Game Changer Summer 2015 by Make-A-Wish Mississippi

SUMMER 2015

Celebrating 30 years of giving hope, strength and joy to Mississippi’s Wish Kids. A wish is so much more than a nice thing to do. 89% of doctors, nurses and health professionals surveyed say they believe a wish experience can inﬂuence the wish kids’ physical health.

LETTER FROM THE CEO

BRENT E . WIL SON

4 ONCE UPON A WISH

LY N L E E A N D R E B E K A H

6 ALOHA! HAWAII!

EDEN

10 30 YEARS OF WISHES

FAC T S A N D F I G U R E S

MAKE-A-WISH MISSISSIPPI STAFF BRENT E. WILSON PRESIDENT AND CEO

ROD HENDERSON

MEGAN FORD

JANE WALSH

SHELLIE MOSES

VERA JOHNSON

GINA O’CONNELL

TAMMY LOUVIER

NIKKI SMITH

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

VOLUNTEER MANAGER

PROGRAM SERVICES MANAGER

DONOR RELATIONS COORDINATOR

DESIGN: FRONTIER STRATEGIES

PRINTING: HEDERMAN BROTHERS

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI

WISH COORDINATOR

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, SOUTH MISSISSIPPI

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

THE DREAM JOB

M E GA N F O R D, W I S H G R A N T E R

16 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT B R E N DA G O L I S C H

19 MAKING MAGIC HAPPEN ROD HENDERSON

22 NEWS AND EVENTS

S AV E T H E DAT E S

MAKE-A-WISH MISSISSIPPI BOARD JAR RO D G R AY, C H A I R M A N HAT TIESBURG

DIANNA AINSWORTH MADISON

BENJE BAILEY JACKSON

JOEL BOBO JACKSON

CRAIG BUSBEA JACKSON

CHRIS ESPY JACKSON

PAXTON FARESE RIDGELAND

PATRICK GOUGH RIDGELAND

MAT T GRENFELL JACKSON

MICHAEL GRIFFIN HAT TIESBURG

GREG HINTON GREENVILLE

CHESLEY JAMES MADISON

DAN MODISET T CLINTON

STAN NEESE MADISON

JEREMY NELSON MADISON

MARK RANSIER MERIDIAN

SHERRY STEGALL RIDGELAND

JERRY SULLIVAN RIDGELAND

Make-A-Wish Mississippi is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

PUT IT ON AUTOPILOT! One of the easiest ways to donate to Make-A-Wish Mississippi is to make a monthly pledge. Here’s how: 1. Go to ms.wish.org/donate

2. Click on “Monthly Pledge”

3. Pick a date

5. Choose the Make-A-Wish Mississippi local chapter to receive your donation 4

4. Pick an amount 6. Click “Save”

Thank you so much for helping us reach our goal of granting the wish of every eligible child in Mississippi.

2015 is a special year for us at Make-A-Wish Mississippi as we celebrate 30 years of impacting lives in Mississippi. For 30 years, Make-A-Wish Mississippi has been granting wishes and transforming the lives of some of Mississippi’s brightest, strongest, bravest and best kids. The kids have traveled all over the world, met numerous celebrities and experienced countless thrills. They have experienced the joy and hope that come from having their most heartfelt wish come true. For 30 years, Make-A-Wish Mississippi has given medical professionals a different type of treatment program to improve a child’s health. An overwhelming number of doctors and nurses have told us that they believe the wish experience improves a child’s condition. Medical professionals have also been able to use the wish to encourage kids to comply with difficult, but vital, treatment regimens. For 30 years, Make-A-Wish Mississippi has given parents joy as they see their children smile for the first time in a while. After enduring months of chemo treatments and numerous trips to the hospital, they see a light and life in their child’s eye that had been missing. Their family is whole, and the parents can relax because Make-A-Wish has taken care of everything. For 30 years, Make-A-Wish Mississippi has given our fellow Mississippians a chance to experience the beauty of life as they volunteer to be a wish granter. Hundreds of volunteers all over the state have given joy to our wish families…and they have received so much more in return. Thank you for supporting us for the past 30 years. Our wish kids are fighters, resilient and full of life. We are honored to serve them by granting their most heartfelt wish. The memories from their wishes last a lifetime. Thank you for helping us share the “Power of a Wish.” Sincerely,

Brent E. Wilson President and CEO 5

Once Upon A Wish Inspirational Stories of Make-A-Wish Children (Reprinted with permission from The Yazoo Herald, Yazoo City, Mississippi)

