Food for Thought:

A Foodie’s Guide to the Big Apple 🍎

When you think of New York City, what comes to mind? Is it the bustling crowds in Times Square? Or the bright lights of Broadway? Or maybe it’s the world-famous Madison Square Garden. For wish kid Roux, it’s the smorgasbord of food that wafts through their imagination.

From an early age, food has been an important part of Roux’s family. “They’ve been fine dining since they were a baby,” shared Roux’s mom, Corinna.

With Roux’s palette for food being so sophisticated, a trip to New York City was the perfect wish.

New York City is so much more than just a “foodie’s paradise” for Roux. It’s where they deepened family bonds, stepped out of their comfort zone, and embraced new adventures. Every memory made there will last a lifetime for Roux and their family.

Do YOU have a favorite place or tip for eating in NYC? If so, share and tag us on social media @ MakeAWishAKWA on Instagram and Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington on Facebook. And keep an eye on our social channels to see Roux share their holiday-inspired recipes!

Roux’s wish was recently featured on an episode of Homemade Live, watch the full episode here!

⭐ Triumphs in Action ⭐

Showcasing Our Memorable Events

Wishes In Flight – A Record-Breaking Year! ✈

In our 15th year partnering with KOMO 4 News, ARC Seattle and Lotus Radio, we raised nearly 11 million air miles. With your support, more wish kids and their families will create cherished memories on their life-changing getaways!

With about 75% of our wishes involving travel, we always need air miles to sustain our wish-granting efforts. You can donate your air miles at any time at wishesinflight.akwa.wish.org and help more wishes take flight!

Wish Heroes Luncheon – Connection Made a Comeback 💙

More than 350 friends and colleagues came together for a power hour of positivity, connecting with one another and providing generous support to kids fighting critical illness. For these heroes, no capes were necessary.

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Happiness Hour – Wishes, Wine & Winners 🥂

Our Spokane and Anchorage Happiness Hours poured celebratory fun into fall. Guests filled up on local brew, wine, food and inspiring wish stories while bidding on auction items and connecting with their community. Funds raised will spark smiles for kids in their journey with illness – extending happiness beyond the glass!

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Save the Date for Wish Night 2025✨

Hi! I’m wish alum Makenna, and I’m asking you to save the date and attend Wish Night at the Sheraton Grand Seattle on March 15th, 2025! Your presence at our chapter’s largest fundraiser of the year is important to me. Here’s why:

In 2016 my wish “to give” was granted, fueling my desire to help others. There’s no single event in my life that has impacted me the way my wish did.
This fall, I started interning with our chapter’s Marketing & Communications team. I’m a senior at UW, studying Journalism and Public Interest Communications, so I’m excited to use what I’m learning at school, combined with my wish alum experience, to tell stories that will garner more support for our mission.
In 2025 – I am emceeing Wish Night! It’s such a special evening – one that leaves you smiling – and is crucial to the chapter’s bottom line. It raises about 20 percent of the annual revenue needed to grant wishes to kids like me – children who deserve a chance to feel like kids again.

Contact Dawn Draves for table host information, sponsorship inquiries or questions about this year’s can’t-miss event!  

Tickets & Sponsorships

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Baking with Wish Kid Stella!

Get your holiday baking inspiration from wish kid, Stella – our baking enthusiast! Stella discovered her love for baking while watching kids’ baking competitions on TV with her sisters. While she waits to embark on her cruise wish this spring, Stella is sharing her baking JOY with friends, family and neighbors.

To sweeten your holidays, Stella is excited to share her favorite cake recipe with you!

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Spotlighting Young Philanthropists

Litterbox Competition – The Cat’s Out of the Bag!

“It is important (to EHS) to support Make-A-Wish, because we love to see an impact on the community,” said Dane Gillan, associate student body advisor at Eastmont High. In 2016, the “Litterbox” competition began as a friendly basketball fundraiser between the ‘cats’ at Wenatchee and Eastmont High Schools to build sportsmanship and cultivate empathy, while raising funds for local peer wish kids.

In eight years, the campaign has raised $62K for Make-A-Wish, showing that empowered youth who prioritize helping others are the cat’s meow!

How this Lemonade Stand Became a Local Fundraising Legacy

Sometimes, you set out to make a difference and the impact ends up rippling far beyond your wildest dreams. Shay, Marissa, and Jack experienced just that.  

These three philanthropic-minded teens became close friends after Marissa and Jack’s mom became Shay’s wish-granting volunteer in 2017.  Shay had already run a blood drive, and Marissa and Jack were doing small fundraising projects when Shay suggested that they run a lemonade stand to benefit Make-A-Wish. 

Their lemonade stand is known throughout the city of Pullman. Each year, these three friends come up with new and exciting ways to grow their work and impact. From radio ads to a business power-hour, these philanthropists might be young, but they have proven that they are not amateurs.  

Their fruitful work inspired a chapter-wide campaign and partnership with Evergreens. Now, kids – including yours – can experience the joy of helping others by hosting their own lemonade stands. Host a lemonade stand, just like Shay, next summer and give your kids the valuable experience of seeing how they can make a difference.

FUN FACT & FUTURE FUN – Making It Count!

Twenty-four families hosted lemonade stands in Alaska and Washington this summer, raising over $45K for Make-A-Wish. Add that to the $6.5K raised by corporate partner’s Evergreens lemonade stands and you have $51K in lemon-aid!

It’s never too early to start planning for summer! Contact Jessica Quijada to learn how YOU can join the fun and spread joy in your community.

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Find Your Right Fit

Volunteering is Flexible & Fulfilling

If you’re looking to make a difference, connect with an inspiring community and find a volunteer role with flexibility, become a wish granter! “You get more than you give,” said longtime volunteer, Theresa.

Discover the volunteer opportunity that’s right for you: wish granter, airport greeter, bilingual volunteer or event ambassador. Contact Lindsay Goss with inquiries. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Make-A-Wish family!