Bob Uecker Great Lakes Invitational Featured on JS Online
Click here to read the article that appeared June 21, 2008 on JS Online's Web site or to download a PDF copy of the article, click here.
Midas Dealers Supporting Make-A-Wish Foundation® With Car Care Promotion from May 5-June 28
Midas International Corporation, one of the world’s largest providers of automotive services, is helping make wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions. On behalf of its customers, Midas will donate $5 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for every Midas Touch™ Maintenance Package purchased from May 5-June 28.
Midas plans to raise up to $400,000, with a guaranteed minimum of $350,000, through the promotion to help grant children’s wishes.
“Good corporate partners like Midas care about their customers and families in their communities,” said Patti Gorsky, president of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin. “The Foundation’s partnership with Midas will help bring hope, strength and joy to even more courageous wish kids whose wishes will be granted.”
Make-A-Wish® supporters in Wisconsin can participate in the promotion by visiting their nearest Midas location and purchasing a Midas Touch™ Maintenance Package. The package offers affordable and convenient preventive maintenance to help improve vehicle efficiency and maintain better gas mileage amid rising gas prices this summer. The car care package consists of an oil and filter change, four-wheel tire rotation and 45-point Midas Touch™ Courtesy Check.
Midas is also supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s annual campaign, Destination Joy®. Nationwide, the Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes, which added up to more than 13,000 wishes last year. But that’s only half of the 27,000 children diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition annually, and Destination Joy will raise the resources to make every wish happen.
To learn more about the benefits of routine auto maintenance, including fuel-saving tips, and find a Midas location near you, visit www.midas.com.
Host Night News Coverage
Click here to read an article that appears on the Small Business Times web site.
Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin’s Host Night a Pièce de Résistance
“Gallery of Wishes”-themed event raises more than $335,000 to grant 60-plus wishes
MILWAUKEE – More than 60 wishes will be granted from proceeds raised at Host Night 2008, the signature fundraising event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin, held Thursday, April 3 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. The event’s “Gallery of Wishes” theme, along with a trio of inspirational wish recipients, moved the more than 600-person audience of Foundation donors, volunteers and wish families whose generosity helped to raise a record $335,000 to fund the transformational wishes of Wisconsin children.
“Wishes change the fabric of a life for a child living with a life-threatening medical condition and his or her family. Instead of a focus on doctors visits, surgeries and treatments, the entire family experiences the joy and anticipation of the wish-planning process and, ultimately, wish fulfillment,” said Patti Gorsky, president of the Foundation. “Thank you to everyone who attended for the hope, strength and joy you have provided to wish children.”
One supporter responsible for helping make wishes come true over the last 16 years is the Foundation’s 2007 W.I.S.H. (Winner in Sharing Happiness) Award recipient: Hunzinger Construction Company. Since working on their first wish in 1991, the construction of Frank’s tree house, Hunzinger Construction Co. has sponsored more than 70 wishes through participation in Foundation events like Host Night, Walk & Run for Wishes and Morgan Memorial Golf Outing. In addition, Hunzinger has held its own fundraisers to support the mission, including their 100th anniversary event that raised more than $54,000 and brought new supporters to the Foundation.
The evening’s special guests included Make-A-Wish Foundation of America President and CEO, David Williams, and wish kids Mariah, Frank and Frankie. Mariah started the evening by sharing her story of meeting Carrie Underwood last month. Frank, whose wish was granted by Award winner Hunzinger Construction, surprised the Hunzinger family and shared his tree house wish story with eventgoers. Finally, Frankie shared his incredible wish – to go to Mexico to see the migration of monarch butterflies. This 9-year-old, who plans to be an entomologist when he grows up, grows and raises his own butterflies. He told the audience that his favorite thing about the butterflies is the color of the cocoon right before the butterfly sheds it. All of three wish children told how their wishes have made a lifelong impression.
“We’d also like to recognize our chairs, Mary Ellen and Scott Stanek, presenting sponsors Badger Mutual Insurance Company, gold sponsors Children’s Hospital and Health System, Potawatomi Bingo Casino and Northwestern Mutual Foundation as well as silver sponsor Robert W. Baird & Co.,” said Gorsky. “It was a huge success – a truly touching way to celebrate our families and share our mission.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The Wisconsin chapter has granted more than 3,400 wishes since its inception in 1984. Currently, more than 200 Wisconsin children are in the process of having their wishes granted. For more information about the Foundation, please call 262.781.4445 or 800.236.WISH in Wisconsin.
Megan's Wish Surprise
Click here to read more or click here (230KB) to download a PDF copy of the article that appeared on the MequonNOW.com Web site on January 2.
Abby's Wish Comes True
Click here to read more or click here (230KB) to download a PDF copy of the article that appeared in the Wisconsin Dells Events on December 26.
Make-A-Wish Foundation Announces Top Celebrity Wish Granters
Brett Favre, 7 others Named Chris Greicius Celebrity Award Winners
PHOENIX (Dec. 6, 2007) – The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America recently announced eight winners of this year’s Chris Greicius Celebrity Awards, honoring top celebrities and organizations who embrace the Foundation’s mission and granted remarkable wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.