Survivor Rush blazes a trail in battling rare cancer

The Rush family practically lived inside hospitals and treatment centers. They stayed at one Memphis hospital for six months. As Bekah continued her chemotherapy treatments, the Rush family received word from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “At that time, she was sicker than ever,” Ben recalls. “But then, it was all about fi nding out what she wanted to do for her wish.” Bekah had a love for horses, which led to the idea of spending a vacation at the Rainbow Trout Ranch in Colorado. Bekah would get to visit a “dude ranch.” “But our girl did not want this to be just her wish,” Connie said. “She wanted it for all of us.” The Rush family were on their way to the ranch. Filled with excitement, Ben and Connie were still nervous about the possibility of Bekah relapsing. But at the time, it was about happiness. It was about riding horses. It was about the ranch life. It was about Bekah and her excitement. “To see her after her being in the hospital for so long...,” Ben said, tearing up. “To see her at that moment, to see her running up and down the mountain and to the stables...to see her absorbing everything. She knew the future was open for her to do whatever she wanted to do.” Connie said the trip and wish were beyond their imagination. “Stepping out of our cabin each morning was like walking into an Ansel Adams picture,” she said. “The air was crisp, cool and clean. The trail riding and fishing for trout were all great.” But the smile on Bekah’s face and the hope within her heart were better than any majestic landscape. “Everything was pale in comparison to the look of absolute joy on Bekah’s face,” Connie said. “She was with her family. She was healthy,and she was doing what she loved...riding horses.” The Rush family feels that the trip gave Bekah that extra burst of strength to carry her through her battle. “Perhaps this week of refreshment after the long battle helped her understand that her whole life lay ahead of her, like the mountain trails she rode everyday,” Connie said. “These are memories we made there and treasure to this day...twelve years later.”

en and Connie Rush remember the exact day they were told their seven-year-old daughter Rebekah was diagnosed with a rare cancer. It was March 14, 2002. They even remember the time. It was 9:45 a.m.

Bekah won her battle with cancer. She is now a young adult, working at an equine center in Oxford. “Looking at her now, you would never know that she had cancer,” Ben said. Bekah gave cancer one heck of a fight. And she came out victorious. But a horse ride around a mountain, a fishing trip with her family and breathing in that air of hope could have been what restored Bekah for her journey. Now, her trail is wide open. And she has her heart set for the ride.

Bekah was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare form of cancer for children. Medical teams told the family that Bekah had a 35 to 45 percent chance of surviving. Ben tears up to this day when thinking about that morning, knowing his little girl was about to endure a battle for her life. “You go from a normal seven-year old child to her losing her hair, having dark circles under her eyes,” he said. “Her face swells up, and the chemo she goes through on a weekly basis takes its toll.” As a mother, it was very painful for Connie to watch Bekah go through so much pain in order to make it another year, month, week, day, even moment. “The treatment was aggressive and at times very painful,” she said. “Over a period of time, it transformed our vivacious, golden-haired little girl into a shadow of her former self.”

Lynlee defies the odds, a year after her brain tumor

Over the next several weeks, the Martin family were in and out of doctor’s offices, special clinics, the Batson Children’s Hospital. It was tests, screenings, endless shots and pain for both Lynlee and her parents. The outcome was uncertain. The future was unknown. But Lynlee pulled through the ordeal with the strength of a hundred men. She was a fighter. And she won every match. During the first few months, Lynlee had to wear a nasogastric tube in order to eat. She couldn’t eat her favorite Little Debbie snacks.She had to settle for a liquid, milkshake-like substance through her tube. That tube was replaced by a gastric feeding tube or “button.” She spoke with a raspy, almost whisper. But then she slowly began to eat a few spoons of yogurt. Drinking a cup of juice became easier and easier. It wasn’t long before Lynlee baffled all the medical teams she encountered. She was d o i n g everything t h e y thought she wouldn’t be able to do. It was unexplainable. “Her strength throughout this has been the most amazing thing to watch,” Amy said. “She just never gives up, and never lets anything get her down. If we as adults could do that in our daily lives, there’s no telling the obstacles we could overcome. She is so resilient and even if she gets ‘knocked down,’ she just bounces right back and keeps on keeping on.”

t was the hardest thing for Amy Martin to do that day, handing her baby girl over to a team of doctors and nurses. For close to nine hours, Amy and her husband Dee Martin waited with their family and friends as their daughter Lynlee had a tumor removed from her brain. They all sighed a breath of relief when they discovered the tumor was not cancerous and that Lynlee pulled through the procedure fine. They were then told Lynlee would never talk again, never eat a solid meal again and would never breath on her own again. But Lynlee proved them all wrong. As she nears her third birthday, the sassy princess-in-themaking is one of the most talkative children in her class at First United Methodist Day Care. She loves to eat s’mores and grabs a plate of hot nachos with cheese at Benton Academy football games. She recently learned how to write a few numbers on her own. And she is full of laughter...it fi lls her lungs up. Lynlee is a fighter. She is a blessing. She is a miracle. It has been one year since the Martin family were told the news that turned their lives upside down. But within that long and tiring year, Lynlee’s progress and strength show the true healing power of prayer, faith and God. “As hard as it seems some days, I can see the Lord has great plans for my child,” Amy said. “I am beyond thankful and blessed for how far He has brought us in the past year.” It was November of 2013 when Amy and Dee began to notice something wrong with Lynlee. The otherwise happy little girl was irritable and couldn’t seem to keep her balance. She kept falling over when she attempted to walk. The Martins thought it was probably an ear infection, fluid. After a visit to a clinic, they soon discovered it was much more than an ear infection. “When you are a parent, you know it is your responsibility to take care of your children to the best of your ability,” Amy said. “But when someone tells you that your child has a brain tumor and you are thinking at most they have an ear infection, it hits you like a ton of bricks.” A brain tumor...“When the doctor left the room that night I looked at Dee and told him, ‘God gave us this child for a reason, and whatever that reason is, it is up to Him,’”Amy said. “‘This is not something that we, as her parents here on Earth, can fi x. We are going have to give this back to Him and let Him have His way with her.’”

