I wish to have a shopping spree Mariah, 7 - congenital heart disease - Make-A-Wish America
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Best Wishes
I wish to have a
shopping spree
Mariah, 7
congenital heart
disease
FAL L 2 0 2 1
Dear Make-A-Wish Supporters,
My name is Nick Cassella and I wanted to take a minute to
introduce myself as the incoming Board Chair for Make-A-Wish
Mid-South’s Board of Directors.
BOARD of DIRECTORS
I first became involved with Make-A-Wish, like many of you, through
Mike Allbritton the annual golf outing, Make-A-Wish Mid-South Golf Classic. My
Windows USA company participated for a number of years and always brought a
Hugh Boone key customer to Memphis to fill out our team. I started to realize that
Retired, FTN Financial there was something different about Make-A-Wish when I saw our
Nick Cassella, Board Chair customers’ attitudes go from “just another golf outing” to “this is a
IPS Corporation
special organization with a special cause.” Many of the customers ended
Mason "Bubba" Ezzell up going back to their hometowns and getting involved with their local
LSI Graphics
Make-A-Wish organizations.
Julie Farrell
Landmark Community Bank
Make-A-Wish became something I wanted to be deeply involved in
Jeremy Forbis when I started to do airport greets. As an Airport Greeter, you help wish
Anchor Point Financial
families navigate the initial step of their wish (many travel with multiple
Sharon Harris
AnovoRX kids and medical equipment/ medications) and see the excitement of
the wish kids embarking on their wish trip. When they’re boarding the
Shari Jefferies, M.D.
Retired, Child Psychiatry plane, wish kids aren’t thinking about treatment or doctor’s visits, rather
thinking about the adventures that lie ahead on their wish. When you
Joel Kimbrough
Retired, Accredo Health Group get a hug from a wish kid – you’re hooked!!!
Jessica Lais
Wish Mom, Portfolio Sotheby's Intl. Realty Then I got to know the staff at Make-A-Wish. I was knocked off my feet
Lee McCallum, M.D. at the dedication to the mission, the tireless work to make every wish
MidSouth Family Medicine the best wish for the child, and the professionalism with which they
JT Novarese went about their work.
Sage Business Advisors
Alana Hu Perkovic Make-A-Wish has given me a new perspective on being a father. It has
First Horizon
made me realize how lucky I am – I have two healthy and happy (grown)
Vicki Singh children and one granddaughter. There are no guarantees children
The Landers Firm
will come into this world without health challenges that require the
Lauren Stacy dedication of our medical professionals, but
Native Son Farm
Make-A Wish is there to make their wishes
Frank Stallworth come true. That makes me want to be
Orion Bank
involved in this organization and help
Veronica Tansey
Fleming Architects any way I can. I know we can count on
you to feel the same way.
Kent Thompson
TrainingBoom, LLC
Best wishes,
Sha Toohig
Vaco Nick Cassella
Lynette Washington, PharmD Board Chair, Make-A-Wish MId-South
Accredo Health Group
Scott Worth
MISO Energy
From t h e cove r “The experience at Make-A-Wish is unbelievable.
It's life-changing not only for the child, but also for
the parents. Just to be able to help a child and a
family it's such a blessing...we will never forget this
experience.”
- Wish mom Timmandria
I wish to have a
shopping spree
Mariah, 7
congenital heart
disease
The best part of my wish was...
I wish to go to I wish to have a I wish to go to
kindergarten backyard play set the beach
Gracelynn, 5 Jon David, 7 Ty, 11
respiratory condition neurological condition kidney transplant
"Gracie is over the moon that she “He loves having a place that “My child enjoyed going to the
gets to go to "real big kid" school. he can go out and play every beach every day. He enjoyed
Without [her] granted wish afternoon. It's so special to him playing in the sand and having his
we would have had to homeschool because it incorporates elements toes tickled...it was made special
her due to health issues. She's just that he loves. There are many because this has been something
sensory items for him to play he has wanted for four years and
beyond happy to be 'normal.'"
with...it also provides a place for
we were unable to do so. To see
Jon David and his brother to be
– Wish mom Sheralyn able to play together again, and how happy he was and see his
that has been our dream for a expressions were priceless. Sweet
while.” memories."
