Andrew's
Wish
Fall 2020
Wish kid Andrew wishes it forward
“When I had the chance to choose a wish, I knew I wanted it to set a standard for how I want to live my life. And that’s to give everything I’m given and even more.”
Watch Andrew’s story to see how this 18 year old used his wish to positively impact the lives of hundreds of other kids facing cancer.
If you’re inspired by Andrew’s story, please make a donation today. You can help provide hope to kids facing critical illnesses, just like Andrew did, because hope is essential.
View more stories in this issue.
Referral sources like Colleen bring hope and joy to wish kids
Through all the unknown surrounding COVID-19, people like Colleen Landis bring hope to kids with critical illnesses through wish referrals. A clinical oncology social worker at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Colleen helps patients work through the emotional ups and downs of treatment and connects them to resources in the community. One of those resources is Make-A-Wish.
She formed a special relationship with 16-year-old wish kid Chebar, who has been working with Colleen for quite some time. “(Colleen) is my friend. I like her a lot …I feel so happy when they say we’re going to go see her,” Chebar said.
“Usually kids are here for 100 days, but Chebar has been here for over a year. The relationship is different when you have the chance to work closely for a long time,” Colleen said.
“Having the wish provides the light at the end of the tunnel. Wishes give [kids] hope through their treatment and something to look forward to,” Colleen said.
Chebar wished to have a shopping spree for new items, including a cell phone. Colleen helped make the experience extra-special when she presented Chebar with a SIM card for her new phone.
“It was the best day ever! I was so excited,” Chebar said.
Chebar wants to encourage other kids who are waiting for their wishes. “Be patient and excited because it’s really exciting. And it’s real.”
Right now, we need more volunteers to help grant wishes like Chebar’s. Keep reading to see how volunteers are getting creative with wish-granting, and then get started today!
Social workers like Colleen help refer kids, like Chebar, for wishes.
Chebar describes her wish day as “The best day ever!”
Thank you, Make-A-Wish volunteers!
Wish-granting volunteers are some of the most creative people we know! While some wishes may look different these days, volunteers are going above and beyond to ensure wish kids experience the hope that comes with a wish because hope is essential.
Whether you have a few hours a month to give or a few dozen, you, too, can make a difference as a Make-A-Wish volunteer! We need volunteers to meet virtually with families throughout our territory. Get started today!
Mark your calendars for Wish Night
For 35 years, our community has partnered with Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington to deliver hope to thousands of children and their families. Join us on June 5, 2021, as we livestream Wish Night and celebrate three-and-a-half decades of transformational wishes made possible by you! Reserve your spot today! Contact Hannah Gutkind at 206.623.5380.
Luke’s wish continues to shine, eight years later
“We know what it’s like to go through the trenches of hard times. Giving back to Make-A-Wish is impactful and being able to support Make-A-Wish annually gives us the opportunity to share the experience we had with others,” said wish dad, Bob.
At just nine years old, Luke, (Bob’s son) fell on the playground. That seemingly innocent fall led to medical appointments and a diagnosis that no family wants to hear. Luke had Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a rare form of cancer.
A few weeks later, after intense stomach pain, an ER visit and a series of scans, doctors determined that Luke needed emergency surgery. And with more scans, doctors found the cancer had spread to Luke’s lungs. What followed was four different surgeries over the course of three months, and chemotherapy.
It was shortly thereafter that Make-A-Wish began talking to Luke about his wish.
Luke and Jon in 2012.
Wishes provide a sense of community in one of the loneliest points in your life. It feels like no one knows what you’re going through, yet this huge community rallies around you”
– Luke’s older sister, Claire
Luke was elated to have his wish-granting volunteers take such an interest in his situation and truly care. After a chance meeting with Milwaukee Bucks player Jon Brockman, Luke decided he wanted to wish to meet the entire team.
Luke’s wish had a lasting effect and gave him a positive outlook on life. Despite Luke going through cancer and intense treatment, he was grateful for all that he had, and the wish trip helped him generate a sense of hope and excitement for the future.
Luke and his family know how much value there is in Make-A-Wish helping families during some of the darkest moments of their lives. “Wishes provide a sense of control for the wish kid about what is happening to their bodies, and it brings families closer together. It’s a positive distraction and it provides hope,” said Luke.
Luke and his family today.
You can help grant wishes all year-round
Ten years ago, Kalyn became a wish-granting volunteer for Make-A-Wish and quickly fell in love with the mission. Over the years, she’s expanded her support and just last year she wanted to make an even bigger impact by becoming a monthly donor.
By joining the Monthly Wishmaker Club, you too can help make wishes come true each and every month! Kalyn describes signing up as “A super easy online process … I honestly forget about it until I get the monthly thank you email – which always makes my day because I remember that I’m helping grant wishes.”
There are many different pieces to the Make-A-Wish puzzle – wish families, volunteers, donors, staff. Monthly donors are another big piece to the puzzle. By becoming a monthly donor like Kalyn, you are creating a sustaining source of funds to grant wishes for kids with critical illnesses.
Join the Monthly Wishmaker Club today!
Making a monthly gift is easy! Join Kalyn and sign up today. It takes just a few minutes to get started and then you’ll be making wishes true every month of the year.
Wish-granting volunteers, Kalyn and Colleen, with wish kid Julian at first wish meeting, September 2019.
Experience WOW: Wonder of Wishes airing now through November 30th!
Our program highlights our partnership with the Seattle Mariners and the lasting impact wishes have not only on the kids, but also the players. You’ll be inspired and will walk away with a new understanding of wish granting.
We can’t thank you enough for your support of this fundraiser which will help grant wishes for kids who are currently waiting for their wishes.
Save the date for next year’s WOW: Wonder of Wishes on November 9, 2021.
Special thanks to our sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor
Official Airline Partner
Wish Visionary Sponsor
Wish Granter Sponsor
Subaru continues to Share the Love
During the 2020 Subaru Share the Love event, Subaru of America, Inc. will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased between November 19 – January 4, with a minimum donation of $250,000 to the purchaser’s choice of participating charities, including Make-A-Wish nationally.
Locally, Rairdon’s Subaru of Auburn just announced Make-A-Wish as their Hometown Charity. This means for every Subaru sold from Rairdon’s, Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington will receive 100% of the donation. We are so grateful for Rairdon’s Subaru of Auburn’s ongoing support!
Make-A-Wish Staff with their Subaru’s.
Cheers to YOU for making wishes happen
Couldn’t join the party? You can still re-watch the program and donate today online! Then give yourself a pat on the back—you’re making wishes come true!
Even though we couldn’t be together in person to “cheers” to Make-A-Wish our community still gathered electronically in celebration of hope for Happiness Hour!
The evening was full of virtual mingling, learning how to make the signature Make-A-Wish Mule cocktail and action-packed bidding on the silent auction – all while helping raise funds to grant wishes to kids with critical illnesses. Wish mom Crystal shared her first-hand experience of her twins, Harper and Hendrix, being granted wishes unique to each of them, and the impact Make-A-Wish has had on their family.
Special Thanks to:
Looking for a fun holiday-inspired activity to do with your friends and family at home?
Get into the holiday spirit while making wishes come true with the Macy’s Believe letter-writing campaign.
Now – December 24, Macy’s invites believers of all ages to write letters to Santa online at macys.com/believe. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, nationally, up to $1 million.
This is an easy (and fun) way to help raise money for the wishes of children battling critical illnesses.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Believe stations in-store will not have a letter-writing station in 2020.
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