The tubes were removed. The button was taken off. She was eating full meals, and her whisper became a full-blown yell. She can do anything she wants. “Nothing is impossible for her, and she has got the determination of a mule,” Amy said. “One year ago, we were told she would have a feeding tube, a trach to help her breath and if she ever talked it would be at most a whisper. To say she’s the loudest kid in the class may just be an understatement.” Amy said most children who have brain tumors usually develop some form of behavioral issue or mental retardation. “As of now, Lynlee is ahead of the learning curve for a child her age,” Amy said. It has been a long journey for the Martin family. The year-long struggle has had its share of ups and downs. “We are truly blessed,” Amy said. “There are days that hit you in the knees at the thought of what we have been through, but I can look at those times and see that we have come so far. You can’t help but smile because you know only God is the reason we are where we are.” The Martin family also received word last September that Lynlee’s “wish” would be granted thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The letter arrived a few weeks after her second brain surgery. Her wish? Disney World, of course. “Lynlee wants to be a princess in Cinderella’s Castle,” Amy said. “Of course this fits her perfect because she is so sassy and refers to herself as ‘the prettiest girl in town.’” Amy said she and her family are so excited to take Lynlee and their son Ad to Disney World without any worries. Make-A-Wish handles everything. “For the first couple of days after we talked to Lynlee about the wish she would ask, ‘am I going to daycare today? Or am I going to my castle today,’” Amy said. “To hear the excitement in not only her voice but Ad’s also, it just brought joy to know they had something to look forward to that didn’t consist of a day out of school to spend at the hospital or doctor appointment.” For now, the Martin family takes it one day at a time. Lynlee is still closely monitored. But thanks to the healing power of the Lord and the giving nature of others, all she has to worry about right now is getting to her castle at Disney World. “We would have never made it through this situation without our faith in the Lord,” Amy said. “He must have big plans for her because she sure has overcome a lot in such a short time.”

HELP US PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF More than 74% of all wishes involve travel. Through our Wishes in Flight ÂŽ program, you can help us grant more wishes by donating your frequent ďŹ&#x201A; ier miles. Delta, United, US Airways, Jet Blue and Continental all have programs benefitting Make-A-Wish. Every mile donated helps wish kids and their families travel to destinations they never dreamed they would see. Once donated, your miles will never expire and are used to support the wishes granted to children in Mississippi. For more information and to donate, visit ms.wish.org/miles.

n September 18, 2002, Eden was born to parents Greg and Lynne, although five weeks early, and born by emergency C-section, she was perfectly healthy. Weighing in a 4 pounds, 10 ounces, she went home one week later. Eden brought so much joy to her parents, grandparents, older brothers and extended family! Eden was a precocious child who loved to be read to by her grandmothers, and she always turned ﬂips around the house. When she was two, Lynne decided to channel that energy and enrolled her at Vicki’s School of Gymnastics in Meridian. This proved to be the right thing to do. Eden LOVED tumbling. She did ﬂoor exercises, bar, beam and vault. Eventually, she was asked to join the competitive team (at age 6). At age 10, she competed in and won at the State Level, and also competed in Regionals, where she placed 13th. In addition, Eden began dancing at age 10, when she started fifth grade at Newton County Elementary, where she was an honor student as well. It was during this fall semester, that Eden began developing sores on her legs that would not heal with treatment. At fi rst, it was thought to be staph infection, then later, the result of an immune system disorder. However, in November of 2012, a lymph node in her groin swelled, and would not go down either. The 10

immunologist recommended a biopsy. When the surgeon biopsied (December, 2012), he suspected it was lymphoma, and St. Jude agreed. It was at this point that the family began a whirlwind of treatments. Eden received chemotherapy for eight weeks on an outpatient basis at St. Jude’s. They alternated the more aggressive chemo one week with the less aggressive the next week in order to give her body a little rest in between. She was very sick from the chemo. Eating anything was a struggle; drinking was a little easier most of the time. There were times when she had to have IV ﬂuids to help out because the sickness was so severe. As parents, we agonized over her, worrying about whether or not she was going to dehydrate or starve to death. We worried because she hurt when you touched her. She didn’t want anyone to lie down with her most of the time. She slept more than she had ever slept in her life; I think

