OCTOBER 2023
NEWSLETTER
Wish Kids Celebrate Dia de los Muertos Wish families and Make-A-Wish staff participated in the 10th Annual Magnolia Park Dia de los Muertos parade and festival in Houston. Through the support of Las Estrellas, a volunteer group supporting Make-A-Wish reach more Hispanic families, the wish kids had a fun day celebrating their Hispanic heritage. Nearly 50 supporters met the families at the Aeolian Manor in the morning for breakfast, traditional face painting, music, and photos with characters and costumes inspired by the history of the day. Then, the group headed to the parade at Hidalgo Park. They had a great time waving to the crowd and sharing our mission with the community! Click here for Telemundo’s coverage of the parade, including an interview with Breeze Acevedo, Vice President of Mission Delivery. Thank you to Baldemar Rodriguez and Mary Ann Garcia for planning this event for our wish kids!
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OCTOBER 2023
I WISH FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE TO LSU! Wish kid Parker chose his “dream school” early in life: Louisiana State University. In addition to being close to his home, LSU attracted Parker with its renowned biomedical program. His aspiration to become a doctor and provide life-saving care to others comes from witnessing the care given to his mother during a hospitalization for pneumonia. Parker wished for tuition assistance to LSU. To celebrate the beginning of his first semester, Keesler Federal Credit Union hosted Parker and his family for an afternoon of fun and fellowship! Geaux Parker!
Wings Over Houston Airshow hosted nearly 50 wish kids and their families for a VIP experience! The wish kids enjoyed a private viewing of a rehearsal by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, then met the pilots and crew!
MISSION DELIVERY WISHES GRANTED CURRENT YEAR TO DATE
WISHES GRANTED PREVIOUS YEAR TO DATE
QUALIFIED REFERRALS YEAR TO DATE
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OCTOBER 2023
DISNEY’S 100 WISH STORIES To celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary, ABC has launched “Disney 100” to highlight 100 different stories about the wonderful partnership between Make-A-Wish and Disney. Make-A-Wish was featured in a kick-off segment on Good Morning America, during which a wish kid was surprised with the announcement that she would be heading to Disney. Click here to watch the clip ... and be on the on the lookout for a familiar wish around the 1:20 mark (hint: it might be one of the four pictured above!).
ALYSSA FERGUSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DEDICATION Make-A-Wish staff, board members and advisors, and members of Friends for Wishes attended the dedication of Fort Bend ISD’s newest elementary school, named in honor of wish kid Alyssa Ferguson. Her wish to dig a water well for a village in Africa was one of the first sponsored by Friends for Wishes. Make-A-Wish is honored with a star on the tree in a school mural! Thank you to Board Chair Thomas Hatfield, Immediate Past Chair Kristin Palmer, Board Advisor Mandy Williams, former chapter President and CEO Teri Andrepont, and Norman Walker and other Friends for Wishes leaders for joining us at this heart-warming event!
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OCTOBER 2023
UPCOMING EVENTS CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE BOARD CALENDAR
FASHION NOW WOODLANDS NOVEMBER 4; 6:00 PM THERESA ROEMER ESTATE 30510 BECKY LANE; MAGNOLIA; 77354
MARCO’S WISH CELEBRATION WITH SHANA DANFORTH & REXEL
NOVEMBER 6; 2:00 PM MAW OFFICE FALL VOLUNTEER MEETINGS & AWARDS NOVEMBER 8; 5:30 PM MAW OFFICE MAW BOARD LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE NOVEMBER 9; 11:00 AM MAW OFFICE/VIRTUAL
MAKE-A-WISH FEATURED AT NYSE TREE LIGHTING Local sponsor NOV has selected Make-A-Wish as its spotlight charity for the New York Stock Exchange Global Giving Campaign this holiday season. Each year, companies listed on the NYSE share their charitable initiatives and raise awareness for organizations that they support. At the 100th annual NYSE Tree Lighting on November 30, a commemorative ornament with the Make-A-Wish logo will be hung on the holiday trees at the NYSE entrance and remain there through December 31. In FY23, NOV was one of our largest corporate sponsors, committing $150,000 to granting local wishes, such as Lexi’s wish to see a Broadway musical and Edgar’s wish to visit Hawaii (both pictured below). Our selection by NOV demonstrates the power of a wish and the lasting impact wishes have on our wish kids and community at large.
Make-A-Wish America’s Board Leadership Institute is designed to engage boards in case studies, collaborative challenges, and dynamic discussion around several key board issues. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please direct questions to Shelly.
YLB BINGO NIGHT NOVEMBER 15; 6:00 PM MOONSHINE DECK; 1239 W. 19TH STREET; HOUSTON; 77008
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OCTOBER 2023
10TH ANNUAL FRIENDS FOR WISHES BBQ COOK-OFF Friends for Wishes hosted their keystone annual event, the BBQ Cook-Off, at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead. The cook-off attracts dozens of teams of pitmasters from across the region and is the primary fundraiser for Friends for Wishes. We look forward to celebrating the incredible year of impact with Friends for Wishes in December. Special thanks to cookoff committee chair Tom Hanna for making this year’s event one of the best ever!
Support Make-A-Wish While Holiday Shopping! Kendra Scott is donating 20% of sales made on World Kindness Day, November 13. This promotion is also available in stores and online. PJ’s Coffee’s second annual holiday “star” campaign is running nowDec. 31 in more than 125 locations nationwide. We will also host a wish celebration in December for Pearland wish kid Theresa (pictured at right, details to be announced). Sun & Ski Sports’ second annual “round up” campaign is running now-November 30. Customers can “round up” their in-store purchase at checkout.
WELCOME, MAHOGHANI! On October 23, we welcomed Mahoghani Johnson to the development team as our new Special Events Manager. Reporting to Suzanne Farrow, Director of Development, Mahoghani is responsible for gala logistics, manaing the auction, gala volunteers and other third-party fundraisers. Mahoghani has worked in the sports industry for more than a decade, most recently with the Houston Sports Authority. She holds a master’s in sports management from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s in public relations from the University of Houston.
BOARD/ADVISORS BIRTHDAYS Ken Simon: Nov. 7 John Hantak: Nov. 19
281-491-9474
Mandy Williams: Nov. 22
www.texgulf.wish.org
STAFF BIRTHDAYS Jess Ansel: Nov. 19
12625 Southwest Fwy, Stafford, TX 77477
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