– Wish mom Stephanie – Wish mom Kimberly
Wish Journey
A transformed life, off to change the
lives of other children - many of
whom will grow into adulthood.
and
Onboarding
Community Engagement
2
1
Alumni and
Family Engagement
6
Referral 3
Wish Discovery
4
5
Wish Granted
Medical Professionals Wish Alumni
Wish Granting Staff Milestone
Wish Granting Volunteers Wish Boost Wish Creation
Vendors, Donors, Sponsors
Wish Alum is the amazing community of
WISH wish families who've experienced a wish from
Make-A-Wish Mid-South! Every wish family is
ALUM considered a Wish Alum after their wish.
Check out how you can stay in touch even after your family experiences a wish- and how
you can continue to wish it forward so others can experience the power of wishes, too!
Be sure you've Scan with
Join us at events
your phone's
completed the camera to and other
short survey join!
opportunities to
about your wish stay connected
Join the Alum Enjoy being
Community part of a special
in a private community of
Facebook group wish families
like you
Volunteer
Melissa
Spears
(right)
Seeing the strength of these
children and their families and
what they overcome daily puts
things in perspective in a way
few other activities ever could. I
absolutely love to head into a Wish
Visit knowing that you are bringing
joy and hope through the door with you.
Experiencing their excitement is a gift I
always treasure, and seeing their Wish go from
brainstorming to completion is just awe inspiring.
They bless my life in a way that I can never pay
forward enough.”
Volunteer Why do you feel wishes are important?
Highlight “Wishes bring hope in the darkest of times. They
give our Wish kids and their families something
to dream of and focus on during the course
Melissa started volunteering back in 2017
of treatment. Wishes give them strength to
when her co-worker's son was diagnosed
continue their fight, and a light at the end of
with a brain tumor. The whole company
rallied around them, but there was even the tunnel to aim for. I have seen first hand the
more she felt she wanted to do…and that’s Power of a Wish and how it can transform their
what lead her to Wish Granting. lives. To me, Wishes are vital work that must
continue.”
Why do you continue to volunteer with
Learn more about
Make-A-Wish?
volunteering for wishes at
“Volunteering with Make-A-Wish has been the
wish.org/midsouth/volunteer
most humbling and fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.
I wish to go on a
shopping spree
Ashley, 13
lymphoma
W i sh
I wish to have an
online shopping spree
Caysin, 15
cancer
I wish to have a
man shed
Jon-David, 12
cystic fibrosis
K i ds
I wish to visit the
I wish to have a Georgia Aquarium
man cave Kamryn, 4
lung disease
Atticus, 11
leukemia
I wish to stay
I wish to have a
in a cabin gaming computer
Carter, 7
Slade, 15
congenital heart
cancer
disease
I wish to have an
iRacing simulation
system
Sidney, 13
cancer
Northwest Arkansas
Regional Board
Central Arkan
Regional Boa
From top left (left to right): Jessica Lais (Chair), Mike
Duley, Jenna Fogleman, Jennifer Ford, Alex Gladden*,
Drew Ham*, Dede Hamm*, Brandon Hitt*, Lisa Jones,
Andrea Kennedy*, Ginger LaMar*, Christy Marks, From top left (left to right): Scott Worth (Ch
Danyelle Musselman, Ben Pierce, Jamey Sims*, Jim Sliker, Bell*, Beverly Black, Zach Brogdon*, Daryl B
Bryan Smith, Tammy Stallings Cooper*, Victoria Evans, Sharon Heflin, Car
Kristi Reed, DeaAnn Richard*, Anna Simpso
TN
Fayetteville
From top left (left
AR
Jonesboro
Jackson Sharon Harris, Sha
Stacy, Frank Stallw
Memphis
Fort Smith
MS
Little
Rock
Southaven
Tupelo
Welcome (a)Board!
