Lucas' Greenhouse Wish Comes True
Turtle Lake, WI - Lucas' wished to have a greenhouse so he could grow plants and vegetables year-round. Click here to read his story which appeared in the Barron News - Shield or read the stroy which appeared in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram..
View a pdf copy of the Barron News-Shield article. 
View a pdf copy of Eau Claire Leader-Telegram article.
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF WISCONSIN WINNER OF TORCH AWARD
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin has been honored with Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin’s Torch Award - the highest award given for ethics and integrity. The award recognizes businesses and non-profits that demonstrate excellence in ethical practices, service excellence, reputation, honest advertising, peer recognition, management practices and employee training in ethical behavior.
Click here to read the Better Business Bureau's press release.
Click here to read the article that appeared on the BrookfieldNow.com Web site.
Click here to view the Better Business Bureau's congratulations advertisement which appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
CFO OF THE YEAR
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin is thrilled to announce that Kathy Ehnert, Director of Finance and Operations for the Foundation has been chosen as a CFO of the Year by the Milwaukee Business Journal.
Click here to read the article which appeared in the Business Journal on 10/9/2009. To view a PDF version of this article click here.
WORLD'S LARGEST ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Cold Stone Creamery® will host the “World’s Largest Ice Cream Social,” a fundraising event to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin on Thursday, September 24 from 5-8 p.m. For more information go to coldstonecreamery.com.
CARVEATHON RAISES FUNDS FOR MAKE-A-WISH
Wood carvers help raise fund for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin. Click here to read the article that appeared in Living Mukwonago Chief
iWALK & RUN NEWS
• Walk & Muskego Executive Shares the Power of a Wish - MuskegoNOW
• Walk & Run for Wishes to Help Grant more than 20 Wishes - BayViewNOW
• Local Swim Team “Runs for Wishes” as Part of Pre-Season Conditioning - GermantownNOW
• Delafield 6-year-old says, “iWalk,” to help children like her - Living Lake Country
WAUKESHA DEPUTY SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION GIVES BACK TO COMMUNITY
Thanks to the Waukesha Deputy Sheriff's Association and countless volunteers and staff of Wisconsin's Make-A-Wish Foundation, childrens' dreams throughout Waukesha County have become tangible realities. On Sept. 12, the association will host its 21st annual Make-A-Wish Fundraiser in Sussex Village Park. The public is invited to enjoy a softball tournament, silent auction and raffle that tout prizes such as a 2008 Polaris Sportsmen's 500 EFI 4X4, 2009 Honda Rukus Scooter, $1,000 car service package and more.
Click here to the the complete article that appeared in Living Sussex Sun or view a PDF copy of the article by clicking this logo.
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION® AND BERGSTROM AUTOMOTIVE TEAM UP IN SEPTEMBER TO HELP CHILDREN’S DREAMS COME TRUE
Neenah, Wisconsin – In September, Bergstrom Automotive is partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin to raise money to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy.
Throughout the month, each of the Bergstrom dealerships will donate $5 for every test drive taken. In addition, GMAC will donate $10 for every vehicle it finances through Bergstrom and Zurich will donate $10 for every extended service agreement that is purchased on a Bergstrom vehicle. On Saturday, September 19, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the following dealerships will hold a special Lube-A-thon offering free oil changes with every $15 donation to the Foundation:
- Bergstrom GM of Appleton, 2245 W. College Ave, (920) 749-5800
- Bergstrom Buick Pontiac GMC Saturn of Appleton, 1000 S. Nicolet Rd, (920) 735-2900
- Bergstrom GM of Neenah, 150 N. Green Bay Road, (920) 722-1111
- Bergstrom Ford of Neenah, 525 S. Green Bay Road, (920) 727-9000
- Bergstrom GM of Oshkosh, 355 N. Washburn, (920) 966-1166
- Bergstrom Toyota, 3245 S. Washburn, (920) 966-1616
- Bergstrom Honda Nissan Subaru, 3285 S. Washburn, (920) 236-1000
- Bergstrom Chrysler Dodge Jeep of Kaukauna, 2929 Lawe Street, (920) 766-6500
- Saturn of Green Bay, 2800 Ramada Way, (920) 497-6900
U.S. Oil and U.S. Tire and Exhaust donate all oil and filters for this charity event. In 2008, Bergstrom raised over $65,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin.
BRANDON'S WISH: "I WISH TO HAVE A POOL."
"I can't say enough kind things about Make-A-Wish," she said. "For one summer, they made us feel like kings and queens. They made us feel special. Make-A-Wish would give us the sun, the moon and the stars if they could." – Brandon Krueger’s Mom. Click here to read the rest of Brandon's story which recently appeared in the Green Bay Press Gazette.
Click here or view a PDF copy of the article
WISH KID'S HAVE A YACHT BLAST
Local boaters hosted Make-A-Wish families on their boats for a day of fun on Lake Michigan.
