1, 2023 - August 31, 2024
I wish to see the Northern Lights Isis, 17 cancer
- Christian’s wish to meet his favorite mascots
- Cora’s wish to visit Walt Disney World® Resort - Aubrie’s wish for endless summer fun & more!
Scott Dishong
President & CEO
Lauren Beede
Chief Development Officer
Jennifer Getsch
Chief Mission Officer
Jeff Krebs
Vice President of Finance & Operations
Hannah Beasley
Development Manager
Kelcey Beckman
Wish Coordinator
Judy Bederman
Wish Administrative Assistant
Jamie Castle Wish Manager
Lauren Curtis
Wish Coordinator
Abigail Duarte
Wish Coordinator
Grace Ehemann
Corporate Relations Manager
Jessica Flores
Wish Coordinator
Capri Goldsmith
Wish Coordinator
Valerie Green
Operations & Finance Manager
Sarah Grosh
Director of Community Development
Jenna Hardy
Associate Director of Philanthropy
Ashley Kincaid
Referral & Medical Outreach Manager
Abby Korn
Philanthropy Manager
Sarah Murphy
Senior Manager of
Strategic Communications
Jeanne Olson
Senior Wish Manager
Michelle Smrekar
Senior Database Manager
Tina Stroman
Development Coordinator
Lisa Sweeney
Volunteer Manager
Jennifer Anderson
Western Union
Mike Broker
Trilogy Financial
Deron Brown
PCL Construction
Mike Brueggemann
TIC Construction
Karrie Fletcher
Alpine Bank
Bob Forbes
The Forbes M+A Group
Heidi Gill Urban Solution Group
Gretchen Gore
St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Intermountain Health
Erin Hutchison
Vehicle Vault
Doug McDonald
Bancroft Capital
Dr. Taizo Nakano, M.D.
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Scott Reichenberg *Incoming Board Chair
The Colorado Group, Inc.
Brent Smith
NewLeaf Symbiotics
Laura Srsich
Eide Bailly
Connie Talmage
Talmage Consulting
Justin Vaughn
The Vaughn Law Offices
Marley Wagner
Marley Wagner Consulting
Michael Wagner TFL
Scott’s Thoughts Isis’ Wish Volunteer & Wish Kid Spotlights Event & Supporter Spotlights Making a Direct Impact
Christian’s Wish School Supporters
Wish Financials
Wish Partners Wishes By The Numbers Wish Highlights
Dear Friends of Make-A-Wish Colorado,
As we reflect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude for your unwavering support of Make-A-Wish Colorado and our mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses across the state.
Your generosity has truly made a difference! Because of you, we were able to grant 377 life-changing wishes which brought smiles, laughter, and unforgettable experiences to courageous kids and their families across our state. Whether it was a wish to have breakfast with Cinderella, travel to Alaska to witness the Northern Lights, enjoy an endless summer of fun at Elitch Garden’s, or experience something only Make-A-Wish can create - like a talent show featuring all the local sports team mascots - your support has been instrumental in making each and every one of these wishes possible.
We’re also extremely proud to recognize the growth of our Wish Assist program. We were honored to host 80 wish kids from other states to have their wishes granted in Colorado. From wishes to ski our incredible mountains or visit a dude ranch or experience a concert at Red Rocks, we are confident that Colorado is the best place to make wishes come true!
Your commitment ensures that every eligible child receives the transformative experience of a wish come true. Your donations, volunteer hours, and advocacy efforts have fueled our mission and allowed us to continue granting wishes and transforming lives.
On behalf of all of us at Make-A-Wish Colorado and, most importantly, the children and families we serve, please accept our deepest thanks. Your kindness and generosity have touched the lives of wish kids and their communities in profound ways, and we are deeply grateful for your partnership and belief in our mission.