We're so excited to have our new(*) and existing volunteer ambassadors on board! Welcome
to a new fiscal year full of new possibilities for every corner of Make-A-Wish Mid-South.
Associate Board
nsas
ard
hair), Stephen
Brown, Lesley
ra Knight*, From top left (left to right): Alana Hu Perkovic (Chair), Carissa Bacon, Claire
on Brulatour, Vince Chamblee, Hunter Cowan, Kelly Freeland, Phillip Gattas,
Christi Hanna, Katie Hargett, Forbes Harris, Grant Heflin, Olivia Huling, Murray
Lace, Paul Lischwe, Keith Montgomery, Malcom Rawls and Claire Rossie
Board of Directors
to right): Nick Cassella (Chair), Mike Allbritton, Hugh Boone, Mason (Bubba) Ezzell, Julie Farrell, Jeremy Forbis,
ari Jefferies*, Joel Kimbrough, Jessica Lais, Lee McCallum*, JT Novarese, Alana Perkovic, Vicki Singh, Lauren
worth*, Veronica Tansey, Kent Thompson*, Sha Toohig, Lynette Washington*, Scott Worth
*New Volunteer Ambassador
The Nick Vergos Wish Fund Nick Vergos impacted thousands of Mid-South families with the life-changing gift of a wish come true. He understood firsthand how much hope is needed when you are battling a critical illness. For more than 20 years, he was a tireless supporter and advocate for the mission of Make-A-Wish. In honor of his extraordinary contributions, The Nick Vergos Wish Fund was created as a self-sustaining source of funding for future wishes. These generous donors have helped raise more than $250,000 to ensure the legacy of Nick’s generosity is felt for generations to come. A special thank you to Richard Robinson for serving as the Chairman of this very special Fund. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Dick Fisher Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lemm Mr. and Mrs. Damon Arney Mr. Steve Fitzpatrick Mr. and Mrs. Ken Lenoir Ms. Penelope Aviotti Mr. and Mrs. Scott Fleming LEO Events, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Donald Baker Kirby and Glenn Floyd Mr. and Mrs. Bill Levy Ms. Ellen Baker Folk's Folly Prime Steak House Mr. and Mrs. Robert Loeb Lauren and Wes Barnett Ann and Jim Forbis Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lucchesi Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Barsotti Ms. Patti Ford Mr. and Mrs. David Lyons Mr. and Mrs. Steve Bearman Dr. and Mrs. Hugh Francis Ms. Ragan Magness Nancy and Tom Bell Mr. and Mrs. Justin Fuente Mr. and Mrs. John Maiden Mr. and Mrs. Ron Belz Galler Foods Julie and Steve Maroda Mr. and Mrs. Bill Benton Mr. Joseph Getz Mr. and Mrs. Lee Marshall Mr. and Mrs. Jim Black Mr. William Gossett Debbie and Chip Marston Mr. Joe Blutas Mr. and Mrs. Sam Graham Martin Family Foundation Ms. Wight Boggs Mr. and Mrs. Mitch Graves Mr. Robert Mayes Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Boone Mr. and Mrs. Chip Grayson Dr. and Mrs. Lee McCallum Dr. and Mrs. Jeff Brown Mr. Willie Gregory Mr. and Mrs. James McMahon Dee Dee and Larry Bryan Mr. and Mrs. Dan Grinder Memphis Restaurant Association Mr. Gary Burhop Ms. Kim Hall Memphis Zoo Mr. Chris Capone Mr. and Mrs. Mark Halperin Mr. Walker Milnor Mr. Tillman Carroll Mr. and Mrs. Marc Hanover Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Morrison CCA Financial Heafner Motors Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Dan Mullally Mr. and Mrs. Paul Chandler Mr. Nick Hogan Mr. Eddie Murphey Mr. and Mrs. Dick Cockrell Mr. and Mrs. David Hopkins Mr. and Mrs. Rush O'Keefe Ms. Kourtney Colerick Huey's Mr. and Mrs. Ron Olson Mr. Jim Cross Mr. and Mrs. Chris Jameson Ms. Maureen Orians Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Crow Mr. and Mrs. Al Jennings Mr. and Mrs. Jody Pendergrast Tina and Perry Cutshall