Hector's
Wish
Summer 2022
Painting the Fountains of Bellagio Brings Peace and Joy to Hector
It’s been over a decade since wish kid Hector first saw the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas. He was a small boy at the time and was immediately amazed by them.
He started watching YouTube videos of them and painting them nonstop. “The music and the fountains kept him going…and at peace,” said his sister, Rachel. This was especially true after his leukemia diagnosis in 2019.
While in the depths of treatment, Hector wanted to paint the Fountains of Bellagio for relief. When Hector and his family found out he qualified for a wish, they thought about what brings Hector joy and knew the perfect wish: Hector wished to paint the Fountains of Bellagio in real life!
Hector cracking a smile while watching videos of the Fountains of Bellagio after treatment.
While in Vegas, Hector spent most of his wish trip at the fountains—watching them, listening to the music, taking videos to bring home, and painting. He could even see the fountains from his hotel room.
“It was a really fun experience because we hadn’t had an experience with the whole family in so long,” said Rachel.
And now, when Hector paints from home, he still uses the videos from his wish trip to inspire his work. “Every day, he asks us to take him back to Las Vegas,” said Rachel.
Hector’s wish will last forever in his heart, his mind, and on the canvases that adorn the walls in his home. It’s a constant reminder of the love, compassion and care that the community made possible through his wish.
You, too, can bring peace and joy to kids like Hector when you help grant their wishes. Give today online at wish.org/akwa/newsletter.
Click through these photos to see Hector and his family enjoying his wish to paint the Fountains of Bellagio!
View More Stories in this Issue
Make-A-Wish is Medicine
By: Dr. Tammie Chang
Since I started working at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital as a pediatric hematologist/oncologist in 2015, over 40 of my patients have received a wish. As you can imagine, there is little that can bring hope and joy to families during those first days of their child’s diagnosis. But where there is Make-A-Wish…there is hope and most certainly joy.
What’s Make-A-Wish, most families ask? If you haven’t heard of them before, I tell them, it’s this amazing, incredible organization that creates life-changing wish experiences for children with critical illnesses.
Every single time I get to share this with them, the joy and lightness these conversations bring to their faces is inspiring and rejuvenating. They completely light up. And getting to share that there is something special for families to look forward to and provide them with a distraction from their illness, fills me with joy.
A wish is the greatest gift, not only for the family, but for me as their doctor, and for the entire team caring for each child.
It is my greatest privilege to sit with kids and their families and walk them through the long, difficult journey of critical illness from the very first day. Once the initial stressful experience of a new diagnosis has passed — sometimes a few days, sometimes a few weeks — my greatest joy as a physician is to introduce them to Make-A-Wish.
To me, the greatest power of Make-A-Wish is that it gives us all hope… and that is priceless.
Supporters Across Alaska & Washington Show Up in Big Ways to Help Wish Kids
From hosting lemonade stands to planning soirees, there are so many ways to raise funds and bring your community together. Here’s a look at how some of your neighbors put on their own fundraising events to grant wishes.
Chi Omega (Pullman and Seattle)
Since 2002, Chi Omega has helped raise over $30 million for wish kids across the country through a national partnership. That’s more than 1.3 million hours volunteered and nearly 135 wishes granted per year! Chi Omega chapters at the University of Washington and at Washington State University host annual philanthropy events to support local wish kids.
Laps with Lou (Seattle)
Long-time wish-granting volunteer Lou Cutler has logged more than 200 miles in support of Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington with his annual fundraiser, Laps with Lou. This retired PE teacher has been bringing students and the community together for 18 years with this beloved event. More at wish.org/akwa/lou.
Litterbox Basketball Game (Wenatchee)
This annual rivalry game between Wenatchee and Eastmont High Schools isn’t just played for bragging rights. The two schools raise money through a spirit competition to help grant wishes for kids in the community.
Junco Snowmobile Club (Randle, WA)
Each year, snowmobile riders from around Puget Sound gather for a day of festivities and fundraising at Charity on the Snow. For more than 20 years, the Junco Snowmobile Club has hosted this event to benefit Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington, which has become one of the club’s most anticipated annual events. More at wish.org/akwa/junco.
ICHARR Golf Tournament (Alaska)
For over a decade, every summer in Fairbanks the community gathers to play golf to help raise money for local wishes. More at wish.org/akwa/ICHARR.
Denali Harley Davidson Alaska Cook-Off (Alaska)
Since 2017, Denali Harley Davidson has hosted the annual Great Alaska Cook Off to benefit local wish kids. In five years, they’ve raised over $6,000 and inspired some amazing local fare and community involvement in the process.
Ready to get started with your own fundraising event? Adults and kids alike are welcome and encouraged to get involved. In fact, kids can sign up for our summertime lemonade stand campaign going on right now!
Contact Jessica Quijada at jquijada@akwa.wish.org for support and guidance.
Manage Your Monthly Gift Online
From credit card updates to address changes, you can now manage your monthly gift online via our secure Gift Service Center. Visit wish.org/akwa/givemonthly to create your account today. Need help? Please contact Brandon Frazho at bfrazho@akwa.wish.org.
Thank you for playing a starring role at Wish Night
Please give a standing ovation for the 534 in-person and 120+ livestream supporters who raised more than $2.3 million for local wish kids at Wish Night Gala & Auction. Bravo! It was a beautiful evening celebrating the starring role our community plays in bringing wishes to life.
We look forward to celebrating with you next year on March 18th!
Photos Courtesy of Amy Thorne Photography & PNTA
Thank you to our generous sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor
Legacy Sponsor
Official Airline Partner
Wish Champion Sponsors
Wish Visionary Sponsor
Wish Heroes Build Hope for Kids Like Hector
Every wish kid like Hector needs a hero like YOU! Thank you to all our Wish Heroes who bravely shared their ‘why’ for supporting Make-A-Wish and together raised over $235,000 toward wishes. Your support and generosity give local wish kids the extra strength they need to fight their battle against critical illness.
Photo Credit: Francine Scott Photography
Thank you to our sponsors who help build hope:
Create Joy. Spark Hope. All while enjoying Happy Hour with a purpose!
Connect with local community members, taste local beer and cider – including our signature Tito’s Vodka cocktail – participate in raffles and a wine toss all while helping grant wishes to kids with critical illnesses.
Alaska @ 49th State Brewing on October 1st from 6-9 p.m. ★ Spokane @ DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Spokane City Center on October 6th from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
For more information, please visit https://wish.org/akwa/happinesshour
EN 
ES