Best wishes,
Scott Dishong President & CEO Make-A-Wish Colorado
We are thrilled to announce that more lives will be transformed because of an exceptional $1.5 million gift made by the Walter A. & Charlotte Soule Family Foundation. The gift will start the Jennifer Mazak Wishes Forever Endowment Fund, which celebrates the history of our chapter by honoring Jennifer, whose wish to meet her favorite radio station’s mascot inspired her mother, Joan, to found the Colorado chapter of Make-A-Wish in 1983.
This gift is the largest single gift in the history of Make-A-Wish Colorado and will help fund wishes in perpetuity. If you are interested in making a gift to add to the endowment fund, please contact Lauren Beede, Chief Development Officer, at lbeede@colorado.wish.org
I wish to see the Northern Lights Isis, 17 cancer
Isis was diagnosed with cancer a few months after her 15th birthday. After a hard journey with chemotherapy, she is now cancer free! To celebrate this huge accomplishment, she traveled to Alaska to have her wish granted.
Isis’ wish was inspired by her love of snow, interest in Alaskan culture and a lifelong desire to see the Northern Lights.
Isis flew to Alaska with her parents and embarked on the journey of a lifetime. She enjoyed taking a guided nature walk, where she learned all about the boreal forests and the creatures who live there, including the reindeer!
Next up was a sled dog adventure! Isis learned all about the lives of the Alaskan Huskies and why each dog is placed in a specific position on the line. Then, off they went through the snow-covered forests and fields! Isis even mastered how to drive the team by voice command!
The feeling of flying through the snow pulled by these incredible dogs is something she will never forget. Her time in Alaska was already amazing - and she hadn’t even seen the main attraction yet!
Finally, it was time to go see the Northern Lights. Dressed in every piece of warm clothing she owned, she ventured out late at night with her parents on a Northern Lights tour.
They had been warned there was a chance they wouldn’t see the lights because of the clouds, but it turned out to be a picture-perfect night! Isis and her family sipped hot cocoa and waited for the show to begin.
Isis not only had an unobstructed view of the aurora borealis, but also saw shooting stars and the Milky Way! She marveled at the dancing ribbons of light as she reflected on where she was and the strength it took her to get there.
Thank you for making wishes come true for kids like Isis!
“My wish was a guiding light while I was still fighting cancer, and is now a reminder that I made it through!”
With over 24 years of service as a Wish Granter, Wendy has helped grant hundreds of wishes and brought joy to each wish kid and family she has met. She is a lead wish granter, a role in which she serves as a mentor to new volunteer wish granters. Wendy describes her part of the wish journey with joy. “Working with wish children and their families is the most delightful thing in my life besides my own family. Throughout the hundreds of wishes I’ve worked on, every single one has made me shriek with happiness or jump for joy or gasp for air from the dizzying thrill and excitement of the process. Seeing a child’s face light up once I tell them that their wish will come true gives me all the feels!” Her commitment to fostering relationships with wish families is a testament to her genuine compassion and love for our mission. “I get much more from the experience of granting wishes than I give. Each wish child and every single wish is magical and fulfilling for the child, their family, and me!”
Wendy’s impact extends beyond her volunteer roles. This August, she participated in the Wish Heroes campaign and raised more than $6,000 to help grant wishes! Her dedication, mentorship, and heartfelt connection to wish families set her apart as volunteer and supporter of Make-A-Wish Colorado! Learn more about volunteering at wish.org/colorado/volunteer
Wish kid Cora, better known as “little miss sunshine,” to her family, loves to play dress up with her two older sisters and watch princess movies. For her wish, Cora knew she wanted to have breakfast with her favorite Disney princess, Cinderella.
Cora traveled to Walt Disney World Resort where she was treated like a real princess and even transformed into one thanks to the fairies at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, who did her hair and makeup before she met Cinderella in a matching dress!
“We truly have no words as to how amazing Cora’s wish was. It was everything Cora dreamed of and WAY MORE! It truly was the best week ever and created core memories that our family will never forget!” - Cora’s parents
Whiskey, Wine & Wishes presented by Chevron was a country western-themed party with a purpose: granting wishes! A crowd of more than 600 attendees helped raise approximately $667,000 to grant nearly 90 life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses!