Mr. and Mrs. Darin Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pietrangelo Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dobbs Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Jordan Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Pitts Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dolan Mr. and Mrs. Rick Kauerz Mr. Paul Prather Mr. and Mrs. Jim Douglas Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Kaufman Ms. Andie Ray Mr. Hank Dudding Melissa and Joel Kimbrough Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Roberts Mr. Doug Ehlers Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kimery Dr. and Mrs. Wiley Robinson Mr. and Mrs. Geoff Ehrhart Mr. and Mrs. Mike Kiser Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Robinson Mr. Scott Elliott Mr. Bob Kortenber Nancy and Richard Robinson Jenny and Bubba Ezzell Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Krauch Robinson Toyota Felicia Suzanne's Eleisha and Craig Landess Mr. Samuel Roller Dr. Cary Finn Mr. and Mrs. Richard Leet Cindy and Bill Rosson
Ms. Diane Rudner
Jennifer and Jack Sammons
Nick Vergos
Cynthia Ham and Jeff Sanford
with wish
Mr. Kevin Scheuner kid Lily
Mr. and Mrs. Karl Schledwitz
Mr. and Mrs. Keith Schmitt
Luane and Vasili Semos
Mr. Sellers Shy
Silky O'Sullivans
Ms. Stephanie Simpson
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Smith
Mr. Kittrell Smith
Mr and Mrs. Philip Spinosa
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Spiro
St. Clair Foods
Dr. and Mrs. James Stamper
Star Truck & Trailer Sales Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Stavrum
Debbie and David Stevens
Mr. David Stevens
Mr. Michael Stewart
Mr. and Mrs. David Stough
Mr. Danny Sumrall
Mr. and Mrs. Nick Tansey
Ms. Mary Katherine Taras
Mr. and Mrs. David Tate
Mr. and Mrs. David Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. Kerr Tigrett
Mr. Jerry Valentine
Ms. Anastasia Vergos
Mr. Alex Vergos
Mr. and Mrs. John Vergos
Mr. John P. Vergos
Mrs. Jenny Vergos
Nicholas, Reed & Cecile Vergos;
Britt & Cole Mallery
Mr. and Mrs. David Wadlington
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Walters
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Wharton
Mr. and Mrs. Bailey Wiener
Abbie and Duncan Williams
Mr. Matthew Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Wilson
Mr. and Mrs. Spence Wilson
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Wisher
Mr. Ron Wong
Mr. Craig Wright
Mr. Matt Yokley
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Young
Ms. Mary Peyton YoungCalendar of Events Evening of Wishes Heifer International | Little Rock, AR October 16, 2021 Tickets available now at wish.org/midsouth Season of Wishes November and December Have-A-Heart Wishathon Jonesboro, AR February 2022 Make-A-Wish Wishathon Little Rock, AR March 4, 2022 KTCS Radiothon Fort Smith, AR April 7 & 8, 2022 Walk For Wishes NWA Arvest Ballpark | Springdale, AR May 7, 2022 Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Memphis, TN June 27, 2022 Wish Granting Training Sunday, October 10 | 2 - 4:30 p.m. Thursday, October 21 | 6 - 8:30 p.m. Tuesday November 9 | 6 - 8:30 p.m. Sunday, November 14 | 2 - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 7 | 6 - 8:30 p.m. Saturday, December 11 | 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Learn about these events and more on wish.org/midsouth
Thank you to our Regional Board, event Co-Chairs Lisa Jones
and Jenna Fogelman, and honorary Chair Clint Gill for another
incredible Walk For Wishes. This year’s drive-thru celebration
was a blast!. We can’t wait to see you next year on May 7, back
at Arvest Ballpark.
