Wish News Fall/Winter 2018

"This was the best party ever!"

I wish to give my friends the ultimate sleepover Reagan, 10

Severna Park, MD congenital heart disease

wishnews

Fall/Winter 2018

midatlantic.wish.org • Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic • 1

WISH CORNER

Celebrating 35 years of life-changing wishes In 1983, six friends from Montgomery County, MD founded Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic and set out to transform the lives of local children with critical illnesses. They were immediately successful in carrying out that mission, but they did not foresee the ways in which their own lives would be transformed. In the open letter to wish families included below from 1986, founder Jane Martens describes the impact of Make-A-Wish on staff members, board members and volunteers. Over the 35 years of our chapter’s history, a lot has changed, but our gratitude toward the wish families we serve has remained the same. Thank you to every wish family for opening up their lives and showing us the true meaning of courage. of a wish come true...this To every fragile child who has ever known the magic letter is to you. different occasions how You have told us in many different ways and on many given to you. We know from your thankful you are for the gifts that Make-A-Wish has shine in your eyes that your heartwarming notes, your smiles, your hugs and the gratitude is real and deeply felt. h would like to take the But at this special time of year, we at Make-A-Wis with you an awareness of all opportunity to turn that message around and to share of our feelings are difficult the wonderful gifts that you have given to us. Some stand...for our hands once came to put into words, but we know that you will under remains behind. together in a dream, and the warmth of unspoken words feel to have been welcomed into We want you to know how honored and privileged we up to us - by sharing your your homes and into your lives. By opening yourselves ns - you have created a rare sorrows, your triumphs, your fears and your celebratio that are deeply significant to opportunity for us to enrich our own lives in ways us... ved far more from you than we So you see, little ones...we at Make-A-Wish have recei enthusiasm, faith and love sits could ever possibly give. Your legacy of courage, ring us to live every day of our upon our shoulders and whispers in our ears - inspi lives to the fullest. de, look up at the evening sky Tonight, as on many nights, some of us will go outsi alone, in our own personal way, and feel your presence among the dancing stars. And salute. You have touched our each of us will raise our hands to you in a heartfelt for this most precious of gifts. lives and changed us forever. Thank you...thank you Jane Martens, 1986

Our foun

ders at a

2 • Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic • midatlantic.wish.org

1990 bo

ard mee

ting

at the 2018 Our founders ishes gala Evening of W

IN THIS ISSUE 3 Our Year By the Numbers

4 Local "Give" Wishes & Our Amazon Wish List 5 Season of Wishes® 6 Ways to Make an Impact 8 Reagan's Wish Story

9 In-Kind Donors & Our Referral Sources

10 Linda's Volunteer Story 11 Upcoming Events

Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Granting local wishes is only possible thanks to the generous support of local community partners, such as donors, sponsors, corporations, volunteers and medical professionals. Wishes require local dollars, support and community involvement, and everyone has the opportunity to help a local child with a critical illness. Through the generous support of the community within the past fiscal year, the wish elements below and many more were made possible:

133,351,233

About Our Chapter Thanks to our donors and volunteers, our chapter has granted more than 9,700 wishes since 1983.

frequent flier miles used by wish kids and their families

We serve children who reside in the District of Columbia, Maryland and northern Virginia.

800 Disney park tickets used

Board of Directors Vito Germinario, Chairman Mike Manatos, Vice Chairman Andrew Blocher, Treasurer Laura Van Eperen, Secretary Ed Barry Jennifer Carson Christopher Coccaro

14

25

countries visited

164

sporting events attended

passports purchased

John Cunningham Fred Ferares Ira Frankel Jim Franzoni Samantha Gallagher Betsy Gorgei

43,296 meals and snacks provided

810+ limo rides taken

Jodie Hughes Tim Keagy James King Robin LaChapelle Pamela Rothka Scott Schapiro Jessica Schneickert Shripal Shah

DEDICATION We dedicate this newsletter to the wish children who have passed away. Each child has touched our hearts and lives.

As always, it is our honor and privilege to serve such courageous children.

Marjorie Waxman

midatlantic.wish.org • Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic • 3

Local kids used their wishes to give...

When wish kids learn they are eligible to receive a wish, there is a world of possibility in front of them. They can wish for anything – to go somewhere, to meet someone, to have something – and through the decades, these inspiring children have wished to give something to help others.

In 2018, Timothy wished to give PlayStation 4s to his pediatric oncology unit

In 2010, Elizabeth wished to give toys to children affected

by Agent Orange

In 2003, Kevin wished to give back to the Severna Park Assistance Network

Our Amazon Wish List makes it easy for you to help too!

As local wish kids are waiting for their wishes to be granted, we want them to continue to feel excitement and anticipation throughout the wish process. Wish closet donations, such as sensory toys, gift cards or items for teenagers, can make great wish enhancements, as well as while-you-wait gifts. All wish closet donations can be dropped off at our new Bethesda headquarters office at 6555 Rock Spring Drive, Suite 280, Bethesda, MD 20817.