It was a celebration of our partners, supporters and the recipients of the 2024 Wish Hero Award, the Colorado Avalanche. Wish alumni Jack and Brian presented the award to Joe Sakic, who accepted on behalf of the team.
Bernie even got in on the fun and helped surprise wish kid Christian, whose wish was to meet mascots. See page 9 for his full story! The night ended with a country concert by Randall King, who got the crowd two-stepping with his honky-tonk hits! It was a night of inspirational wishes, life-changing fundraising and more. Visit vimeo.com/wishcolorado/www24 to see highlights and save the date for April 24, 2025!
Thanks to our premier event sponsors!
In August, 30 Make-A-Wish supporters transformed into Wish Heroes! By sharing their passion for the Make-A-Wish mission, these heroes raised nearly $70,000 for wish kids! For each Hero who raised $1,000 we sent a wish kid a Hero cape to remind them of all the people who support them!
Chevron Colorado is an ideal partner. They were presenting sponsors of Whiskey, Wine & Wishes and Kids For Wish Kids - but made sure their involvement didn’t end there.
Kim McHugh, vice president of the Rockies Business Unit, spoke at Whiskey, Wine & Wishes about how much Chevron values our mission and loves being involved in the Colorado community - and we are so grateful for their support!
STARZ is a long-standing partner of Make-A-Wish Colorado, from sponsoring events to helping grant wishes! They host an annual “Carnival of STARZ,” event and invite wish kids to a fun-filled afternoon of festive games, unique crafts and moments only STARZ can create! We’re grateful for their support of our mission and how they bring joy to wish kids through their partnership!
Corporate partners can sponsor events, create cause-related marketing campaigns or host events and fundraisers! wish.org/colorado/corporate-partners
Enrolling in the monthly giving program provides Make-A-Wish Colorado a reliable source of funding to grant wishes. wish.org/colorado/donate
Donate your car, truck, motorcycle, boat or RV and help make a Colorado child’s wish come true with Wheels for Wishes. wheelsforwishes.org
Did you know more than 75% of wishes require flights? You can donate your airline miles to help our wish families take flight. wish.org/airline-miles
Donate and learn more about this tax-friendly way to give! wish.org/colorado/crypto
Many companies match their employees’ donations. That means the impact of your gift may be doubled! wish.org/matching-gifts
If your company has a workplace giving program, you can make donations to Make-A-Wish Colorado through automatic payroll deductions!
Make-A-Wish Colorado is part of the Donate to a Colorado Nonprofit Fund, which provides tax payers the opportunity to donate when filing state taxes.
Create a legacy that will impact wish kids for years to come through creating a will and other planned giving tools. wish.org/colorado/create-your-legacy
Give the gift of stock or donate through your IRA! wish.org/colorado/tax-smart-ways-give
I wish to meet my favorite mascots
Wish kid Christian loves mascots! Make-A-Wish Colorado hosted a mascot talent show with all the Colorado sports teams’ mascots to make Christian’s wish come true! From a ring toss with Dinger of the Rockies to a magic show with CSU’s Cam the Ram, it was quite the competition! Ultimately, Slapshot from the Colorado Eagles hockey team won with his Bob Ross-inspired painting of him and Christian.
Another aspect of Christian’s wish was ringing the bell to signify the end of his cancer journey. His parents wanted to make sure everyone from his community was able to be involved, and Make-A-Wish Colorado even invited local police and SWAT teams to present the honorary bell to Christian in honor of his bravery amidst so much hardship. Christian proudly rang the bell in front of his family, medical team and all his mascot friends! An epic dance party ensued to wrap up the life-changing day. Christian’s heartfelt wish brought together his community to celebrate his strength and create joy!
