Annual Report Fiscal Year 2013 September 2012-August 2013
we grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy
Make-A-Wish Mississippi 速
welcome Since 1985, Make-A-Wish Mississippi has granted over 1,650 wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Over these past years, we have seen that the wish not only impacts the life of the child, but also the life of the child’s family, the volunteers and the donors who provide the very necessary financial support to make wishes come true. Without these influential people, we would not have been able to grant 109 wishes in Fiscal Year 2013, making a huge difference in the lives of 109 wish kids and families in Mississippi. Each year, over 200 children are diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions in our chapter’s territory. It is our vision that we would reach each eligible child and grant their most heartfelt wish. A recent study confirms that the power of a wish is an important part of a child’s treatment process. A wish come true empowers a child with a life-threatening medical condition to fight harder against their illness. And fight they do. We like to refer to our wish kids as heroes, and they truly embody the definition of a hero: a person who is admired for great or brave acts. We hope you enjoy reading about what Make-A-Wish Mississippi has accomplished in the past fiscal year. In this year’s annual report, we share the wish of La’Kyra, a thirteen year-old who wished to go to Walt Disney World. Her story shows just how much a wish can impact a family. We are so appreciative of you for giving to this incredible mission; thank you for helping share the power of a wish.
Make-A-Wish Mississippi
576 Highland Colony Parkway Suite 120 Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157
Southern Region Office PO Box 7488 Gulfport, Mississippi 39506
www.ms.wish.org
Best wishes, Jarrod Gray Brent Wilson Board Chair President & CEO
wishes granted in FY 2013:
wishes by region:
wishes by category:
Disney 51%
Cruise 6%
Travel 7%
Shopping 24%
Celebrity 7%
Room Redo 1%
Animal 1%
Computer 1%
Musical Instrument 1%
Playset/ Playhouse 1%
wishes by diagnosis: ChartChart Title Title
Neoplasms 53% Nervous System & Sense Organ Diseases 17% Congenital Anomalies 9% Endocrine/Nutritional/Metabolic/Immunity Disorders 4% 5%4% 16% Genitourinary Diseases 16% 11%5% 11% Transplants & Other Health Factors 3% Blood/Blood-Forming Organ Diseases 3% 8% 8% Infectious/Parasitic Diseases 1% Respiratory System Diseases 1% Digestive System Diseases 1% 35% Musculoskeletal & Connective Tissue Diseases 35% 1% 26% Injury & Poisoning 1% 26%
4%
11% 16%
4%
8%
35% 26%
8%
Other
Chart Title Chart Title
6%
Direct Wish Expense Direct Wish Expense Payroll Expense Payroll Expense Rent
2%
6%
Direct Wish Expense Direct Wish Expense Payroll Expense Payroll Expense Rent
Rent
Professional Fees Professional Fees
2.5-5 years 24%
6-8 years 18%
9-11 years 18%
Rent
Professional Fees Professional Fees 58%
58%
Printing & Publications Printing & Publications Partnership NationalNational Partnership Dues Dues Other Expenses Other Expenses
by the numbers
3% 3%6% 4%
Other
Chart Title
In-Kind Gifts In-Kind Gifts Special Events Special Events 24% 24% Wish Assists Wish Assists Other Other
26%
Wish Assists Wish Assists
20 10 44 7 11 17
Title expenses:Chart $1,387,065
2% 3% 2% 3% 3% 6% 3% Public Support Direct Public Direct Support 4% 4% Corporate Gifts Corporate Gifts
16%
Delta (blue) Direct Public Support Direct Public Support North (green) Corporate Gifts CentralCorporate (orange)Gifts In-Kind Gifts Southwest (yellow) In-Kind Gifts Southeast (red)Special Events Special Events Coast (purple)
wishes by age:
financials: Chart Title Chart Title revenue: $1,437,767
11%
%
109
12-14 years 15-17 years 18 + years 16% 19% 5%
La’kyra
Age 13 I wish to go to Walt Disney World Diseases of the nervous system
“Thank you for brightening my family’s world” In a Wish Impact Study released in 2013, a survey showed that 96% of families said that the wish experience strengthened their family. La’Kyra and her family wholeheartedly agree. Thirteen year-old La’Kyra was diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in September 2010. Since then she has battled valiantly through dialysis, kidney biopsy, chemotherapy and many additional medical treatments. When approached by Ms. Betty, her Wish Granter, La’kyra was filled with bliss. She never imagined that someone would make her wish come true! This meeting was where the whole experience began. La’Kyra’s mom said, “Most of all, the way she and the volunteer showed love and understanding for my child and my family…that was priceless.” La’Kyra and her family literally jumped around the house in excitement when they realized they would be spending Christmas week in Orlando, Florida, visiting Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. “There was not one dull moment on the trip”, exclaimed La’Kyra’s mother. The family was thrilled with the perfect accommodations of Give Kids the World Village. They were all smiles while they celebrated at Sea World’s Christmas Celebration, had fun in the sun at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and of course posed for a family picture with none other than Mickey Mouse himself. One of the greatest joys of the trip could not have been planned. La’Kyra’s parents had been separated for some time. When La’Kyra was able to choose who would participate on the trip, she decided it would be best for her parents to set aside their differences and all attend the trip together. When asked if the wish had an impact on the family or wish child’s life, La’Kyra’s family answered, “It gave our family a chance to bond in a way we were never able to do. We are so busy with work and other things in our lives that we never really get the chance to be around our loved ones. Having the opportunity to go on this wish is what brought our family together.” After the trip, La’Kyra’s mother and father revived their relationship and have plans to get married, again!
