Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana Newsletter: October 2023

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!

01 / 05

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

98 62 124 02 / 05

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, Teri Andrepont, Norman Walker, and other Friends for Wishes leaders for joining us at this heart-warming event! Pictured in the center are Alyssa’s parents, Sandy and Scott Ferguson.

03 / 05

OCTOBER 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS KENDRA SCOTT WORLD KINDNESS DAY NOVEMBER 13 SHOP IN-STORE OR ONLINE YOUNG LEADERS BOARD BINGO NIGHT NOVEMBER 15; 6:00 PM MOONSHINE DECK; 1239 W. 19TH STREET; HOUSTON; 77008

Join the Young Leaders Board for a night of bingo fun and help grant wishes! CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

SUN & SKI SPORTS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN NOW-NOVEMBER 30 CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION PJ’S COFFEE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN NOW-DECEMBER 31 FIND PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS HERE

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 fiscal year 2023, 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 the community at large.

WISH BALL | AMONG THE STARS MAY 3, 2024 THE POST OAK HOTEL (HOUSTON) CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS, SPONSORSHIPS, AND AUCTION INFORMATION FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE KENDRA SCOTT, SUN & SKI SPORTS, AND PJ’S COFFEE FUNDRAISERS ON PAGE 5 04 / 05

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.

A special thank you to Board Member David Stone for joining us for the fireworks on Friday night and to cook-off committee chairs Gail and 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 available in stores and online.

PJ’s Coffee’s second annual holiday “star” campaign is running nowDec. 31 in more than 125 locations nationwide. Enjoy your favorite winter drink and treat while helping grant Theresa’s wish to see the Northern Lights!

Sun & Ski Sports’ second annual “round up” campaign is running now-November 30. Bring joy to local wish kids when you “round up” your 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, managing the auction, 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.

Click Here to Join the Celebration!

281-491-9474 281-491-9474

12625 Southwest Fwy www.texgulf.wish.org Stafford, TX 77477

3340 Severn Ave., Ste. 350 504-846-9474 12625 Southwest Fwy, Stafford, TX 77477 Metairie, LA 70002

05 / 05