Click here to view the story which aired on CBS 58.
BRITTANY'S WISH A DREAM COME TRUE
Brittany's wish is an inspiring reminder of why the Make-A-Wish Foundaiton of Wisconsin works so diligently to make wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Click here to watch her story that WSAW in Wausau recently aired.
Read more about Brittany's wish in the Rhinelander Daily News.
Click here or view a PDF copy of the article
MIAD ENCOURAGES WISH KIDS TO GET PASSIONATE ABOUT ART
The Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design recently invited some of our more artistic wish kids to participate in a private art lesson with MIAD graduate Jeff Sama. The artist, who is planning on starting an art camp in Chicago for children with life-threatening medical conditions, spent a weekday afternoon teaching each of the artistic kids tricks and techniques in his chosen medium of pastels.
“Working with pastels can get a little messy,” says Sama. “Kids can really have a lot of fun with it!”
Wish kid artists Allison (9), Leah (14) and Dacy (19) had plenty of fun blending the messy, powdery material across their blank pages. By the end of their session with Sama, each had brought their imaginations to life in a work of art, and reinforced their passion for creativity.
“My job is to just help kids focus on something they are already interested in,” says Sama. “Art can help children battle through hardships and find joy in what they love most.”
EVERYDAY HERO
Volunteer and Wish Mother, Susie Gidan, featured on FOX6NOW.com. Click here to watch the video.
SAM'S WISH A BIG HIT AT MILLER PARK
Six-year-old Sam's wish is to sing the National Anthem came true on Sunday before the start of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball game.
Media
SARAH, 16, LOOKS FORWARD TO HAVING HER WISH COME TRUE
Sarah loved to downhill ski. She learned to ski when she was just five-years-old. Two years ago her illness prevented her from being able to ski. When Sarah learned she qualified for a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin, she wished to learn to ski again. Click here to read more about her inspirational story.
To read a PDF copy of the news story click here.
CARSTAR CLEANS UP WITH A CAR WASH FUNDRAISER!
On June 20, 2009, CARSTAR in Plover, Wisconsin participated with other CARSTAR locations across the U.S. and Canada to set the Guinness World Record for “Most Cars Washed – Multiple Venues.” Tickets were sold at participating CARSTAR stores with proceeds from the Plover store benefitting Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin. More than 200 stores participated, washing over 4,000 cars in eight hours. You can read more about CARSTAR's Guinness World Record attempt by clicking here.
OVER 2,000 GUESTS TO CELEBRATE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION® OF WISCONSIN’S 25TH BIRTHDAY AT MILLER PARK!
Celebration to include tailgate party, in-game participation for wish children and visit by Outfielder Corey Hart
Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin is celebrating its 25th birthday in grand fashion this year with a tailgate party for more than 2,000 guests at Miller Park at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 12. After the party, guests will head into Miller Park to join the anticipated sell-out crowd, watching the Milwaukee Brewers host the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1:05 p.m. Seven wish children will participate in Miller Park activities, including 6-year-old Sam, whose wish to sing the National Anthem will be granted.
Milwaukee Brewers Outfielder Corey Hart will serve as honorary chair of the event. He will make a special presentation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin at the tailgate party between 11:00-11:30am and again during an on the field pre-game ceremony.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by the Milwaukee Brewers and Brewers Charities for Make-A-Wish Foundation’s 25 years of granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions,” said Make-A-Wish® Chairman of the Board, Brian Trexell. “So many people have reached out to help fulfill wishes throughout the years, and in many cases, the Brewers have been key to them coming true. This day will honor every one of those people and organizations.”
The tailgate party, presented by Mueller Graphics and sponsored by Badger Mutual Insurance Company and Associated Bank, will include food and entertainment, including special activities for children; guest appearances by “Star Wars” characters, Bernie Brewer, the World Famous Klement’s Racing Sausages and a surprise guest from Orlando with a short program at noon, emceed by 97.3 The Brew’s Connie and Fish, featuring wish children and Make-A-Wish volunteers.
For the complete press release, click here.
FRANKIE’S WISH STORY CHARMS GOLF OUTING ATTENDEES
This year’s Make-A-Wish® Golf Outing was a huge success, helping to raise enough funds to grant ten wishes for Wisconsin children with life-threatening medical conditions. Held on Monday, June 15 at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, the outing included lunch, a full day of golf on the Highlands and Brute courses, a silent auction, dinner and live auction.
The evening’s program was emceed by 1250 AM WSSP’s Doug Russell and featured former NFL official Bill Carollo, but the stars of the show were six-year-old wish child Frankie and her mother Deanna, who spoke about Frankie’s wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort last October. Frankie’s energy and spunk charmed the entire crowd, who were moved by Deanna’s heartfelt speech.