“The Make-A-Wish Foundation not only granted La’Kyra’s wish, but it also granted a wish that saved a family.” – La’Kyra’s Mother and Father.
Our Supporters
The following donors generously contributed gifts of $1,000+ between September 1, 2012 and August 31, 2013. Make-A-Wish Mississippi is funded entirely by private donations. We extend our deepest thanks to the many donors who supported our mission through financial contributions. For a complete list of FY 2013 donors, please visit www.ms.wish.org. Please accept our sincerest apologies should you discover any errors or omissions.
Wish Trustee - ($100,000.00 + ) Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana Wish Visionary - ($50,000.00 +) Anonymous Make-A-Wish America Wish Benefactor - ($25,000.00+) Anonymous Chi Omega - Mississippi State University Chi Omega - USM
Wish Innovator - ($10,000.00 +) Anonymous Anonymous Billy Atwood Elton G. Beebe Wade Creekmore Cruisin The Coast Charles G. Gates International Association of Workplace Professionals of MS IP Mississippi Charities, LLC Madison County School District Make-A-Wish Alabama Paragon, LLC Craig M. Rozier Mike Rozier Tyson Foods Tyson Foods, Inc. Jackson, MS Complex United States Marine, Inc.
Wish Pacesetter - ($1,000.00 + ) Brenda J. Adair Adams and Reese, LLP Advanced Healthcare Management Anne Andrews Black CLUT Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Balch & Bingham LLP BancorpSouth Bank of Franklin BankPlus
Barksdale Cadillac Taure Beckham Bessemer Trust Company BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi Juliana W. Bond Boomtown Casino BP American Production Company Julie Brown Brunini, Grantham, Grower, Hewes, PLLC Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC Century Club Charities, Inc. Chevron Humankind Chi Omega - Millsaps College John P. Clements Coast Electric Power Association Collado Enterprises Combined Federal Campaign of Warren County Combined Federal Campaign- PCFO Community Foundation of Greater Jackson Community Trust Bank Wayne Cone COPAC, Inc. Copiah County Schools Ernest Coward D.N.P., Inc. Alfred Dantzler Julie M. Davis Melanie and Mike Dowell E. I. Dupont De Nemours & Company Roger D. Earls East Central Community College Eastgroup Properties Mary Ann Eaton Ed Grantham & Associates Ergon, Inc. Excess Risk Reinsurance Exchange Club of Brookhaven Paxton M. Farese Brian Fenelon First Choice Medical First Commercial Bank Flowood United Methodist Church GECAS Asset Management Services General Motors, LLC Brenda Golisch David Gosselin Lexie Gosselin Jarrod Gray Rodney Gray Gulfport Personnel Services, LLC GWRRA MS Chapter Q Hard Rock Casino & Resort Harvey Construction Company Lucian Harvey Jeremy E. Hewitt Hollis Shoemaker, Inc. Horne, LLP Benny Hubbard J. S. Hughes
Margaret Hutton Insurance & Risk Managers Jackson Academy Jackson Metro Area CFC Jackson Touchdown Club, Inc. Chesley R. James Jaudon & Associates, LLC Jewelers for Children Michael E. Johnson Jowin Express, Inc. Keesler Federal Credit Union Steve Kennedy Robie Kight Lauderdale County Farm Bureau Lawrence County Schools Rachel M. Leggitt Luxaire Madison Middle School Magnolia Cruisers Shirley and Duffy N. McKenzie Gail Megason Merchant’s Food Service Merrill Lynch & Company Foundation,Inc. MS Coast Mustang Club, Inc. NBES PTO Neshoba County School District North Pike County School District Kristie and David Nutt NWR Key Club Pain Consultants of AL, LLC PPS Plus Software Eric B. Prince Progressive Group Mgt., LLC Quality Restaurant Concepts, LLC Bradley W. Rath Stephen Rowell Sam’s Club #4871 Gareth F. Sartin Schwartz & Associates, Inc. Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. SSS Foundation St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. State Bank & Trust of Brookhaven Structural Steel Services, Inc Tellus Operating Group, LLC The Bates Agency The Campbell Group, LLC The Farese Group, LLC The TatoNut Shop The Taylor Group, Inc. Trusted Choice United Healthcare VSPORTO LLC Wal Mart #1025 Wal Mart #365 Wal Mart #875 Wal Mart Foundation Walters & Mason Retail, Inc. Ashley N. Wicks Sharon Wilt