For every wish granted in our region, there is another child who is waiting. You can help close the gap between wishes that are waiting and those that are granted by purchasing toys and other fun items from our Amazon wish list. By supporting our Amazon wish list, you have the power to impact the life of a local child with a critical illness. To check out our Amazon wish list and purchase items that will help grant or enhance a child’s wish experience, please visit MidAtlanticWishList.org.

4 • Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic • midatlantic.wish.org

We need

YOU

this holiday season.

There’s no better time to give the gift of a wish! Donations from caring individuals in our community add up to create transformative experiences for local wish children. This holiday season, you have the chance to make a wish come true for a local child with a critical illness while maximizing your year-end giving plans.

During this season of giving, please consider donating to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic to make more wishes possible for local kids, like Timothy and Reagan.

A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic and more willing and able to battle their critical illnesses.

Currently, for every wish we grant, there is one more local child waiting to receive their wish. We need your help to close the gap between the number of eligible wish children and those who receive a wish. Your support can help give the gift of a wish this holiday season.

For more information or to donate, visit

MidAtlantic-SeasonofWishes.org midatlantic.wish.org • Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic • 4

Here are all the ways

you can make an

T C A IMP Donate Money

When you donate, you’re giving local children renewed strength to fight their illnesses and bringing families closer together when they need it most.

Donate Stock A stock donation ensures your support for the children we serve well into the future, creating a legacy that will impact our wish kids for years to come.

Volunteer Accomplishing our mission is only possible through the support of our wonderful volunteers. Volunteer opportunities range from becoming a wish-granting volunteer to assisting our chapter as an office or events volunteer.

Whether you're an individual, retailer, company or even a student, you can impact wishes this holiday season!

We have a variety of options for easy engagement that will have a big impact on local children battling critical illnesses.

Give the gift of a

Adopt-A-WishÂŽ Through the Adopt-A-Wish program, your gift will bring joy to local children this holiday season and allow your company to be part of the life-changing impact of a wish come true.

!

H S I W

Cause-Related Marketing Businesses can demonstrate their commitment to local children during the holiday season and expand their customer base by donating a percentage of sales or highlighting a specific item to benefit Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic.

Fundraise Create a unique fundraising event, such as a holiday-themed work party or a special silent auction, to help make some very special wishes come true this holiday season.

For more information or to donate, visit

MidAtlantic-SeasonofWishes.org

I wish to go to Nickelodeon Resort Josiah, 7 Laurel, MD leukemia

Reagan's Wish to

GIVE her Friends the Ultimate Sleepover Reagan waved to her friends as they ran over with their sleeping bags and backpacks. The girls hugged and giggled as they turned to board the bus. They were on their way to Reagan’s ultimate sleepover wish.

Ten-year-old Reagan was diagnosed with congenital heart disease when she was a baby, and throughout her life, she has faced serious health struggles that separate her from other kids. It hasn’t always been easy, but Reagan’s Girl Scout Troop has been there for her through it all. Her friends lift her up and support her so that she never feels alone.

When Reagan learned that she would be receiving a wish from Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, she knew the possibilities for her wish were endless, but more than anything else, she wanted to give back to her friends. Reagan’s one true wish was to throw the ultimate sleepover for her Girl Scout Troop so she could show her appreciation for everything that her pals have done for her.

Reagan’s favorite movie is Princess Diaries 2, and she imagined having a sleepover with her friends just like the princess sleepover in the movie. She was ecstatic to see that the sleepover was everything she envisioned. The girls took pictures in a photo booth, watched a movie together, tie-dyed t-shirts, sang karaoke, made sand art, worked on jigsaw puzzles, played board games, ate s’mores and rode ponies. Best of all, Reagan and her friends got to mattress surf down a staircase just like the princesses in Reagan’s favorite movie!

After her wish, Reagan explained that the wish helped her to reframe her heart condition. She told her mom that throughout her entire life, she wanted to get away from her illness, but her wish has made her want to celebrate it and everything she's overcome. Reagan’s wish transformed her life by helping her embrace her journey and think positively.

8 • Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic

Thank You to Our In-kind Donors In-kind donors provide mission-critical resources that help ensure each dollar we use goes further. Below are a selection of in-kind donors who support our chapter. Thank you to the many other in-kind donors for providing goods and services that help make local wishes come true!

Thank You Design for Change Design For Change and Kathleen Soloway donate hundreds of hours of interior design services to our chapter to create custom and magical room makeovers.

Thank You Susan Beatty Susan generously donated a whileyou-wait experience for local wish kids who were waiting for their wish to be granted.

Thank You Signarama Silver Spring!

Signarama Silver Spring creates individualized banners for our wish kids to help them celebrate their heartfelt wishes. These banners mean so much to our wish families!

