Wishmaker NeWsletterWinter 2014

saxton, 13Ewing’s sarcoma

I wish to go to China(Wish story on back cover)

2 Make-A-Wish® Georgia

Board of Directors

Rick Elliott, ChairpersonLockton CompaniesTammy Farley, Vice-ChairpersonRainmakerScott A. Hill, TreasurerIntercontinental Exchange, Inc. Timothy Crow, SecretaryThe Home DepotWalter Davis, SecretaryJones DayHank McLarty, Immediate Past ChairGratus Capital ManagementGreg AndersonAccentureSusan BeenWilson Parker HomesVince E. ColeCrawford & Company Michael DeKoningMunich American Reassurance CompanyPatti DickeyDickey Broadcasting Co.Modern LuxurySanjay LallInterface, Inc.Cathy LefarW.I.S.H. Society LiaisonMitchell NelsonSyzygy SolutionsPanoramic SolutionsPatti J. NewcomerWorldPayAl PetrangeliBalfour Beatty ConstructionJim ScholefieldThe Coca-Cola CompanyVeronica ShehanTurner BroadcastingAndrew SteinbergAtlanta HawksTodd A. StroupPricewaterhouseCoopers LLC

executive staff

John J. Brennan, Chief Executive OfficerBecky Burkett, Chief Development OfficerPhillip Arrington, VP FinanceFabiola Charles, VP CommunicationsShavette Turner, VP Program Services

message From Our leadershipDear Friends,

Whether it was seeing a unicorn in Hawaii, climbing the Stairway to Heaven in China, meeting celebrities or transforming into a model for the day, we had many unique wishes this year.

Just like each of our wish children, their individual wishes are special. Each wish means more to the child than you and I; these wishes represent hope, strength and joy. Hope that their illness will subside, strength to keep fighting during the treatments and surgeries and the feeling of joy that a heartfelt wish brings to a child and family stricken with illness.

Make-A-Wish grants transformational wishes every single day just like Saxton’s trip to go to China. This specific story proves that wishes are more than trips or vacations. They are life-changing, life-altering events that potentially save the lives of our wish children.

Without the incredible support from our sponsors, volunteers and donors, 430 children would not have had their heartfelt wish come true this year. We recognize and appreciate all the work you do in helping our organization work towards its goal.

Inside this newsletter and on our chapter website, you will find information on how volunteers and donors can make local wishes come true in truly amazing ways.

With sincere appreciation,

rick elliottChairman of the Board

John J. BrennanChief Executive Officer

32015 Newsletter

spONsOrs

Zaxby’s partners with make-a-Wish

Several Zaxby’s franchises worked with Make-A-Wish chapters during the holiday season to raise funds through paper star campaigns and other in-store promotions.

Restaurant locations have also hosted wish celebrations for wish families. In 2011, Zaxby’s embarked on its first company-wide sponsorship program and aligned with Make-A-Wish at the national level.

During the campaign, Zaxby’s goal was to raise $450,000 to help grant approximately 55 wishes in areas served by its Georgia restaurants.

To date, the Georgia-based restaurant franchise has donated more than $1 million nationally to help make wishes come true.

2014 macy’s Believe Day

Every December, Macy’s sponsors the national Believe campaign that donates $1 to Make-A-Wish for every letter written to Santa at their stores, up to $1 million.

During the 2014 campaign, over 10,000 letters were collected in Macy’s stores around the state of Georgia.

This season of giving was highlighted by National Believe Day on Friday, December 12 when Macy’s doubled their donations per letter. The day also featured a number of celebrations in Macy’s stores across the country.

At Lenox Mall in Atlanta, nine-year-old wish kid Sawyer kicked off his trip to the Florida theme parks with a shopping spree and a ride on the famous Pink Pig.

Members of the Sarah Smith Elementary School choir were also on hand to sing Christmas carols and drop off letters written by their school.

Thanks to Macy’s for their support of Make-A-Wish!

4 Make-A-Wish® Georgia

eveNts

Wish Ball 2014: reach For the starsOn October 18, 2014, Make-A-Wish Georgia hosted its 10th Annual Wish Ball at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead. Wish Ball has been the flagship fundraising event for Make-A-Wish Georgia, raising more than $3 million in its nine year history.

Susan Been served as the 2014 Wish Ball Chair. This year’s event had over 450 guests in attendance. A silent auction, live auction and ‘fund-a-wish’ took place at the event, bringing the total raised to $980,000, which will help to grant wishes for local children battling life-threatening medical conditions.

This has been the most successful Wish Ball to date, made possible by our volunteers, sponsors and generous donors. Thank you.

