The Year at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada

Fashion Luncheon

The 20th annual Fashion Luncheon made its highly anticipated in-person return to Scarpetta inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in late November with over 180 community members in attendance. Together, attendees raised more than $1 million in a single afternoon to support the Make-A-Wish mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Looks from this year’s featured designer, Chloé™, were modeled at a fashion show and wish kid, Maria, shared the story of how getting her wish granted provided her with the hope she needed to move through an otherwise very dark time in her life.

Fashion Luncheon

$1M+Nov (FY2022)2021

Trailblaze Challenge

Trailblaze Challenge

$219K+Feb (FY2022)2022

Walk For Wishes

In its inaugural year, the Trailblaze Challenge raised over $200K to grant the wishes of critically ill children in Southern Nevada. Presented by Findlay Subaru of Las Vegas and hosted by the City of Mesquite in the Valley of Fire, the Trailblaze Challenge is a 25-mile hike that participants conquer in one day. Tested physically and philanthropically, participants’ hike training efforts coincide with raising much-needed funds to grant wishes.

As Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada’s largest in-person fundraising effort, we were thrilled to bring Walk for Wishes, presented by Allegiant, back to Town Square Las Vegas. The event attracted community members and sponsors from across the valley who wanted to support the more than 2,400 lifechanging wishes already granted in Southern Nevada, while raising funds for future wishes.

The event emcees, News 3’s Kim & Dana Wagner and Mix 94.1’s JC & Mercedes, were back along with Make-A-Wish supporter Criss Angel, who generously donated a $100K check which will go directly to kids waiting on their wishes. It was a beautiful, sunny day and a wonderful event.

Walk For Wishes

$474K+ April2022 (FY2022)

Virginia Richardson Star Wall

Born shortly after the founding of Las Vegas, Virginia Beckley Richardson – known as “Ginny” to her close friends and loved ones – was a true pioneer in our community.

MAKE-A-WISH-THEMED EXAM ROOM OPENS AT CURE 4 THE KIDS FOUNDATION

In August 2022, Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada teamed up with fellow local nonprofit, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, to unveil a new patient exam room at the pediatric cancer treatment center. The room transformed into a Make-A-Wishbranded room featuring a painted mural by artist and illustrator, Juan Muniz, who conceived artwork for other patient exam rooms including ones for Criss Angel and Gwen Stefani.

As a young girl, she served as editor of her school newspaper and bookkeeper at her father’s menswear store on First and Fremont. At a time when few women were pursuing higher education, Virginia attended Scripps College in Claremont, California, and later completed her business administration degree at the University of Nevada – Reno, where she met her husband, Jack. While Jack was away serving in World War II and the Korean War, Virginia oversaw his businesses and served her community. She was an early supporter of the American Cancer Society, Boys Republic, Nathan Adelson Hospice, The Meadows School and Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. Her heart was particularly connected to children’s causes and our organization was a grateful recipient of her generous support. Never one to ask for recognition or accolades, Virginia truly found joy in serving others. Virginia passed away at 100-yearsold in August 2017, leaving our chapter a significant bequest gift.

Her legacy at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada continues through her son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Linda Richardson, and her granddaughter, Melissa Akkaway. To celebrate the woman who inspired a community, Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada unveiled the Virginia Richardson Star Wall at our Evening of Gratitude event (August 2022). The wall recognizes our community partners whose generosity helps us to grant the wish of every eligible child in Southern Nevada.

The Make-A-Wish room is the first exam room at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation to feature a digital monitor, which plays a video showcasing the Make-AWish process for wish-granting as well as a QR code directing families to our referral page. The event featured an appearance and donation from Criss Angel; a wish reveal for Cure 4 The Kids Foundation patient and Wish Kid, Adison; and exam room tours.