we slept less than we had ever slept in our lives, and at the same time, we had to try to keep working some in order to pay our bills. In addition to Eden, our younger son Jesse had to spend time with his grandmother when we were away, but we were very glad she was able to take care of him. We worried about neglecting him also. Eden’s life was changed by the treatments in several ways. Luckily, her schoolwork wasn’t one of them! On the other hand, she was extremely weakened, and going back to gymnastics was something she insisted on doing immediately, but it was also something she was not ready for. The coaches and her teammates were very supportive though. She also desperately wanted to make it to her dance recital, which she did. One thing which affected her on a psychological level was the loss of her hair and the extreme weight loss from the chemo. People tended to stare at her everywhere we went, like it was her fault that she looked that way. Previously, people commented on how beautiful she was and how pretty her long hair was. I know that is physical beauty, but to her, it seemed to be important. As parents, our lives have been forever impacted by the knowledge that this can happen to anyone at anytime, and every moment is precious! Our kids are a gift that can never be replaced. When we were contacted by Make-A-Wish Mississippi, I was so shocked because I thought it was only for terminally ill children, and in my opinion, Eden no longer fit into that category. Eden originally thought she wanted to meet Katy Perry, but then she decided she wanted something that might be more memorable and include her family. They started the process, and also contacted my employer, ECCC, to see if the athletic department would help out, which they did. They helped raise part of the money to send us! Our representative kept in touch with us, we attended our kick off party and later were on our way to Hawaii. In Hawaii, we were fortunate enough to make lots of memories, and most of all to stop worrying and relax! We snorkeled at Hanauma Bay, went to the water park, swam, went to a luau and swam with dolphins. Our trip to Sea Life Park was Eden’s favorite. On the plane on the way, we met a lady who was friends with a dolphin trainer at the park, so while we were there, she not only got to swim with the dolphins, but also got extra special time behind the scenes to feed and play with them! We are still Facebook friends with the trainer. In addition, another Wish Kid from Tennessee, Lexi, stayed at our hotel and went to Sea Life when we did. She was the same age as Eden, and they became friends. We are all Facebook friends now! I know this wish had a significant impact on her life. She came back home feeling stronger, happier and with a huge smile on her face. We also got a break from the stress of her illness and were ready to resume our daily lives. These days, Eden is stronger than ever! She will tell you it is because of her illness and the chemo (not sure about that). She won the vault event at State this year and placed at several other gymnastics competitions and placed third at her dance competition. She made all As and LOVES life all the time! Thank you so much to Make-A-Wish Mississippi for making our child herself again!

Sunny says, “Join our Summer of Hope!” Between now and August 1, Sunny and 50 other Wish Kids from Mississippi and their families will be traveling for their wish experiences. The destinations include Orlando, Hawaii, California, Canada, Nashville for the CMA Music Festival, Michigan and fishing in the Florida Everglades. That adds up to 140 plane tickets, 100 theme park tickets, 222 nights in hotels, 33 car rentals, two fishing trips, one Women’s World Cup game, two cruises, two dolphin excursions and enough memories to last a lifetime. As you are looking forward to your summer plans, please make a gift to Make-A-Wish and bring hope, strength and joy to Sunny’s friends waiting for their wishes to come true. Your gift to the Summer of Hope campaign will make a summer vacation a reality and go a long way to brighten the lives of some very deserving kids.

“I wish to go to th

e Bahamas.”

On July 10, 2014, I wa s diagnosed with canc er. The diagnosis was of my journey which led the beginning me to four months of treatment. My treatme 35 chemo treatments, nt included 12 spinal taps with ch emo, and two bone m (negative). As you can ar ro w tests imagine, the treatme nts were no fun. The to meet other Wish Ki go od thing is I got ds and make new frien ds. During my treatment , I met Ms. Annette fro m Make-A-Wish. She eligible for a wish. Th said I was is brought a big smile to my face. I thought of places I could go, celeb all of the cool rities I could meet, an d things I could have, was in my heart. Durin but the Bahamas g the months of treatme nt, my family was str between hospital stays etched thin , work and trying to ke ep up with my brother’s has been a difficult tim activities. It e for all of us. During the really hard days, about was the fun my all I could think family would have at Atlantis and the Carib Before meeting Ms. An bean beaches. nette, this was only a dream and definitely My wish helped me wh not a possibility. en I needed it most. I would love to see ever have their wish grante y eligible child d and receive an equa lly awesome experienc e.

Change the Lives of Local Wish Kids by Donating Airline Miles to Make-A-Wish ® Mississippi

Make-A-Wish launches Give Wishes WingsSM campaign encouraging the donation of airline miles to help Wish Kids travel for their wishes Trillions of airline miles go unused each year. Instead of letting them expire or using them for magazine subscriptions, those miles can easily be donated to change the lives of sick kids battling life-threatening illnesses in the local community. In April, Make-A-Wish® Mississippi began a campaign – Give Wishes Wings – focusing on the unique and critical need Make-A-Wish has for airline miles. The campaign encourages travelers who have unused airline miles to consider donating them to help grant the 70% of Make-A-Wish Mississippi wishes that require travel. The process to donate miles is as simple as visiting ms.wish.org/miles, choosing from a number of airlines – including Alaska, American, Delta, Jet Blue and United – and entering a few pieces of information. The number of miles an individual can donate ranges from a few hundred miles* to millions. Donated miles never expire and are never used for anything other than wish travel for Wish Kids and their families. Most people have seen or heard of a wish come true – whether it’s a five-year-old boy rescuing a city as his favorite superhero, a young girl wishing to dance with a prince, or a teenager relishing beachside moments in the Caribbean, miles away from the thought of treatment and the pain of hospital visits. However, few people recognize the resources Make-A-Wish Mississippi requires to make wishes possible. “Travel is the most costly expense to our chapter,” said Brent Wilson, CEO/President for Make-A-Wish Mississippi. “Donating airline miles is a little known way for supporters to help us grant more life-changing wishes without ever having to tap into their bank accounts.” Some estimates show there are more than 16 trillion frequent ﬂier miles that go unused each year and some 25% of people let their miles expire or at the last minute use miles for magazine subscriptions or a one-time upgrade. In contrast, the impact of a wish can last a lifetime. In fact, medical professionals say wish experiences can improve children’s state of mind, make them more willing to comply with treatment requirements, and even inﬂuence their physical health. Former Wish Kids tell us their wish experience improved their health and strength; gave them more confidence and the will to pursue more challenging life goals; made them more philanthropic and compassionate; and even helped save their life. Give Wishes Wings is the most ambitious airline miles initiative in Make-A-Wish history. Make-A-Wish Mississippi joined Make-A-Wish chapters throughout the country in its activation of the campaign, which included brand new broadcast, print and online PSA and advertising features; a mobile optimized microsite with realtime donation tracking; and a peer-to-peer challenge component that enlisted social media to generate campaign support. *minimum donations depend on airline

