Make-A-Wish® Oregon
STORIES OF HOPE, STRENGTH AND JOY
WISH
IMANI’S WISH TO HAVE A BEDROOM MAKEOVER
When 11-year-old Imani thought about what a wish-come-true meant to her, she realized she’d like to have something she could keep and enjoy every day. Her wish granting volunteers worked closely with many local businesses to create the bedroom of her dreams. At the reveal Imani shared, “I had an idea of what my room would be like, but it’s so much better than what I imagined! I’m so happy to be sleeping in my new room.”
Nikolai’s wish to be a zookeeper came true on a sunny Portland day at the Oregon Zoo. Upon arrival, Nikolai excitedly hopped out of the limo dressed in his zookeeper attire, complete with a safari hat, and announced, “I’m here for my wish! I am going to be a zookeeper!”
fix it. If an elephant was stuck in the mud I would push it out of the mud.” Nikolai’s adventure started with a scavenger hunt, which led him to different animal exhibits throughout the zoo. Moving from the sea lions to the orangutans to the hippos, his final clue took him to the giraffe exhibit where zookeepers were awaiting his arrival. Nikolai rolled out a big yellow wheelbarrow complete with shovels and rakes to get the area ready for the giraffes to be let out. Once he was done, he went back inside where the two 17 foot tall giraffes were waiting for their breakfast. They bent down and ate carrots out of Nikolai’s hand, and he let them out of the gates to roam their freshly cleaned home.
“I AM 8 YEARS OLD, AND I AM A ZOOKEEPER!”
When Nikolai first decided on his wish, he said “I chose this wish because if a cheetah twisted his ankle I would
The elephants were the next animals that needed this zookeeper’s help! Nikolai entered the elephant exhibit, cleaning up shrubs and re-stocking the food. He helped give the pygmy elephant, Chendra, a bath and watched her do all different kinds of tricks. During his duties he exclaimed, “Can you believe I am actually washing an elephant? Look how good I’m doing!” At the end of the day, Nikolai was proud of his hard work helping out his new animal friends.
We dedicate this newsletter to the memory of the wish children who have passed away in the past year. Each child has touched our lives and hearts. As always, it is our honor and privilege to serve such courageous children and their families.
LETTER FROM LAILA UMPLEBY – CHAPTER CEO
OUR MISSION Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
ABOUT OUR CHAPTER
I am humbled and honored to be named CEO of Make-A-Wish Oregon after working for the chapter for more than nine years. I now have my dream job, and thank the Board of Directors for their faith in me to lead this organization. Working with this amazing team, I am reminded regularly of the power of the Make-A-Wish mission, which motivates greatness
Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of volunteers and donors, the special wishes of more than 2,700 local children have been fulfilled since the Oregon chapter began in 1983. Of each dollar spent in 2011, 81 cents were used for program services, 14 cents for fundraising and 5 cents for management.
in others. In my first few months at the helm, I have spoken to large crowds, escorted a
If you’re interested in making a donation of time, money, product or service, please call 800-934-WISH or visit www.orwish.org.
courageous children we work with, my favorite meetings have been with supporters from
OUR THANKS Sincere thanks to Lithtex Printing Solutions for generously donating its printing services for the production of this newsletter. Published by Make-A-Wish Oregon Also serving Clark County, Washington 2000 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 410 Portland, Oregon 97201 800-934-WISH www.orwish.org ©2012, Make-A-Wish Oregon, Volume 27 Make-A-Wish Foundation®, Make-A-Wish®, AdoptA-Wish®, Share the Power of a Wish®, Walk for Wishes®, Kids For Wish Kids®, Season of Wishes®, Wishes in Flight® Wishmakers on Campus® and the swirl-and-star logo are all registered trademarks of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America.
child behind-the-scenes during his NIKE wish, passed a budget with the help of an amazing finance team, and met with some of the chapter’s most dedicated donors and volunteers. No two days are the same, and the work we do is incredibly exciting. In addition to meeting the Ashland to Vancouver who almost always ask: “How can I help?” These conversations have been rich and rewarding. If you would like to discuss your ideas with me, I would love to meet with you. From serving on a board to helping build a play structure… the possibilities are endless and the rewards are great. By reading this newsletter, you are a part of the Make-AWish family, and it is a magical family, indeed. Best wishes,
Laila Umpleby CEO Make-A-Wish Oregon P.S. In 2013 we hope you will join us in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Oregon chapter – the 5th oldest chapter in the country!
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER With more than 4,000 fans on Facebook and 1,400 followers on Twitter, we invite you to join the conversation and share the power of a wish® with Make-A-Wish Oregon social media. Facebook.com/ORWish Twitter.com/ORWish
All Rights Reserved.
YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCE Local students of all ages have been making a life-changing impact in the lives of other children through our Kids For Wish Kids and Wishmakers On Campus programs. Both programs enable students to participate in philanthropy by selecting their own fundraising project and managing it from start to finish. Students develop leadership skills, build selfesteem and learn about teamwork while working toward the overall goal of making a difference in the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Over the past year we have seen passion, hard
work and dedication from local kids who participated in fundraising, and who had a positive impact on MakeA-Wish. Luke, a wish brother, hosted an all-day music festival; Sigma Chi Fraternity at the University of Oregon hosted an all-week campus-wide competition; and twins Maya and Malea donated proceeds from their 4th birthday party to help make local wishes come true. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Catherine Spellman at 503-802-7843 or catherine@orwish.org.
M A KE -A-WI SH ORE GON BRIGIT’S WISH TO MEET ELMO
Making magic one wish at a time Make-A-Wish volunteers bring smiles to wish kids around the state. When volunteer wish granters start working with a child, they have a huge responsibility; to make that child’s wish the most personal and memorable it can be. This volunteer assignment takes compassion, dedication and LOTS of creativity! Wish granters plan a special party with the child’s friends, family, favorite foods and decorations. The wish party can be used as a send-off for a travel wish or as a time to present a child with the item they wished for, such as a laptop or instrument.
When 12-year-old Brigit had the opportunity to make her one-true-wish, there was no question what it would be. She wanted to meet her favorite, red, furry monster – Elmo! Make-A-Wish Oregon made some calls, and Elmo flew all the way from Sesame Street to Portland just to meet Brigit and her family at her home in Milwaukie. Brigit was diagnosed at birth with cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease and is non-speaking. Along with hand gestures, and movements, she uses a special communicator device to express herself. Prior to Elmo’s big arrival, Brigit put together a few special messages to convey her thoughts. She introduced herself, “my name is Brigit” and several times throughout the visit, she pressed the button to communicate, “I am so excited to finally meet you” and “I love you!” Even without her messages, it was obvious to all that she was overjoyed at having her wish granted. Well, the feeling was mutual as Elmo told Brigit on more than one occasion “Elmo LOVES Brigit!” As Brigit and Elmo spent time together, Elmo lavished love and affection on the child who has long found comfort in this character. Her mom noted that on days when Brigit was getting upset or having trouble relaxing, they always knew that if Elmo was on, she would calm down. There was no shortage of hugs and giggles as Elmo sang songs, gave her autographed pictures, and showered her with special Sesame Street gifts selected just for her. For Brigit and her family her wish was a dream come true and the memories will last a lifetime. Elmo would agree they are friends for life.
Volunteer wish granters usually meet at a child’s home to ask the upmost important question: What is your one true wish? Volunteers work hard to make sure this initial meeting is focused on fun as well as discovery. Sometimes all you need is a star wand to help children find their answers.
More than 75% of the wishes granted each year require travel. That means a lot of trips to the airport! Our volunteers are there to greet wish kids when the arrive and depart.
Half of the excitement of a wish is the anticipation, so many volunteers do something special each month leading up to the wish. Wish kid Liam and his younger sister are pictured with their wish countdown calendar sent by their volunteers.
Make-A-Wish Oregon 3
EVA
ZOE Zoe, 3, Tigard Illness: lymphoma I wish to go to Disneyland Resort
MORGAN Morgan, 13, Forest Grove Illness: Turner’s syndrome I wish to go on a cruise
Eva, 7, Bend Illness: severe seizure disorder I wish to have a therapy dog
ARTHUR Arthur, 9, Mount Vernon Illness: Duchenne muscular dystrophy I wish to go to SeaWorld® San Diego
TRAVIS Travis, 14, Vancouver Illness: Ollier’s disease I wish to have a custom drum kit
OLIVIA
JULIA Julia, 8, Warren Illness: cystic fibrosis I wish to go to Walt Disney World Resort
Olivia, 13, Prineville Illness: Ebstein’s anomaly I wish to go to Hawaii
M
JESSE Jesse, 4, Oregon City Illness: brain tumor I wish to meet the Portland Trail Blazers
D’ANTHONY MASON Mason, 5, Roseburg Illness: Burkitt’s lymphoma I wish to meet Spider Man at Universal Studios HollywoodSM
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D’Anthony, 8, Portland Illness: Pontine Glioma I wish to go on a river cruise
TRYNITY Trynity, 4, Portland Illness: acute lymphoblastic leukemia I wish to go to Disneyland Resort
M AK E - A- W I S H O R E GON
ALEXIS Alexis, 17, Portland Illness: hemolytic anemia I wish to go to Hawaii
COLLIN
LILY
Collin, 10, Medford Illness: adrenoleukodystrophy I wish to go on a cruise to the Bahamas
Lily, 10, Tigard Illness: severe seizure disorder I wish to go on a cruise
MATTHEW Matthew, 14, Milton Freewater Illness: cystic fibrosis I wish to meet my favorite race car star
MADELINE Madeline, 14, Portland Illness: thyroid carcinoma I wish to go to Hawaii
JARED Jared, 5, Medford Illness: neuroblastoma I wish to have a playhouse
ANIYAH Aniyah, 6, Portland Illness: cystic fibrosis I wish to go to Walt Disney World Resort
Make-A-Wish Oregon expresses its sincere thanks to Disneyland® Resort, Walt Disney World® Resort and The Walt Disney Company® for their generous in-kind support of making children’s wishes come true.
