Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York

 
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Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York
Wishnews
                                         ®

      FALL 2018

                                                     I wish to have a
                                                        fishing boat!
                                                                     Joseph, 18
                                                        Onondaga County, Leukemia

           2   WISH VOICES                   8    DONOR SPOTLIGHT

CONTENTS
           3   WISH SPOTLIGHT                9    VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
           4   EVENTS                        10   NOTEWORTHY
           6   MAKING WISHES COME TRUE       11   STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    Officers/Executive Committee

                                                                        Wish Voices
    Laura Wittenbeck - Chair
    Account Executive – NBT-Mang Insurance

    Deborah E. Moore, Esq.* - Vice Chair
    United States District Court

    Debra Rao - Secretary
    Business Development Executive
    Strategic Accounts, Comfort Systems USA

    Debra Colón
    2nd VP Compliance / Asst. Secretary
    Columbian Financial Group

    Mark Colombo, CPA - Co-Treasurer                                                                 “The gift you give to children
    Principal - Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa
                                                                                                     and their families is truly
    Wendy Riccelli, CPA, CVA - Co-Treasurer                                                          indescribable! We have a memory
    Principal - The Bonadio Group                                                                    of a lifetime. In Aiden’s words
                                                                                                     ‘that trip was totally epic’!”
    Trustees
                                                                                                     Ray Watkins,
    Adam Barkley                                                                                     Dad of wish kid Aiden
    Vice President, Mirabito-Gresham Insurance &
    Bonds Agency, LLC

    Caitlin Sgarlat DeLuca, DO
    Asst. Professor Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University

    Bill Evans
    General Manager, NewsChannel 9 WSYR

    Stan Goettel, MA, EMT-P
    Director of Education Programs, Department of Emergency
    Medicine - Upstate Medical University

    Steve Heath
    Director of Commercial Sales, Annese & Associates –           “Thank you for making my
    A ConvergeOne Company                                         daughter Amanda's wish
                                                                  come true. A truly amazing
    Paul Mullin, Esq.                                             organization you are. I will
    Partner, Sugarman Law Firm, LLP
                                                                  always donate in the future so
    Gregory A. O’Leary                                            other kids can have their wishes
    Senior Advisor, Assurance Services, Ernst & Young, LLP        come true as well.”

    Joseph J. Saya                                                Laurie Ineich,
    Wish Dad, Owner, Saya Real Estate                             Mom of wish kid Amanda

    Kevin Smith
    Solutions Specialist, Eastern Managed Print Network

    Rei Thompson
    Wish Sibling, Quality Assurance Director
    ElderChoice

    Lisa A. White
    VP Chief Compliance / Risk Officer
    Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
    *Advisory Committee Member                                                                “Tyler's attitude and energy did a 180
                                                                                              after the reveal. Once we got to the
                                                                                              campsite he was full of energy. Since
    Staff                                                                                     we have been home Tyler has given
    Diane Kuppermann - President & CEO                                                        many tours of his camper and his
                                                                                              excitement for it has not diminished
    Katie Aiello, Volunteer & Community Outreach Manager                                      one bit. We are so extremely thankful
                                                                                              for everything the Make-A-Wish
                                                                                                                                ®
    Kelly Collins, Operations & Program Coordinator                                                                                n
                                                                                              Foundation and every    single perso
    Robin Mulpagano, Finance & Operations Director                                             from the  Poker Run  did for our family.
                                                                                               It was truly an unforgettable event.”
    Heidi Robinson, Program Services Manager
                                                                                              Steven English, Dad of wish kid Tyler
    Debbie Simon, Events Manager                                                               Surprise wish reveal at 1,000 Islands
    Dyana Smolen, PR/Communications Manager                                                    Charity Poker Run event
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Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York
WISH
                                                                                        SPOTLIGHT

Joseph’s wish comes true
     It had been a daunting senior year for Joseph. After being diagnosed with leukemia before the start
     of his senior year of high school, the easy-going 17-year-old began treatment that hit him hard.

     At a low point, Joe and his family were referred to Make-A-Wish® Central New York. The connection
     provided the East Syracuse teen with an opportunity to take his mind off illness and treatment, and
     think about something happy, something amazing.

     With a love for the outdoors and fishing as a favorite hobby, Joe didn’t have a hard time deciding
     what his wish would be. His vision: A fishing boat to enjoy with family and friends.

     With help from Bass Pro Shops of Auburn, Make-A-Wish Central New York staged a surprise wish
     reveal for Joe at Emerson Park in Auburn. Thinking he was attending a graduation party in his
     honor, Joe was met at the park by Make-A-Wish volunteers who rolled in, airhorns blaring, with
     an impressive tow: A brand new 2017 Tracker Super Guide V-16 SC fishing boat!