Kids For Wish Kids presented by Chevron It was another groundbreaking year of student-led fundraising, with over 200 schools hosting Wish Weeks and other events. Together, these students and communities raised enough to grant 270 wishes for kids throughout the state! The combined effort and incredible dedication of student leaders, faculty members, school communities and sponsors make this program the most successful Kids For Wish Kids program in the nation, helping Make-A-Wish Colorado continue to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Thank you to our top sponsors!
The Youth Leadership Council was comprised of 45 passionate students from across the state who support the mission of Make-A-Wish Colorado through spreading awareness, fundraising, and helping make wishes come true! They raised over $45,500, which will help grant 6 wishes for kids like Foster, who they celebrated at their year-end party! Foster’s wish is to go to Walt Disney World Resorts and see Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Members of the Youth Leadership Council hosted a Star Wars-themed send-off party with trivia, games and even a visit by R2-D2!
These Colorado Chi Omega chapters raised more than $65,000 this year through philanthropy events like Swishes for Wishes, Wings For Wishes, Chi-O Ween, a Chi O Carnival and more!
University of Colorado Boulder
2.
University of Denver
3.
Colorado State University
Wishmakers Council is a group of professionals from across Colorado who have a passion for advancing the Make-A-Wish mission through raising funds and awareness. Members helped gather hard-to-get wish requests, became volunteer wish granters, shared wish engagement opportunities, secured event sponsorships, personally fundraised, introduced new community partners and more. Council members’ efforts created more than $76,000 worth of impact over the year, helping Make-A-Wish Colorado grant wishes for kids across the state.
Aubrie is 12 years old and due to her illness, she has been quarantined for more than four years. Her health has recently improved and she is ready to jump back into life and make some unforgettable childhood memories. She wished to have five years of season passes to Elitch Gardens for her and her family!
Early one summer morning, the Make-A-Wish Colorado team, Aubrie and her family, Youth Leadership Council members and students from Kids For Wish Kids schools all gathered at Elitch Gardens for a surprise wish reveal! The crowd cheered and held “Wish Granted” signs as Aubrie grinned and jumped in excitement.
Aubrie’s doctor and Make-A-Wish Colorado board member, Dr. Taizo Nakano, surprised Aubrie at her wish reveal, and when she saw him, she ran and jumped up to embrace him in a huge bear hug! Dr. Nakano said he was so excited to see Aubrie among the community, especially after her time in quarantine. “I’ve witnessed firsthand how wishes can make a difference. They’re not just memories and they’re not just experiences. These wishes get kids through their treatments.” - Dr. Nakano
Dr. Nakano surprised Aubrie at her wish & got a big hug!
Make-A-Wish Colorado is 100% privately funded and relies on the support of generous donors like you to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Learn more at wish.org/colorado
Endowment Gift*
Corporate
Events
Grants/Other
*One-time gift
Wish Granting Fundraising Operations
I wish to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Micah, 10 brain tumor
106.7 The Bull
1-800-GOT-JUNK
2Partner Mathematics Consulting
5DayDeal
ABC Supply Co
Acuity Brands
Alpine Bank
Altour International
AmaWaterways
Antero Automotive & Truck Services
Aspire Eventing
Aston Kaanapali Shores
Big Lots
Big Stuff Food Truck
Black Bear Diner
Blue Compass RV
BOK Financial Corporation
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Businessolver
BuzzRx
Civitas Resources
Cochrane Family
Colorado Capital Management
Colorado Custom Spas
Colorado Homes & Lifestyles
Colorado Rockies
Connie Talmage
Corey Rose Wishes and Heroes Concert
Dave and Buster’s
DEN Airport
Denver Colfax Marathon
Denver Petroleum Club
Denver7
Desert Oasis Spas & Pools
Disneyland Resort
Dormie Network
Doug McDonald
Dutch Bros