“Frankie’s wish was to become a princess, and thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin, she did,” recounted the proud mom. “It felt like we were carrying a load of bricks on our backs as we went through Frankie’s illness and treatments, and every time we connected with the Foundation, it was like another brick was removed. By the time we got to Florida, the bricks were gone and we could enjoy our time together as a family without any worries.”
To view pictures from the event, please click here.
'Champ' is Olivia's joy
After a year of hospital stays, doctor visits and treatments the thought of having her own horse has provided Olivia with the hope and strength she needed to battle her illness.
Click here to read her story at beliotdailynews.com.
To read a PDF copy of the news story click here.
Surprise send-off party perfect start to Kailyn's wish
Read all about the surprise party her family and classmates gave Kailyn just hours before she was to fly to Los Angeles to meet the cast of Disney Channel's "Suite Life on Deck."
Click here to read her story at marshfieldnewsherald.com.
To read a PDF copy of the news story click here.
Watch the video of her party at weau.com
22 Wish Families Participate in Race Experience
The Wisconsin International Raceway hosted the 11th Annual Race Experience for Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin. Wish kids had the opportunity to look at race cars and dragsters, take a motorcycle ride around the race track and much more. Click here to read more and to watch a video clip of the day's events.
Download a pdf copy of the article - click here
Host Night Birthday Buzz
Biz Times - pictures from the event
Business Journal - picture from event. (pdf version)
Gunderson Lutheran Link - W.I.S.H Award recipient. (pdf version)
Marshfield Clinic - W.I.S.H Award recipient (pdf version)
Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin Celebrates 25 Years at Host Night
Successful fundraising event will help grant 50-plus wishes
MILWAUKEE – More than 50 wishes will be granted from proceeds raised at Host Night 2009, the signature fundraising event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin, held Thursday, March 19 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. Emceed by WISN TV’s Joyce Garbaciak, the event’s “Birthday Bash” theme, along with inspirational stories from past wish children and families, moved a 550-person audience of Foundation donors, volunteers and wish families whose generosity will help fund the transformational wishes of Wisconsin children.
“Wishes change the fabric of a life for a child living with a life-threatening medical condition and his or her family. Instead of a focusing on doctors’ visits, surgeries and treatments, the entire family experiences the joy and anticipation of the wish-planning process and, ultimately, wish fulfillment,” said Patti Gorsky, president of the Foundation. “The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin has been granting wishes for 25 years. Host Night provides us with the opportunity to humbly acknowledge the wide support of thousands of donors across Wisconsin, who give so much to help grant these wishes.”
The Foundation honored six champions of Wisconsin children with the W.I.S.H. (Winner in Sharing Happiness) Award at Host Night. They are the Foundation’s main medical referral sources throughout the state, including American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and St. Vincent Hospital Green Bay. Wishes are granted to every child between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 who medically qualify. “We could not fulfill our mission without the help of these critical partners,” said Gorsky. “Each one of these organizations has served as a catalyst in the wish process, entrusting their young patients to our care to fulfill their dreams.”
Other special guests included wish kids Jay, Abaigeal, Garrett, Molly, Noah, Nolan and Rhena as well as wish mom, Anne. They shared their powerful stories and helped honor the nearly 3,500 Wisconsin children who have had their wishes granted since the Foundation was started in 1984.
Event chairs, Craig and Lea Culver of Culver Franchising System, Co-Presenting Sponsors, Badger Mutual Insurance Company and Children’s Hospital and Health System and Gold Sponsor, Northwestern Mutual Foundation helped make the evening a success. The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Currently, more than 200 Wisconsin children are in the process of having their wishes granted. For more information about the Foundation, please call 262.781.4445 or 800.236.WISH in Wisconsin.
STIRRING UP WISHES™, BETTY CROCKER®’S NEW MULTI-YEAR NATIONAL CAUSE MARKETING PROGRAM WITH THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION®
Starting March 2009, Betty Crocker will use her magic Red Spoon to stir up wishes for the Foundation. Through part of its annual $250,000 donation, Betty Crocker® is granting 12 Wishes in 12 Weeks to Make-A-Wish® children. The campaign will give each Make-A-Wish chapter the chance to receive funding for a wish through consumer voting and participation. Go to www.StirringUpWishes.com to help make a child’s wish come true by placing a vote for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin. The more votes our chapter receives, the greater the opportunity for us to have a wish granted by Betty Crocker!
In addition to voting at www.StirringUpWishes.com, find wish stories along with wish kids’ favorite cupcake recipes. Each week, a new wish story and Betty Crocker cupcake will be featured, so visit often for baking ideas, inspiration and to vote for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin. You can also send a message to friends about the Stirring Up Wishes program and sign up for a weekly email reminding you to vote online.
GM/UAW GRANTS 10,000TH WISH TO MERRILL GIRL
Click here to read more or click here (153KB) to download a PDF copy of the article that appeared on the Merrill Foto News Web site on December 31.