     “The day he received his boat was his moment,” said Joe’s mom, Kristy. “I have not seen him smile
     the way he did that day in a long time.”

     After breaking in the boat on a fishing adventure with his dad, Joe has since taken it on many lake
     rides with family and friends. Here’s to many more fishing trips, Joe! Wishes really do come true!

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Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York
EVENTS

       FIFTH ANNUAL WALK ON THE
       WILD SIDE IS THE BEST YET!
      In July, we celebrated our fifth annual “Walk on the Wild Side” fundraising event at The Wild Animal Park in
      Chittenango. Held in honor of longtime supporters The Heitkamp Family, the event provides a fun, outdoor
      gathering for the whole family while raising funds for local wishes. This year, “Walk on the Wild Side” raised
      more than $57,000 in support of wishes for local children with critical illnesses! This success could only be
      possible through the generous support of sponsors like Trusted Choice and Gary and Mary Heitkamp and
      family, as well as the following businesses and individuals: 93Q, DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury
      Lawyers, Dunkin’ Donuts, Express Save Industries, Gary’s Auto, Hiawatha Fasteners, NAPA Auto Parts, Panda
      Postage/Express Small Parcel, Inc., Paul Luteran, Richard T. Ranucci, Sugarman Law Firm, and Tarson Pools.

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Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York
JUST A FEW MORE SPOTS LEFT FOR
    MS. ORANGE FAN!
   On October 21st, we’ll gather with Coach Jim and Juli Boeheim and the Syracuse
 University Men’s Basketball Team for the 27th Annual Ms. Orange Fan® Luncheon, a
 ladies-only event that has raised more than $1.5 million for wishes since inception!

  The event kicks off with a crowd warm-up featuring The Sour Sitrus Society, cheer
and dance teams, and Otto the Orange. An autograph session with players and coaches
  follows, then transitions to a live auction where attendees can place bids to have a
 player or coach join their table for lunch. Raffles, a silent auction, and merchandise
                         sales also take place during the event.

    To join us, call today to see if we still have tickets available: 315-475-WISH or
 800-846-9474. More information about the event is available online at cny.wish.org.

                     We hope to see you there!
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Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York
WISHES

         MAKING WISHES COME
         Make-A-Wish Central New York is dedicated to creating life-changing wishes for
                                                                                         TRUE!
         children with critical illnesses. The following wishes were granted during our last
         business quarter. Not all wishes granted in this time frame are represented here.

                                                ANNABELLE, 4 - Onondaga County
                                                Seizure Disorder
                                                Wish Granters: Terry Baum &
                                                Sandy Joslyn
                                                                                         BELEN, 14 - Oneida County
                        daga County
      AMANDA, 17 - Onon                         “I wish to have a sensory room
                                                                                         Congenital Heart Disease
      Cancer                                                                             Wish Granters: Lynn Moretz &
                                                makeover."
                                 ttiaccio,                                               Dena Gorea
      Wish Granters: Leah Ma
                     r & Me liss  a MacMillan                                            "I wish to go to Walt Disney
      Roberta Wilbu
                              ."                                                         World® Resort."
      “I wish to go to Belize

                                                  COLE, 7 - Cayuga County
                                                  Congenital Heart Disease
                                                  Wish Granters: Kelly Hirsch &          Georgena, 8 - Onondaga County
      BRODY, 10 - Tompkins County                 Meghan Wilson
                                                                                   ld®   Cancer
      Blood Disorder                              "I wish to go to Walt Disney Wor       Wish Granters: Terry Baum &
      Wish Granters: Kelly Hirsch &               Resort."                               Sandy Joslyn
      Meghan Wilson
                                                                                         "I wish to go to Walt Disney Wor ®
      “I wish to have a hot tub."                                                                                        ld
                                                                                         Resort."

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Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York
LEVI, 9 - Lewis County
                      ga       County
  JOSEPH, 18 - Ononda                       Neuromuscular Disorder
  Leukemia                                  Wish Granters: Kelli Bell,          MADELYN, 13 - Broome
                          Bender &                                                                             Coun
  Wish Granters: Debbie                     Vickie Devlin & Laura Oram           Cancer                             ty
  Marilyn  San son                          “I wish to have an Alaskan          Wish Granters: Deb Co
                            boat."                                                                       lón & Chris Pilotti
  “I wish to have a fishing                 Wilderness Adventure."              “I wish to go to the Nic
                                                                                                         kelodan Resort
                                                                                in Punta Cana ."