Our Referral Sources

al H

s Ho

tion

John

Chil dren 's Na

Combined, these hospitals referred more than 450 local children to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic within the last year. After a child has been deemed eligible by Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic and the child’s medical team, they can use their imagination to determine their one true wish. We would not be able to grow closer toward reaching our goal of granting a wish to every eligible child in the Mid-Atlantic region without their support. Thank you to these local hospitals for helping us give the life-changing impact of a wish experience to local children at a time when they need it most!

ealt h Sy stem pkin • 31 's Ch % i l Inov dren a/Pe 's Ce diat n t e r ric S • 24 peci % alist s of VA Univ Med • ersi 12% Star ty o Geo f Ma rget ryla own nd • Univ 5% ersi ty H ospi tal Kais • 3% er P erm anen te • 3% Wal ter R Ken eed nedy • 3% Krie Her ger man Inst a itute Chil nd Wa • 2% lt dren ’s H er Sam ospi uels on • tal a t Sin 2% NIH ai Clin . ical Cen ter • 2%

Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic relies on wish referrals to help us reach more kids with critical illnesses each year and grant them a wish that will change their life forever. The eligibility consideration process is initiated when a wish referral is submitted by a wish child, parent or guardian, or health professional to our chapter.

The top 10 hospitals for referring wish children in our territory to receive a life-changing wish experience include Children’s National Health System, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Inova Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Specialists of Virginia, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, Walter Reed Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Sinai Hospital for Children and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center.

midatlantic.wish.org • Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic • 9

Now & Then:

Linda's Story

Linda and w

ish kid Trav

is in 1991

Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic is lucky to have amazing volunteers who are dedicated to helping grant the wishes of local children with critical illnesses. This year, as we celebrated our 35th anniversary, we looked back on the volunteers who’ve made it all possible. More than 500 volunteers in the Mid-Atlantic region currently give their time and talents to help make local wishes come true. One such long-time volunteer is Linda Rubin, who is celebrating her 25th year with the chapter. Linda began granting wishes in the early 90s and has helped grant over 30 wishes in her time with Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. Linda also supports our chapter as a wish ambassador and special events volunteer.

Founded in 1983 with the vision of granting the wish of every eligible child, we have taken great strides toward reaching that goal, and we could not have done so without committed volunteers like Linda.

Thank you to Linda and all our volunteers who have made it possible for us to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses for 35 years!

Linda shares, “I love volunteering for Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic because I see how wishes make a tremendous difference in the lives of wish children and their families. I feel privileged that I get to be a part of these experiences which have such an incredible impact on their lives.”

Linda w

ith wish kid Aram his pare and nts in 20 15

MAKE WISHES COME TRUE. Become a volunteer today!

Local wishes are waiting for volunteers in Cecil County, Prince George's County and the Baltimore area. Sign up for an upcoming volunteer training by emailing volunteer@midatlantic.wish.org or or visiting midatlantic.wish.org today!

10 • Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic • midatlantic.wish.org

SAVE THE DATE CAPS FANS! JAN 13, 2019 TOPGOLF ASHBURN, VA

April 6, 2019

The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Washington, DC Join us for Evening of Wishes, our annual signature gala event. Featuring unforgettable wish experiences, exciting silent and live auction items and a lively after party, it will be a night you don’t want to miss. To join us for this inspirational evening and hear how lives have been transformed through local wishes, visit

EveningofWishesDC.org

Mark your calendars for next year’s Wish Upon A Par with the Stanley Cup champions, Washington Capitals, at Topgolf!

Organized by Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic with Erin and Brooks Orpik, attendees will enjoy meeting their favorite Caps players and playing Topgolf together while helping support Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic and local kids with critical illnesses.

For more information about sponsorship and tickets, please visit

WishUponAPar.org

Superheroes of all ages are invited to participate in a family-friendly walk to support Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic!

April 27, 2019

Walk For Wishes Baltimore Rash Field at the Inner Harbor | Baltimore, MD

May 4, 2019

Walk For Wishes Washington, DC The National Mall | Washington, DC

MidAtlanticWalkForWishes.org

may 18, 2019 May 18, 2019 Union Stage | Washington, DC

NightUndertheStars.org midatlantic.wish.org • Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic • 11

6555 Rock Spring Drive Suite 280 Bethesda, MD 20817 301.962.WISH(9474) midatlantic.wish.org

REGISTER TODAY

MidAtlanticWalkForWishes.org

ift g e h t e v Gi

of a

WISH!

November 1 - December 31 This holiday season, Make-A-Wish ® Mid-Atlantic strives to grant the wishes of as many sick children as possible throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, but we need your support to do so.

I wish to go

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GRANT LOCAL WISHES INSIDE! MidAtlantic-SeasonofWishes.org 12 • Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic • midatlantic.wish.org

on a cruise

Dvir, 14 Gaithersburg, MD liver disorder