Over the past 30 years we have:

Make-A-Wish® Mississippi was founded in 1984 in memory of a young girl who lived in Gulfport. After she was diagnosed with a lifethreatening medical condition, a group of caring individuals raised funds to send her, along with her mother and grandmother, to Walt Disney World® Resort. The family and others, moved by the generosity of those who contributed their time and money, felt compelled to reach out to other families facing similar circumstances. Through their efforts, Make-A-Wish® Mississippi became the 36th chapter chartered by Make-A-Wish America. In 1989, the chapter’s main office moved to Jackson in order to better serve the entire state. Since then, the Mississippi Chapter has granted the wishes of over 1,800 kids across our great state. We currently grant about 110 wishes each year to children residing in the 65 southernmost counties of the state. Our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child in our area.

Make a lasting impression by crafting your legacy.

A planned gift to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mississippi, such as a bequest in your will or trust, life insurance designations, or stock donation ensures your support for the children we serve well into the future. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do more than help grant wishes, you will impact our Wish Kids for years to come. Please let us know if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve named the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mississippi in your estate. For more information, see ms.wish.org/plannedgiving.

Meet Megan Ford She has the dream job!

One thing that was constant wherever she went was the huge smile on the kids’ faces when they talked about their wish.

Megan Ford, LMSW, grew up in Vicksburg where she felt a calling at an early age to work with kids dealing with health issues through a career in social work. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Social Work at Mississippi College and a Master of Social Work at Jackson State University. While she was in college, she interned at University of Mississippi Medical Center. During her time at UMMC, she was offered a full-time position in the pediatric inpatient department. Over the next three years, Megan primarily worked in the inpatient pediatric hematology/oncology department as a social worker where she also covered inpatient pediatric rehab and pediatric neurology. Needless to say, she was able to see a lot of kids. Many were very sick and had to persevere through painful medical treatments. After a couple of years Megan transferred to the outpatient Children’s Heart Center and pediatric heart transplant where she met other kids enduring tough medical conditions. One thing that was constant wherever she went was the huge smile on the kids’ faces when they talked about their wish. Megan was introduced to Make-A-Wish by LeAnne Howard, a pediatric oncology social worker, and Dr. Gail Megason, chair of the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, who include a wish as a part of the child’s treatment protocol. They feel strongly that the wish experience provides something for the kids focus on to help them get through their treatments, which can be rough. It gives them something to look forward to and to work toward. It also gives the children a sense of identity. They don’t get to experience sports, band and other activities that their friends in school get to experience. A wish gives the children a common bond and something to talk about.

She wanted to be the person that made wishes come true. She knew that wishes have a tremendous impact on the kids, their families, doctors, nurses, social workers and everyone associated with the wish.

Megan experienced this in one of the patients she referred to Make-AWish. His wish was to travel across the United States because he wanted to see “his country” and “his home.” He was very excited about it. He suffered some setbacks during his treatment but the goal of being able to go on his wish kept him working hard. Through his tough battle in rehab, Megan and others would encourage him and see him get excited about getting to go on his wish. His face would light up, and he would work harder. Another facet of the wish experience that Megan began to notice was that it brought joy to the entire medical team. Many times she would make rounds with doctors, pharmacists and nurses, and everyone would get excited when they talked about a patient’s wish. It did not involve needles, treatment diagnoses, insurance claims or anything that caused heartache and pain to the family. It was a great diversion from the reality of sometimes harsh medical treatments. Like the kids, the medical team also needed the hope and happiness that comes from a wish. A few months ago, Megan heard about Make-A-Wish Mississippi looking to fill a full-time wish granting position. She was excited about the prospects of the position because she knew it brought everyone joy. She wanted to be the person that made wishes come true. She knew that wishes have a tremendous impact on the kids, their families, doctors, nurses, social workers and everyone associated with the wish. She knew the wish experience empowered kids to continue their treatment and inspired them to continue to fight. Megan has very high standards for her performance because her standards of excellence are determined by the kids’ expectations. She wants to grant their most heartfelt wish as she has seen the profound impact a wish can have on a kid. She is giving them things that will help them enjoy life and giving them experiences that last a lifetime. Make-A-Wish Mississippi and our Wish Kids are fortunate to have Megan Ford as our Wish Granter.