MATTILYNN, 4 - St. Lawrence
                                            PATRICK, 19 - Otsego County
County                                      Respiratory Disorder
                                                                                                         t
Genetic Disorder
                                            Wish Granters: Karla West &            PAUL, 13 - Wish Assis
Wish Granters: Angie Guimond &                                                      Genetic Disorder
                                            Steven West
                                                                                                             man
Jamie Fairchild
                                            “I wish to have a jet ski."             Wish Granter: Doug Lay
“I wish to be a princess at Walt Disn                                                                    Ba seb all
                                      ey                                            “I wish to go to the
World® Resort."                                                                     Hall of Fame."

 PAYTIN, 5 - Oswego County                                                        TYLER, 6 - Oswego Co
 Cancer                                    STEPHANIE, 21 - St. La                                             unty
                                                                 wrence          Congenital Heart Diseas
 Wish Granters: Brittany Streeter &                                                                         e
                                           County                                Wish Granters: Laura Or
 Aliki Ilios                                                                                                am,
                                           Cystic Fibrosis                       Vickie Devlin & Kelli Be
 "I wish to go to Walt Disney World                                                                       ll
                                    ®
                                           Wish Granters: Benny                  “I wish to have a campe
 Resort."                                                         Fairchild &                             r."
                                           Jamie Fairchild
                                           “I wish to go to Hawaii."

                                                                                                                               7
Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York
DONOR
SPOTLIGHT

    1000 Islands Charity Poker Run
    raises more than $35,000 for wishes!
    The second annual 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run took place in July on the scenic St. Lawrence River in Clayton, NY.
    The boating event attracted participants from around the country and raised more than $45,000 for local charities,
    including $35,000 for Make-A-Wish Central New York, $7,500 for River Hospital’s Community Wellness Program, and
    $2,500 for local emergency medical and fire service agencies.

    During the event, the poker run committee and event attendees helped Make-A-Wish Central New York stage a
    surprise wish reveal for six-year-old Tyler, who wished to have a camper.

    “I’m amazed by the generosity of our participants,” said committee member Nolan Ferris. “I feel like this event
    has an incredible camaraderie between the participants, the community, the charities and the local agencies and
    departments. I can’t wait to see what happens next year.”

    The event returns for its third year, July 18-21, 2019. For more information, visit 1000islandsrun.com.

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Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York
VOLUNTEER
                                                                                                         SPOTLIGHT

                                                                VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH
                                                                 Congratulations to our volunteers of the month. Thank you for
                                                                     going above and beyond to make wishes come true!

SH IN IN G A LIG HT ON                                                         JULY: Mary Ann Egan

  AN GE LA TO W NL EY
                                                                 Johnson City resident Mary Ann Egan has served our chapter for
                                                                  the past four years as chair of the Nelcorp Make-A-Wish Open
                                                                  golf fundraiser. In this role, Mary Ann has logged many hours of
                                                                  planning and preparation, and has risen to every occasion. Her
                                                                   can-do attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes have
                                                                  helped make the event a success. Coupled with her passion for
 Stop in to the Make-A-Wish Central New York office             her work and the Make-A-Wish mission, Mary Ann is deserving of
 any evening during event season and you’ll find                                 recognition. Thank you, Mary Ann!
 Angela Townley creating masterpieces with wicker and
 cellophane. Using donated goods and a collection of
 baskets, Angela crafts the finished pieces for virtually
 every Make-A-Wish Central New York basket raffle.

 She began volunteering in 2001, but Angela fell in love
 with the Make-A-Wish mission long before her first
 official volunteer role. In 1991, Angela was working with
 US Airways and gathering with fellow employees at the
 Syracuse International Airport to send wish kids and their
 families off on flights. The group would hold 50/50 raffles
 to raise money for wish kid activity bags, ensuring the kids
 had fun things to do as they traveled.

 Since then, Angela has played a crucial role in events such
 as the annual Make-A-Wish Open in Syracuse, Sugarman
 Law Firm Wish Ball, the Dunkin Donuts Spare Change
 Campaign, and the Ms. Orange Fan Luncheon. For Angela,
 the reason she spends so much of her time volunteering is
 simple.
                                                                             AUGUST: Doug Layman
 “Recent studies indicate that the health of many wish kids        For more than 20 years, Doug Layman, a retired New York
 improves after a wish has been granted,” she said. “That          State Trooper, helped orchestrate the Northeast Police Ski
 is a wonderful feeling, but over time I’ve seen wishes         Championships with friend and fellow volunteer Bill Manley. That
                                                                       event raised more than $63,000 for Make-A-Wish
 not only impact the child and family. They also have a          Central New York. Upon retirement in 2016, Doug signed on to
 tremendous impact on the volunteers and members of the          become a wish-granting volunteer - one of the few we have in
 community.”                                                    Otsego County. In his role as wish granter, Doug recently jumped
                                                                  in to provide a wish assist for Wisconsin wish kid Paul, who
 Thank you for all you do and have done for Make-A-Wish          wanted to attend the 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame and
                                                                 Museum Induction Weekend in Cooperstown. Doug served as
 Central New York, Angela! We appreciate you… and your           gracious Make-A-Wish host and tour guide. Thank you, Doug!
 beautiful baskets!                                                                                                           9
Wishnews - CONTENTS I wish to have a fishing boat! - Make-A-Wish Central New York
NOTEWORTHY

