprises to some of the world’s largest corporations, we are able to share the power of a wish®. To learn more, please call 888-517-9474 x 17.
Employee & Workplace Giving/Company Matching: Employees can donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama through existing employee contribution programs or by hosting special events. Many companies match employee donations and corporate teams can participate in our annual Walk, Run or Golf events to raise money as a team while providing the benefit of a corporate presence. To learn more, please call 888-517-9474 x 17.
Individual Giving General Donations: Gifts of any size can be donated online at www.ga-al.wish.org, or by mailing a check to our Atlanta or Birmingham offices.
Host an Event: Organizations and individuals often host events to benefit our chapter. These range from golf tournaments to fashion shows, car washes, festivals and cook-offs. Please contact us for an event application at 888-517-9474 x 36.
Airline Miles and Hospitality Points: With nearly 70% of wishes involving travel, we are always in need of Frequent Flier Miles and Hotel Loyalty Points. Your airline miles and hotel points help to offset travel and lodging costs, allowing us to grant more wishes! Please visit our website at www.ga-al.wish.org or call us at 888-517-9474 x 47 to make a donation.
Volunteer: Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization and support us throughout all areas of our work. We invite you to join us as a volunteer, whether you can give a few hours each month or a few days each year. Opportunities are available in the areas of wish granting, advocacy, office assistance, language interpretation and event/fundraiser planning. For more information, please call 888-517-9474 x 14.
Adopt-A-Wish: You can help create more heartwarming stories for children with life-threatening medical conditions through the Adopt-A-Wish program. This giving option allows donors to fund a single wish experience in its entirety. The average cost of granting a wish is $8,000, a small price to pay for the happiness of a child whose life consists of daily medical challenges marked with illness, treatments and medical appointments. We invite you to be a part of the magic and miracles of Make-A-Wish by adopting a wish and helping a child find hope, strength and joy in the midst of their struggles. Please call 888-517-9474 x 16 for more information. In-Kind Donations of Goods & Services: If you have a business or service that can help the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama grant wishes, we welcome your assistance. Whether it is printing, catering, lodging or office supplies, we are in constant need of your in-kind donations. Please contact us at 888-517- 9474 x 27 to donate your goods or services.
Kids for Wish Kids: Join our Kids for Wish Kids program by registering your school or youth organization to raise funds to make a child’s wish come true. Young people can learn leadership, teamwork and organizational skills while helping other children in the community. Please call 888-517-9474 x 25 for more information.
Bequests/Planned Giving: If you would like to leave a legacy to benefit wish children for years to come by supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama in your Will, please contact us at 888-517-9474 x 16. In appreciation of your generous support, individual and corporate donors were recognized in the 2011 Donor Magazine. A duplicate listing is not included in this Report.
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Executive Staff Chief Executive Officer Vice President of Program Services Vice President of Development Vice President of Finance
John J. Brennan (10/2011 – present) Shavette L. Turner Kari Love Phillip E. Arrington
Board of Directors George Georgiou, Chairman Mercury Z
John Inhouse Merrill Lynch
Ned Allen Make-A-Wish National Representative
Whalen Kuller James, Bates, Pope & Spivey, LLP
Greg Anderson Accenture
Marc Lefar Vonage
Paul Chill Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Gary Ludgood AT&T
Walter Davis Jones Day
Roddy McCrory Brasfield & Gorrie
Rick Elliott United Healthcare
Hank McLarty Gratus Capital Management
Tom Fahey Blue RidgeSpirits
Jayne Middlebrooks Solvay Pharmaceuticals
Holly Hughes Carter Development
Tim Vroman RxStrategies, Inc.
Anthony’s Wish, Our Cover Story Five-year-old Anthony was diagnosed with renal failure, a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood. Over the course of his short life, he has already experienced over thirty procedures and surgeries related to his illness, including a kidney transplant, with the donor being his father. Despite the many obstacles he has had to overcome in his health, Anthony remained in high spirits when it came to the planning of his wish. His love of fish informed his wish decision to go to Orlando, where he was able to not only enjoy the rides at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, but also take a VIP tour of Sea World with his family. During his tour, Anthony was able to pet a dolphin… completing his heart-felt wish of meeting the ultimate fish! He was able to touch its fins, feel its slippery skin, and even get up close and give the dolphin a kiss! This was a once in a lifetime experience for Anthony and his family. It gave them a break from everyday medical concerns, and allowed them to focus on what Anthony really needed in order to heal—hope. Having some time away as a family provided a feeling of joy in the midst of some of the most difficult challenges a family can face. Anthony was able to do something he had only ever dreamed of…his wish of meeting a dolphin, experiencing the rides in Orlando, and seeing a tropical reef, came true! Since his trip to Orlando, he has been all smiles! His family will have these memories to cherish for the rest of their lives, and Anthony now knows which fish he needs to complete his tank at home!
GEORGIA & ALABAMA CHAPTER
www.ga-al.wish.org Georgia Regional Office
Alabama Regional Office
1775 The Exchange SE, Suite 200 Atlanta, Georgia 30339-2016
244 Goodwin Crest Road, Suite 200 Birmingham, AL 35209
p: 770-916-9474 (WISH)
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f: 770-916-0222
facebook.com/makeawishgaal MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION
p: 205-254-9474 (WISH) @MakeAWishGA and @MakeAWishAL
f: 205-254-9479