Make-A-Wish Mississippi celebrated the 2014 holiday season with one of our most successful Season of Wishes campaigns ever! Thank you to our sponsors for helping us make even more wishes come true for Mississippi children with life-threatening illnesses.

Outlets of Mississippi / WLBT-TV3 Mississippi Cheese Straws / Subaru

/ The Radio People / Things Remembered 17

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could grant wishes and make dreams come true?

As a volunteer at Make-A-Wish Mississippi you can do just that! Whether you’re a student or an adult, there are so many rewarding volunteer opportunities for you. You can become a Wish Granter or help plan one of our signature events like the annual Evening of Wishes Gala or the Martini Shakedown. With experience, many of our volunteers join our Speaker’s Bureau. Students love to get involved in our Kids for Wish Kids program. Others enjoy assisting at community events or serving as an airport greeter for Wish Kids and their families arriving in Jackson. There is often office support work that needs to be done, and college students are eager to apply for our internships. Just go to ms.wish.org/volunteer to apply. 18

Brenda Golisch, Meridian Brenda Golisch lives and works in Meridian, Mississippi. She has two daughters and two grandsons. 15 years ago, Brenda was at home recovering from an injury when a friend invited her attend a meeting to hear about Make-A-Wish. Brenda was ready to get out of the house and really wanted to go shopping so her friend told her she would take her if she attended this meeting. Little did she know that meeting would change her life. She was so impressed with the mission that she wanted to learn more about volunteering and becoming a wish granter. Brenda fondly remembers her first wish. The young boy wanted to visit Disney World where he and his family had the time of their lives. Unfortunately, the young boy’s health declined when they returned home and he passed away. At the funeral, many family members and friends thanked Brenda for helping grant his wish. She remembers, “I was so thankful that night during my prayer time that I was only a small part of giving them some joy and great memories during their time of grief.”

“I was so thankful that night during my prayer time that I was only a small part of giving them some joy and great memories during their time of grief.” Another wish that Brenda granted happened at the Riley Center when a teenager was able to be part of the cast of his favorite program “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” To this day, when Brenda sees him around town, he tells her that was the best day of his life. As Brenda puts it, “How many people get to be a part of the best day of someone’s life? I do! Does life really get any better than that? I get to be part of the best day a child’s life.” The most impressive part of the wish families to Brenda is how many come back and help grant other wishes after their wish is granted. They want other children to feel and

experience what they did. Wish kids ask Brenda if they will ever see her again after their wish and she assures them that they will. They are part of the wish family and can tell others about their wish and help raise money for others to go on their wishes. Brenda has experienced grandmothers and other family members from wish families join her in monthly meetings to help brainstorm on new ways to raise funds to grant even more wishes.

“How many people get to be a part of the best day of someone’s life? I do! Does life really get any better than that? I get to be part of the best day a child’s life.” Brenda has met some of the most generous people in Mississippi because of the work she does for Make-A-Wish. She says that sharing the power of a wish is life changing. Brenda states, “Sometimes I forget that I’m a volunteer because I treat it like a job and mission. I have worked with charities all my life and was raised to help others but nothing makes me laugh and smile like being a wish granter. It will keep me young for many years to come.” Brenda’s youngest daughter, Courtney, now helps her with many Make-A-Wish projects like granting wishes and fundraising. They have co-chaired the Meridian Walk for Wishes for many years and work together doing garage sales, pancake breakfasts, rafﬂes, and kickoffs. All of her family have helped in some area one time or another…even her 79 year-old mother, Betty, helps set up garage sales because she loves children, and she loves a bargain. Brenda has touched many lives while sharing the power of a wish. Do you want to learn more about making a difference in someone’s life? Visit ms.wish.org/volunteer for more information on how to get involved.

Our wish kids love to talk! We have some of the best storytellers in the state. We guarantee you will be encouraged, inspired and motivated. Contact Gina Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell at 601-366-9474, extension 1311, or voconnell@ms.wish.org if your group needs a speaker. We would love for you to hear about and see the Power of a Wish ÂŽ.

The 30th anniversary of Make-A-Wish Mississippi kicked off with the New Year, New Wish Event at Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa in Greenville, Mississippi. It was a great way to ring in the New Year with friends while enjoying cocktails, a nice sit-down dinner, gaming and dancing to the incredible Dat Band, New Orleans’ premier party band.