DAVID David, 5, Hillsboro Illness: acute lymphoblastic leukemia I wish to go to Walt Disney World Resort
LORENZO Lorenzo, 7, Portland Illness: acute lymphoblastic leukemia I wish to go swim with dolphins
Make-A-Wish Oregon 5
YOU CAN HELP MAKE LOCAL WISHES POSSIBLE DURING SEASON OF WISHES® Each holiday season local businesses host Season of Wishes fundraisers and events to help make wishes come true. Visit www.oregonseasonofwishes.org to learn about all of the special ways you can take part in the campaign to help us raise enough to grant 25 local wishes.
WISHES IN FLIGHT®
More than 75% of the wishes granted each year in Oregon and SW Washington require travel. Every mile donated helps wish kids and their families travel to destinations around the world. Once donated, your miles will never expire and are used to purchase airline tickets for wish children, their siblings, parents and caregivers. Make-A-Wish Oregon has a very special relationship with Alaska Airlines, and 100% of miles donated from Alaska Airlines stay in our community. You hold the ticket to a child’s wish SM – donate your frequent flier miles today by calling 503-802-7803 or visiting orwish.org.
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Make wishes come true well beyond your lifetime If you would like to include Make-A-Wish Oregon in your estate plans, you can use the following language: “I give, devise and bequeath to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon (ein: 82-0385049) located at 2000 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 410, Portland, Oregon 97201 the sum of _____ dollars (or ____% of my estate, or the residual of my estate, otherwise describe the gift) for the general purposes and uses of the Foundation at the discretion of the Board of Directors. If you would like to discuss a gift to the endowment or additional methods of giving, please contact Kara Post at 503-802-6071 or kara@orwish.org
M A KE -A-WI SH ORE GON Food, Wine & Wishes is the Oregon chapter’s biggest event of the year, held every October, to raise funds for local wishes. Community supporters gather for an evening full of magic, featuring exciting silent and live auction items, a catered dinner, and appearances by local wish children who share their personal wish stories. GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
ADOPT-A-WISH ® PARTNERS The following is a partial listing of supporters who donated enough money to adopt wishes in their communities. BEAVERTON CROSSFIT Mason, 5, Roseburg I wish to go to Universal Studios and meet Spider-Man CHI OMEGA Denton, 17, Battle Ground I wish to have a recording studio MCCULLOUGH FAMILY
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Ellisyn, 6, Salem I wish to go to Hawaii R.S. DAVIS Sherice, 17, Portland I wish to go to Hawaii SKYVIEW HIGH SCHOOL Jack, 16, Portland I wish to meet Chip Kelly
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1. Wish kid Denton performs “Bridge Over Troubled Water” at the opening of the program. 2. Wish kids Ella Grace and Lily auction off Ella Grace’s wish
UNITED HEALTHCARE
art titled “My Princesses and Me = Best Day Ever.” 3. Our crew of volunteers make the event magical for all.
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Tatiana, 17, Warren I wish to go see the New York City Ballet
4. Make-A-Wish CEO Laila Umpleby presents the Katie Star Award to Beaverton High School teacher Kathryn Robinson. Make-A-Wish Oregon 7
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 3460 Portland, OR
MAKE-A-WISH® OREGON Also Serving Clark County, Washington 2000 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 410 Portland, Oregon 97201
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? HANNAH CHONG ONO
Hannah on her wish to go to Hawaii during the spring of 2000.
In 2000, Hannah’s wish to go to Hawaii was granted by Make-A-Wish Oregon. She chose Hawaii because she wanted to escape to somewhere warm, tropical and beautiful. She recently shared, “My favorite part of my wish was being able to spend time with my family in a paradise-like place we’d all never visited before. We didn’t have to worry about anything, (least of all cancer!) except for enjoying the beautiful scenery, each other’s company and celebrating the fact that I was kicking cancer’s butt!” Today, Hannah is a Make-A-Wish volunteer and works with pediatric oncology patients at Randall Children’s Hospital. When asked about her continued involvement with the Oregon chapter, Hannah said, “I’m continuously blown away by how much thought, heart and energy goes into making each child’s wish special. Make-A-Wish does a fantastic job of reminding our patients and families that magic continues to exist despite cancer and other serious illnesses.”
Hannah and her husband, Rob.