     We can’t grant wishes without the support
     of a generous community. Thank you to the
         following for their ongoing support!

                        Ice Cream for
                        Breakfast Fundraiser
                        A few years ago, four-year-old Noah experienced his wish
                        to go to Walt Disney World. After what she says was “an
                        amazing experience,” Noah’s grandmother Sarah Axtell was
                        inspired to pay it forward for other wish kids. The Axtells
                        began an “Ice Cream for Breakfast” fundraiser that this year
                        generated more than $2,000 in support of wishes! Thank you
                        Axtell Family!

                        Practice Resources
                        Golf Tournament
                        Each year, Practice Resources in Syracuse supports
                        Make-A-Wish Central New York through its annual
                        golf tournament. Thank you for the ongoing support!

                        Servpro Golf Tournament
                        For 13 years, Servpro of North and East Onondaga and
                        Oswego counties has held a gold tournament with proceeds
                        going to Make-A-Wish Central New York. The event, held in
                        June at Pompey Golf Club, has raised more than $130,000 for
                        wishes. Thank you, Servpro!

                        Pictured, from left to right, are Make-A-Wish Central New York Events
                        Manager Debbie Simon, Practice Resources Operations Manager
                        Nicholas Barletta and Make-A-Wish Central New York President &
                        CEO Diane Kuppermann.

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STUDENT
                                                                                                         SPOTLIGHT

         Student Fundraisers
        Make Wishes Come True
      In the 2017-18 school year, students and school groups across the country made wishes come true by
       participating in the Kids for Wish Kids® and Wishmakers on Campus® programs. They learned the
      importance of teamwork, community service, and leadership skills while raising funds to help grant
                                   wishes for children fighting critical illnesses.

      Last year, students from throughout our 15-county territory generated more than $75,000 for wishes!
        No matter the size, these events help ensure our ability to say YES to every eligible child! If you
      know a student group at the K-12 or college level, encourage them to get involved with Make-A-Wish
          this school year! For more information, contact Dyana Smolen at dsmolen@cny.wish.org or
                                       call 315-475-WISH or 800-846-9474.

      Students make wishes come true in many ways! Here are some schools
      and students who fundraised and raised awareness for us this past year:
      1. Susquehanna Valley High School National Honor Society held a talent show.
      2. Chance (right) and his brother Parker (left) donated their birthday gifts.
      3. Binghamton University Wishmakers on Campus conducted one of the largest Macy’s Believe letter drives
         in the country via their “Letters to Santa-thon” event.
      4. LeMoyne College Wishmakers on Campus Club sponsored a lacrosse game tailgate party for wishes.

                        1                      2                                      3                           4

                                    A SPECIAL THANKS!
A special shout-out to the following students as they coordinate their Fall 2018 fundraisers:
       Binghamton University Wishmakers on Campus, Cazenovia College Senior Capstone Gala, Hamilton
       College Wishmakers on Campus, East Syracuse Minoa High School DECA, Jamesville DeWitt Kids for
            Wish Kids Club, Section III Boys Volleyball, and SUNY Polytechnic Institute-Wildcats Care.

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Make-A-Wish® Central New York
 5005 Campuswood Drive
 East Syracuse, NY 13057

      @makeawishcny

       Facebook.com/MakeAWishCNY

       Instagram.com/makeawishcny

315-475-WISH | 800-846-9474 | cny.wish.org
Special thanks to Kaelyn Willcox for the design and layout of our
Fall 2018 newsletter | kaelyndessena.com

                  TRANSFORM LIVES
             One Wish at a Time
    We create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
 With more than 130 wishes in process, we need your support now more
     than ever. Help us create magical, once-in-a-lifetime wishes for
                  kids facing daunting life experiences!
                                                          CNY.WISH.ORG

                                            Wishnews
                                                                                ®

                                                                    FALL 2018
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