Thank you to our sponsors: Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa, Rozier Construction, Wheels for Wishes, Delta Group, Mitchell Distributing, Sanders, Monsanto and Reed-Joseph International. 21

od Henderson, Senior Director of Development at Make-AWish Mississippi, is a bit of a magician. When he started his professional career journey on a catfish farm in the Mississippi Delta, and later in the banking industry, he may not have thought about performing magic, but today he leads the charge in making dreams come true for Mississippi children facing life-threatening illnesses. Rod says, “I often thought Make-A-Wish would be a great place to work. When the opportunity presented itself, I realized how much a wish experience could be life changing for the Wish Kids and their families. I knew I wanted to be part of that.” Today, Rod leads his staff on a well-planned mission of increasing awareness of Make-A-Wish Mississippi throughout the chapter’s territory in the state. He knows that increased awareness of the organization, its mission and the profound effect granting a wish has on a child opens doors and brings in additional funds Make-A-Wish never had before. As Rod explains, “Those new, additional dollars lead to the most important part of what we’re here for, which is to help us grant more wishes than we are currently granting.” Rod is focused on reaching beyond the metro Jackson area to establish a presence, reach more people and acquire new donors in the Mississippi Delta (Greenville and Cleveland), the Golden Triangle (West Point, Columbus and Starkville), Meridian and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Several exciting events benefitting Make-A-Wish Mississippi are currently in the works. The Make-A-Wish Mississippi Golf Classic at Old Waverly will be held Monday, August 31. There’s

a gala event planned for November in Greenville at Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa, expanding on the 2014 New Year/New Wish Event. Wine & Wishes parties have been successful in places like Vicksburg, and Rod wants to find people throughout the state to have these events in their homes. These smaller parties are highlighted with the opportunity for guests to meet a Wish Kid and hear their story first-hand to understand how much a wish can mean to the child during medical treatment. Special events are just part of Rod’s fundraising plan. He particularly enjoys the one-on-one meetings with people who want to know more about Make-A-Wish. He says, “There is nothing better than once you talk to someone that they get it as to what a wish will mean for a child and their family, and that they want to come on board and support that. My greatest day is when someone says my ‘company can do that, I can do that, I want to be part of that.’” Rod says that, of course, he does face rejections, but time spent with Wish Kids and their families motivates him to go back out and find that person with whom the Make-A-Wish mission is going to resonate and they want to make this happen. “We play a small part in the Wish Kids’ life journeys, and we actually see that the wish experience helps them in their adult life,” Rod explains. “One of our Wish Kids, Bekah Rush, often says that without her wish, she would not be the person she is today. I enjoy the opportunity to play a small part in making a difference in the lives of people.”

How You Can Help There are many ways you can help Rod achieve the fundraising goals of Make-AWish Mississippi and help the organization grant more wishes to children throughout Mississippi. The avenues through which an individual or company can get involved or donate include: Major giving program—become a Patron Fund-A-Wish Program Individual Donor Corporate Donor Event Sponsorships Corporate Matching Program

Planned Giving Workplace Giving Wheels for Wishes Program In-Kind Donations Wishes In Flight Program

Wishes in Flight The Wishes in Flight program sets Make-A-Wish Mississippi apart from other organizations seeking donations in that individuals and corporations may donate sky miles, and it’s just like donating cash. Make-A-Wish Mississippi can take those air miles that have not been used or are about to expire and bank them with no expiration date to use toward purchasing tickets for Wish Kids and their families. Here’s how critical the need for sky miles is for Make-A-Wish Mississippi: 75% of Mississippi wishes involve air travel. If an average family of five goes on each wish experience granted in a year, Make-A-Wish would need 375 round trip tickets each year. Currently the average cost of a round trip ticket for Make-A-Wish is $700, because reservations cannot be made too far ahead of time, pending release of the child by the doctor. If every ticket were paid for with sky miles, Make-A-Wish Mississippi would need 18,700,000 sky miles. The Wishes in Flight program partners with Delta Airlines and United Airlines, and donations as little as 1,000 or 500 miles respectively are accepted and are banked in an account for Make-A-Wish Mississippi. To ensure that Make-A-Wish Mississippi receives the sky miles donation, go to ms.wish.org/miles. If sky miles are donated through Make-A-Wish’s national partnership with American Airlines, the miles go to the Kids in Need program that benefits Make-A-Wish among several other charities. Corporate campaigns to gather and donate sky miles can also be developed. Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company partners with Make-A-Wish Mississippi in a very successful campaign. Rod welcomes other companies to work with him to implement a similar campaign. Rod reiterates, “There are many ways individuals or companies can get involved with and donate to Make-A-Wish Mississippi.” Some companies create their own events that generate funds to help us grant more wishes, including golf tournaments, 5K runs, company family picnics/carnivals, and wine tastings. The only limitation is the imaginations of those who want to help. He concludes, “If it weren’t for our donors, Make-A-Wish would not exist. Where would these children find their hope, their motivation?” Experience tells Rod that Make-A-Wish Mississippi is critical in aiding the treatment process and the healing process for these kids and their families. A wish experience gives back a small amount of the childhood that the illness takes away. Everyone involved with Make-A-Wish Mississippi has the rare opportunity to fulfill a child’s most heartfelt wish that the parents may not be able to provide. To get involved and contribute to Make-A-Wish Mississippi, contact Rod Henderson at rhenderson@ms.wish.org or call 601-366-9474.

The 2015 annual gala, our largest fundraiser of the year, celebrated Make-A-Wish Mississippi’s 30th Anniversary. The Kentucky Derby-style event featured special presentations honoring our Wish Kids and their families, along with silent and live auctions, cocktails, dinner and live music. Thank you to all our sponsors for their generosity in making wishes come true for so many deserving children.