71% of adult former wish kids believe the wish experience contributed to saving their lives
In-Kind Donations
The following donors generously contributed in-kind gifts of $1,000+ between September 1, 2012 and August 31, 2013. We extend our deepest thanks to the many donors who supported our mission through in-kind contributions. For a complete list of FY 2013 donors, please visit www.ms.wish.org. Please accept our sincerest apologies should you discover any errors or omissions. Albriton’s Jewelry Coast Observer Competitive Printing Beau Rivage Florence Garden Spencer Gray Hard Rock Hotel- Biloxi Thomas Harris Haynes Integrated Tech Stacy Hughes
Jernigan Copeland & Anderson, PLLC Knight Abbey Commercial Printing Lamar Outdoor Advertising- Coast Sarah McTaggart Glenn Miller Mary J. Moah Newk’s Cafe No Strings Band Pass Road Mini Storage Randy Watkins
Swarovski North America Ltd. The Prime Time Agency USA Pawn Wyatt Waters Webb Construction Company, Inc Leah Katherine Whisenant Windance Country Club WLOX-TV WXXV Regional Sales Office
Kids for Wish Kids
The following groups participated in the Make-A-Wish Kids for Wish Kids program. Thank you for helping raise over $50,000 for Make-A-Wish Mississippi. Simpson County Academy Wesson Attendance Center Jackson Academy Rosa Scott School Madison Central High School Madison Middle School Germantown High School North Pike Elementary North Pike Middle North Pike High
Events
Ridgeland High School Lawrence County High School Northwest Rankin Neshoba Central Schools East Central Community College Biloxi Junior High School Girl Scout Troup 5308 Gavin Brown Our Lady’s Academy North Bay Elementary School
Northwest Rankin students pose with wish kid Carter
The following events were held by Make-A-Wish Mississippi supporters during FY2013. By donating the proceeds to Make-A-Wish Mississippi, the difference of a lifetime was made for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Thank you to these groups for donating their time and talents. Get Your Wish On USM Chi Omegas - Songfest Mississippi State Chi Omegas Millsaps Chi Omegas USM Chi Omega Alumni - Breakfast with Seymour Florence Garden- 5K Fairy Dust Run Cruisin’ the Coast - Car raffle
Thank you to the University of Southern Mississippi Chi Omegas!
MS Coast Mustang Club Gold Wing Road Riders Association Fun Day Tyson Foods - Vicksburg Golf Tournament Applebee’s McComb Grand Opening Mississippi Corvette Classic Car Show Morgan Stanley - 5K Walk/Run Magnolia Cruisers
Thank you Madison Central for making wishes come true!
Make-A-Wish Mississippi 576 Highland Colony Parkway Suite 120 Ridgeland, MS 39157 GET CONNECTED!
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MAKE-A-WISH MISSISSIPPI STAFF PRESIDENT & CEO Brent Wilson SENIOR DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Rod Henderson
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jarrod Gray, CHAIR Chesley R. James, CHAIR ELECT Jamie Chustz, PAST CHAIR Paxton Farese Matt Grenfell Jerri Harvey Ashley Wicks
Joel Bobo Danny Mitchell Stan Neese Chris Espy Dianna Ainsworth Gene Delcomyn
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & PROGRAM SERVICES Judy Phillips CENTRAL MS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Jane Walsh SOUTH MS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Shellie Moses COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR Swayze Pentecost VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Betty Clements
Thank you Luxaire for hosting a wish reveal party for Malia! From left to right: Brian Hammons, Stephanie Lemoine, Malia, Terrell Jones