Elitch Gardens
Ent Credit Union
Enterprise Holdings
Environmental Logistics
Fanatics
Frontier Mechanical
Future Legends
Give Kids the World Village
Greazy Wheelz Car Show
Hotel Engine
Inside Travel Group
IT’S SUGAR
JLL Denver
Kirkland & Ellis
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Kroenke Sports Charities
Kroger
Lamar Advertising-Denver
Lana Shores
Laura & Tom Srsich
Liberty Energy
Lively Family
Logistics Property Company
Maggiano’s Little Italy
Mallard Exploration
Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Margulf Foundation
McDonald Family
Mega Hertz
Mile High Sports
Nelnet
Origin Acoustics
PCL
Pro-Lift Crane
R2-KT
Raising Cane’s
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Rocky Mountain Street Rod Nationals
Ropin’ Rascals
Rory’s Stupid Cancer Golf Tournament
Ryan Kobane
Safelite Autoglass Foundation
Salesforce
Savills
SCHEELS Johnstown
Sheraton Kauai
Sheraton Waikiki
Shoe Carnival
Skyport
Snappy App
Southwest Airlines
SpeedEFX
STARZ
Subaru of America
Sue & Rich Jones
Sugarwish
Target
The Brown Palace Hotel
The Christensen Fund
The Combined Regional Academy
The Morrison & Foerster Foundation
The Peyback Foundation
The Vaughn Law Offices PLLC
The Walt Disney Company
TIC Denver
Topgolf
Torchy’s Tacos
Toyota Motor Distributors
United Airlines
United Pacific
Urban Solution Group
Vail Resorts
Vehicle Vault
Vista Verde Guest Ranch
Vivid Seats
Walmart
Walt Disney World
Wish Ride of Colorado
Wonder Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
at gehemann@colorado.wish.org or visit wish.org/colorado/corporate-partners
Corey Rose Wishes and Heroes
National Street Rod Association’s Rocky Mountain Nationals Pinstriping Auction
I wish to have I wish to meet I wish to be I wish to go I wish to give
Great Wolf Lodge hosts wish discoveries in their kidfriendly resort! During a wish discovery, our dedicated staff and volunteers meet with the child and their family to learn the child’s one true wish. They connect with wish kids, awaken their imaginations and help them envision the seemingly impossible.
To make this experience even more joyful for the whole family, Great Wolf Lodge supplies wish families with arcade passes to enjoy the fun of the resort for the rest of the day! Thank you Great Wolf Lodge!
Southwest Airlines is an incredible partner of wishes and beyond! In addition to sponsoring our signature event, Whiskey, Wine & Wishes, Southwest generously donates flight passes to help wish families take flight! Once families are on-board their Southwest flights, they are treated like royalty with crowns made of pretzels, goodie bags and tours of the cockpit alongside the pilots!
Southwest provided two wish kids with unique opportunities through their partnership with the Colorado Rockies: mascotloving wish kid Christian (page 9) threw out the first pitch with Dinger, and wish kid Kaden was invited to be a “kid-caster,” for a day and interview players before a game! Thanks, Southwest, for supporting our mission and wish families!
I wish to have a shopping spree
Alexa, 18 cancer
I wish to go to Walt Disney World Resorts
I wish to be a zoologist
Olivia, 9 liver transplant
Azriel, 3 liver transplant
I wish to go to Hawaii
Caleb, 12 respiratory disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World Resorts
Scarlet, 7 respiratory disorder
I wish to have a quinceañera
I wish to have a hot tub
I wish to have a playset
Sebastian, 4 cancer
Stefanie, 15 neuromuscular disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World Resorts
Lucy, 4 nervous system disorder
Wishes In Memorial
Gwen, 13 nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Hawaii
Calista, 9 congenital heart disease
I wish to be a model
Sam, 18 cancer
I wish to have a train experience
Justin, 6 nervous system disorder
I wish to have tuition assistance
Luca, 17 cancer
I wish to go to Walt Disney World Resorts
Liam, 3 autoimmune disorder
I wish to meet Liverpool FC Maxwell, 11 heart transplant
We celebrate the lives of wish kids who are no longer with us and remember their bright spirits. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to each child’s family and friends. You will always be a part of our Make-A-Wish family.
Finn F
D