P R E S E N T I N G

Larry and Michael Johnson Family Foundation Rozier Construction Company G A M E C H A N G E R

Rosemary and Billy Atwood

S T R E N G T H

J O Y Barksdale Cadillac | Butler Snow Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company St. Dominic Health Services, Inc.

NEWS & EVENTS WINE AND WISHES

KIDS FOR WISH KIDS Our Kids for Wish Kids program is a fundraising tool designed especially for schools. It works well because children enjoy raising money to help other children. During the 2014-2015 school year the following schools helped Make-A-Wish Mississippi grant magical wishes. Bogue Chitto School Enterprise School - Brookhaven Kirk Academy - Grenada Lawrence County High School - Monticello Loyd Star School - Brookhaven Madison Avenue Lower Elementary School Madison Avenue Upper Elementary School Madison Central High School Madison Middle School North Pike Elementary School - Summit North Pike Middle School - Summit Northeast Elementary School - Meridian Northeast Middle School - Meridian Northeast High School - Meridian Northwest Rankin High School - Flowood Ridgeland High School Rosa Scott School - Madison Sacred Heart High School - Hattiesburg Warren Central High School - Vicksburg West Lincoln Attendance Center Brookhaven

On February 26, Roca Restaurant was the location for Wine and Wishes Vicksburg. The event was enjoyed by couples from Vicksburg who enjoyed Roca’s delicious hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Attendees learned first-hand about the impact a wish experience has on a child and his family. The father of Wish Kid Logan (“I wish to go to a dude ranch”) spoke along with a former Wish Kid, Jon Albert. They told of what their wishes meant to them, how their wishes changed their lives and provided updates of where they are today. Thank you to our hosts and Roca for the food and to the Ivy Place for decorations. Thank you to those who attended and want to see more wishes like Logan’s to be granted for Warren County children.

TEE IT UP FOR WISHES Mississippi Trusted Choice® Agents and the Larry and Michael Johnson Family Foundation presented the Make-A-Wish Mississippi annual golf tournament on May 29, 2015, at Deerfield Golf Club. This four person scramble included a putting contest, lunch buffet, a round of golf and awards reception.

CHI OMEGAS Once again our Chi Omega chapters have exceeded our expectations! So far this year we have received a total of more than $100,000 from the Chi Omegas at Millsaps, Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. Many thanks for this generous donation which will put smiles on the faces of many deserving Wish Kids in our state.

NEWS & EVENTS

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EVENTS, VISIT MS.WISH.ORG

MERIDIAN WALK FOR WISHES Sam’s Club and the Larry and Michael Johnson Family Foundation were the presenting sponsors of our Meridian Walk for Wishes held April 4 at Dumont Plaza in downtown Meridian. Make-A-Wish supporters began gathering at 8:30 a.m. From 9:00 until 9:30 a.m. we recognized Wish Kids, walk sponsors and teams. Our friends at Sam’s Club lead us in warm up exercises before the 5K Walk for Wishes began at 9:30 a.m. PMS 293

Black

Cool Gray 9

SAVE THE DATE!

THIRSTY FOR A GOOD TIME?

White

11th annual

JULY 11

martini shakedown presented by

MARTINI SHAKEDOWN, BILOXI RICKY PEDEN MAKE-A-WISH GOLF TOURNAMENT, BILOXI M o n d a y, A u g u s t 3 1 Get those clubs ready for the 8th Annual Ricky Peden Make-A-Wish® Golf Tournament presented by Island View Casino Resort. Windance Country Club will serve as the host for this special event, honoring the memory of a true believer in making wishes come true. The cost is $125 per individual golfer and $500 per team. Fees include range balls, greens with cart, lunch and beverages; t-shirt, team photo, and post play dinner. Hole Sponsorships are $100 and additional sponsorship opportunities are available. The tournament is a four-man select shotgun event that is open to men and women of all skill levels. Participants may submit their own team, or the tournament will pair golfers. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards will be presented after the tournament as well as longest drive, closest to the pin, among other great prizes, plus you have a chance to win $25,000 for a hole in one!

S a t u r d a y, J u l y 11 Celebrate the 11th year of the Martini Shakedown and making children’s wishes come true! The unforgettable event is at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and features the fun, funky, fabulous band, Bag of Donuts, a great silent auction, magnificent martinis and fabulous food.

SAVE THE DATE!

MAKE-A-WISH MISSISSIPPI GOLF C L A S S I C AT O L D WAV E R LY, W E S T P O I N T M o n d a y, A u g u s t 3 1 This is one golf tournament you don’t want to miss. Join Make-A-Wish on the greens and hit a hole in one for the children at Old Waverly Golf Course in West Point, named as Golf Digest’s Top Course in Mississippi. Participants will be able to enter various competitions in conjunction with the tournament for prizes. A silent auction for exclusive memorabilia and entertainment experiences will also be held. Sponsorships are available; for more information contact Rod Henderson at 601-366-9474, ext 1308. 25

576 Highland Colony Parkway Suite 120 Ridgeland, MS 39157

OUR VISION

IS TO GRANT THE WISH OF EVERY ELIGIBLE CHILD IN MISSISSIPPI.

JOIN US

TO MAKE MORE WISHES COME TRUE.

MS.WISH.ORG