KTCS Make-A-Wish
Radiothon
Creative thinking and some major support brought this year's
KTCS Make-A-Wish Radiothon to life. The event boasted four
volunteer-led donation sites and a remote phone bank! It all
wouldn't have been possible without our amazing partners KTCS
and Gray Brothers Equipment, Inc. Save the date for another
two-day event on April 7 and 8, 2022.Make-A-Wish Mid-South
Golf Classic
It was a perfect day to hit the links at this year's Make-A-Wish Mid-South Golf Classic,
led by event chair Bubba Ezzell. This year's tournament hosted 31 teams, and raised
more than $200,000. Golfers on the course enjoyed lemonade and MemPops served by
wish kids and even a serenade from a very musically talented wish kid! Be sure to mark
your calendar for the next tournament, June 27, 2022.
Are you ready to change a life this holiday season?
Each Wish Hero commits to raising at least $500 during the
holiday season. Make-A-Wish will set up your online fundraising
page and provide resources for your fundraising efforts. Interested
in starting the process? Email ktadlock@midsouth.wish.org.
Three Wish Hero facts:
Most Wish Heroes meet their fundraising goal
1 with gifts from just seven friends.
It's likely you'll raise more than $500 by sharing out
2 your fundraiser online just two times.
Last year, Wish Heroes changed the lives of nearly a
3 dozen children through their fundraising efforts. Sponsored byFundraiser Wrap-Ups | Thank you!
A special thanks to the generous donors and friends
of Make-A-Wish who made these events possible.
The Super G Invitational, hosted it's first ever golf
tournament, in memory of Gerald Chatham, Jr., benefiting
Make-A-Wish Mid-South. This year's event was organized
by Gerald’s widow, Amy, and friends. The tournament
raised more than $20,000 for Make-A-Wish Mid-South,
and allowed the group to grant Elliott's wish for a dinosaur
play set!
AGC (Associated General Contractors) Construction Leadership Council’s Summer Open Golf
Tournament benefiting Make-A-Wish Mid-South raised more than $6,000 for wishes! CLC
Committee members Wes Seale, Forbes Harris and Jack Breland, planned the event alongside Robin
Terry, Executive Director, AGC West TN Region. Thank you for an incredible first year of this event!
The Second Annual Logan Kirksey Memorial Golf
Tournament was an enormous success! The tournament
honors wish kid Logan, who wished to see the Great Barrier
Reef in 2015. This year's event surpassed the 2022 goal,
raising more than $32,000! A huge thanks to Logan's
Grandfather, Rodney Allen, and Dennis Nix for sponsoring
the event.
The 11th Annual MAAR (Memphis Area Association
of Realtors) Golf Tournament brought in yet another
impressive donation for wishes. This year's event raised
more than $75,000 for Make-A-Wish Mid-South. This brings
the total raised by MAAR in the past 11 years to more
than $500,000! The group also granted Kevin's wish for a
shopping spree to conclude this year's golf tournament.
REFER A CHILD FOR A WISH
Referring a child for a wish takes only a few minutes and you only need basic information.
A child can be referred by themselves, a family member or a medical professional.
Start the process today at wish.org/referNon-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
PAID
Memphis, TN
Permit No. 843
Memphis
1780 Moriah Woods Blvd.
Suite 10
Memphis, TN 38117
Central Arkansas
320 Executive Court
Suite 101
Little Rock, AR 72205
Northwest Arkansas
One West Mountain
Suite 108
Fayetteville, AR 72701
S p a r k
Joy
E HO PE
C R E AT
Every child deserves a childhood – but
children with critical illnesses are often
isolated and vulnerable. A child’s joy is a light
of hope for all of us. This holiday season,
spark joy with a wish – and create hope for
I wish to
be a figure brighter days ahead.
skater
Nicole, 7 Donate today at wish.org/midsouth
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