The recipients are:
- Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre
- Sports media company ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company
- The cast and crew of the NBC TV series “Law & Order: SVU”
- Recording artists My Chemical Romance
- Mystifier Criss Angel
- Celebrity Stylist, Creative Director and VH1 Fashion Authority Mary Alice Stephenson
- Film producer Ian Bryce
- NASCAR Foundation Executive Director Sandy Marshall
“Each of these winners was a true standout, even among the many generous celebrities who help create magical experiences for the kids who wish to meet them,” said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “Their time is a gift that can’t be replicated, and each celebrity wish creates enduring, moving memories for wish kids at a time when they need inspiration while facing a life-threatening medical condition.”
The Chris Greicius Celebrity Awards are named in honor of the 7-year-old boy whose 1980 wish to be a police officer inspired a group of caring volunteers to fulfill his dream and later create the Foundation, now the largest wish-granting organization in the world.
Make-A-Wish® chapters nominated celebrities who went “above and beyond” during the past year to grant amazing wishes to the wish kids who wanted to meet them. The Foundation’s Celebrity and National Sports Program staff chose the Chris Greicius Celebrity Award winners from those nominations.
The Celebrity and National Sports Program facilitates many of the wishes of children who ask to meet their favorite TV or movie star, musician, athlete or other entertainment personality. During fiscal year 2007 (ending Aug. 30), the Make-A-Wish Foundation fulfilled 794 celebrity or national sports wishes, 6 percent of the 13,000 total wishes granted. The overall total represents the most wishes granted by the Foundation in a fiscal year since it was founded in 1980.
Many chapters manage the relationships of celebrities in their territory. For example, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin partners directly with the Green Bay Packers organization to make Packers wishes a reality.
Addition press coverage
Click here to watch the press conference (click on QB Brett Favre video clip).
Evansville, WI - Teen's wish for a Turkey Barn comes true
Click here to read more about Ethan's unique wish as it appeared in the Janesville Gazette.
Click here to view a PDF of this article.
Leo and Micah's wish featured on FOX 6 Milwaukee.
Click here to view video of Leo's story.
Click here to view video of Micah's story.
Wound up about their winnings
Kenosha boat finishes first in 2007 Bob Uecker Great Lakes Invitational
Butler, WI – Chip Porter and his “Wound Up” crew, who port in Kenosha, took first place in the 2007 Bob Uecker Great Lakes Invitational and won $15,000 in prize money. The team scored 539.5 points that led them to victory over Gabriel Powers’ Prove It II and Dave Engel’s Best Chance Too, who were only .2 points apart. Founder of the event, Bob Uecker, was on hand to announce and congratulate the winners.
The guaranteed prize purse for places 1-10 was $35,000, with 50 registered boats. The two-day tournament took place on Lake Michigan out of Reefpoint Marina in Racine on June 22 and 23. The Bob Uecker Great Lakes Invitational benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin.
The three-day event included a Pro-Celebrity day for groups that made a donation to the Foundation. Teams of four enjoyed breakfast, a morning of fishing on Lake Michigan with local sports celebrities, such as Bob Uecker, Milwaukee Brewers players J.J. Hardy, Chris Capuano and Gabe Gross and manager Ned Yost, among others and lunch before the two-day tournament began.
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, participants and volunteers over the last twelve years, the Uecker Invitational has raised nearly $500,000 to support the Make-A-Wish® mission – to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
Morgan Memorial Golf Outing helps make
wishes come true
Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin’s golf outing
raises funds to grant 10 wishes
Butler, WI – More than 150 golfers participated in the annual Morgan Memorial Golf Outing on June 11 at Mequon Country Club to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin. Approximately 10 wishes will be granted from the proceeds, on behalf of the golfers, sponsors and volunteers of the event.
Golfers enjoyed a beautiful day of golf, fun and treats such as lunch by Panera, Tequila Corazón de Agave drinks, and free rides on Segways. The dinner program was emceed by Jen Lada of FOX 6 while silent and voice auctions took place. Awards were given out to foursomes for first, second and “most honest” places – in order, winners were foursomes from Johnson Controls, Precision Color Graphics and Potawatomi Bingo Casino.
The highlight of the night was the featured wish recipient Beth who spoke about her trip to meet the cast of the television program “One Tree Hill.” Golfers and volunteers gave a standing ovation when she finished her touching speech.
More than $60,000 was raised to help make wishes come true for children such as Matthew and Zachary who wish to go to Walt Disney World®, Treneica who wishes to go on a shopping spree, and Brook who wishes to have an outdoor playset.
The Foundation’s President, Patti Gorsky, thanked sponsors Time Warner Cable, Verizon Wireless, Wixon Inc., Time Warner Cable Digital Phone Service and Northern Oak Capital Management for their contributions to the event.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Since the Wisconsin chapter was founded in 1984, nearly 3,000 families statewide can attest to the power of a wish. Last year, the chapter granted a record-breaking number of wishes with 255 children receiving wishes. Currently, 200 Wisconsin children are in the process of having their special wishes granted. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin or to learn how you can make a difference, please call 800.236.WISH or visit wisconsin.wish.org.<
Foundation shines at fourth in study
A study of 36 of the largest Milwaukee-area charities, which get at least a third of their money from contributions, revealed Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin ranks fifth in fund-raising spending. Click the link below to see how the Foundation’s fundraising expenses compare to other local charities.
www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=613346
Click here for a PDF version of the JSOnline article
Destination Joysm
On June 5, the Make-A-Wish Foundation will launch its first-ever national campaign showing people everywhere that we all have the power to grant a courageous child’s wish.
Destination JoySM presented by LAY’S® will inspire and empower Americans to share their much-needed time, talents and resources to grant the wishes of the 100,000 children who will be diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions over the next four years. The campaign will launch with 10 days of fun-filled activities, including national media opportunities, celebrity appearances and “States on Board,” several high-profile community events celebrating Destination Joy. The Destination JoySM presented by LAY’S® Online Auction also offers bidders more than 70 star-studded and unique experiences rarely available to the public at www.wish.org/auction.
In Wisconsin, wish kid Ryan, 12 of Brillion, will serve as the Junior Announcer during the June 5 Milwaukee Brewers game vs. the Chicago Cubs as part of the Foundation’s national campaign.
Everyone has the power to grant a wish with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to benefit children facing life-threatening medical conditions. The largest nonprofit wish-granting organization in the world, the Make-A-Wish Foundation provides joyful experiences that take wish kids and their families on a magical journey away from doctor visits and medical tests. Locally, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin is preparing to celebrate its 3,000th wish granted in June 2007.
Wishes are also a life-changing, joyful journey for donors, volunteers and sponsors like the Milwaukee Brewers and Badger Mutual Insurance who helped the Foundation bring Ryan to Milwaukee to serve as Junior Announcer and kick off his wish trip to Walt Disney World® Resort starting June 11.
Visit www.wish.org to discover the seven ways to help and get “on board” today.
Host Night 2007 is Magical
More than 60 wishes will be granted from proceeds raised at Host Night 2007, the signature fundraising event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin, held Wednesday, March 14 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. The event’s “Magic of a Wish” theme, along with a quartet of inspirational wish recipients, mystified more than 600 of the Foundation’s extended family of donors and volunteers, who pulled many a coin out of their hats to raise a record $330,000 to make wishes come true.
“There is much magic in our work at the Foundation; magic with an important purpose. A wish is much more than a trip, a shopping spree or a pony. It is the opportunity for a child to dream, to be normal again, to believe in the future,” said Patti Gorsky, president of the Foundation. “Thank you to everyone who attended for the hope, strength and joy you have provided to wish children.”
Make-A-Wish sends Wausau boy on trip of a lifetime
Brayton wishes to hug all of his favorite Disney friends. Click here to read his story which appeared on the Wausau Daily Herald Web site on January 14.
Click here to download a PDF version of the article.
A wish come true in Sparta, WI
Sparta, WI - January 7, 2007 - Read all about Olivia's pony wish by clicking here to read the article that appeared in the La Crosse Tribune on January 7, 2007.
Click here to download a PDF version of the article.
Say Cheese
The World’s Largest Cranberry Cheesecake – sold during Cranberry Fest in Eagle River, Wisconsin to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin – is receiving national attention. This unique, sweet treat measures 160’ x 3’ and its 3,900 individual pieces were sold to festivalgoers for $2 a slice. This year’s event, held October 7 and 8, raised approximately $7,000 to help grant wishes.
It all started when a Foundation volunteer shared the Make-A-Wish story with now volunteer and cheesecake organizer Randy Bergstrom. He has been involved with the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce and Cranberry Fest for years. Upon hearing about the Foundation, he suggested that the group “do something at Cranberry Fest to benefit someone other than the Chamber.” And there the partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin got cooking.
Each year, local purveyors donate the items needed to bake the immense cheesecake and the bakery department at Trig’s makes sure it is cooked to perfection. Now fifteen years later, the cheesecake still offers its takers a bite of local cranberry tradition and the opportunity to help do something good.
World’s Largest Cranberry Cheesecake Statistics
- The cheesecake is baked in 2’ x 3’ pans and total 160’ x 3’
- Pieces cut and sold: 3,900
- Pounds of cream cheese used: 600
- Weight of the cheesecake: 3,000 pounds
- Time it took to sell all 3,900 pieces: 6 hours and 50 minutes
KELSEY HITS THE SANDY SLOPES
Click the links below to read recent newspaper articles which featured her wish story
Wausau Daily Herald - Wausau, Wisconsin pdf
The Register-Guard - Eugene, Oregon pdf
SSSSSSSWISH!
Daemon's wish to meet NBA hoopster Tracy McGrady at his home in Houston was granted Monday, June 19. The 10-year-old Madison wish kid spent the day with the Houston Rockets star playing basketball and video games, asking his favorite player anything that popped into his head.
Click here to read a "Houston Chronicle" article about Daemon's "swish" come true and stay tuned for further news on an ESPN special series featuring Daemon and other wish recipients around the country.