Georgia Wish Ball patron party

On September 25, 2014, Make-A-Wish Georgia hosted a Patron Party to thank those individuals and corporate partners who supported the 2014 Wish Ball at various sponsorship levels.

Make-A-Wish board member Patti Dicky opened her home to friends of the organization for this exciting opportunity to meet the event sponsors and leaders from the community.

52015 Newsletter

COmmuNity

This year, Make-A-Wish Georgia hosted its annual Walk For Wishes in partnership with Chi Omega in two new locations: Athens and Carrollton.

Walk for Wishes Athens was held at Sandy Creek Park on October 26 and Walk for Wishes Carrollton was held at the University of West Georgia’s stadium.

Wish kid ambassador Preston was on hand to share his personal story of triumph and resilience with walkers in Athens.

Participants were encouraged to raise funds through walk teams, family and friends. Top fund-raisers were awarded t-shirts and entered into a drawing to win door prizes. Donations were also accepted from non-participants to support the granting of wishes.

This year, each walk brought together nearly 400 participants who helped raise a combined $16,500. Funds raised at each location will help benefit the wish kids from that area.

A special thanks to our in-kind sponsors: KIND, Fontis, Zaxby’s and HONEST tea.

Walk For Wishes in athens and Carrollton

6 Make-A-Wish® Georgia

Wishes

Because of your amazing support, Make-A-Wish Georgia was able to grant 430 wishes during the 2014 fiscal year. Here are a few of the life-changing wishes we granted throughout the year:

i Wish to Go... i Wish to have...

i Wish to Be... i Wish to meet...

Grace, 15, cancerI wish to go to New York City

viviana, 7, cancerI wish to have a Frozen birthday party

khadijah, 17congenital heart diseaseI wish to be an actress

Ben, 19, muscular dystrophy I wish to meet the Atlanta Falcons

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Right now, there are hundreds of children with life-threatening medical conditions in our towns, neighborhoods and communities, waiting for their wishes to come true. Our goal is to grant 430 wishes this year, and we can only be successful in that with your support. You can make a life-changing difference for our children and know that your donations will remain local, in Georgia. Here is how you can help:

Corporate Givingsponsor an eventCorporate sponsors are essential in helping Make-A-Wish® Georgia accomplish its mission. Through the generosity of businesses ranging from family-owned local enterprises to some of the world’s largest corporations, we are able to Share the Power Of A Wish®. To learn more, please call 888-517-9474 x10.

individual GivingDonationsGifts of any size can be donated online at www.georgia.wish.org, or by mailing a check to our office: 1775 The Exchange SE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30339.

host an eventOrganizations and individuals often host events to benefit our chapter. These range from golf tournaments to fashion shows, car washes, festivals and cook-offs. Please contact us for an event application at 888-517-9474 x16.

airline miles and hospitality pointsWith nearly 70% of wishes involving travel, we are always in need of airline miles and hotel loyalty points. Visit www.georgia.wish.org or call 888-517-9474 x30 to make a donation.

hOW tO help

volunteerVolunteers are the backbone of our organization and support us throughout all areas of our work. Opportunities are available in the areas of wish-granting, advocacy, office assistance, language interpretation and event/fundraiser planning. For more information, please call 888-517-9474 x14.

adopt-a-WishThis giving option allows donors to fund a single wish experience in its entirety. The average cost of granting a wish is $8,000, a small price to pay for the happiness of a child whose life consists of daily medical challenges. Please call 888-517-9474 x50 for more information.

in-kind Donations of Goods and servicesIf you have a business or service that can help Make-A-Wish Georgia grant wishes, we welcome your assistance. Please contact us at 888-517-9474 x30 to donate your goods or services.

employee & Workplace Giving/Company matching: Employees can donate to Make-A-Wish Georgia through existing employee contribution programs or by hosting special events. Many companies match employee donations and corporate teams can participate in our annual Walk or Golf events to raise money as a team while providing the benefit of a corporate presence. To learn more, please call 888-517-9474 x26.

Thirteen-year-old Saxton is beaming with personality, whether he is playing with his dog, Rebel, playing Call of Duty, eating macaroni and cheese or listening to the Foo Fighters.

However, it is Saxton’s love for history that takes priority over his interests, specifically his fascination with the history and culture of China. Saxton was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, and has been bravely fighting this cancer ever since.

When given the opportunity to wish for anything his heart desired, Saxton explained to Make-A-Wish Georgia why a trip to China to explore all of its wonders would mean so much to him. In a letter to Make-A-Wish, Saxton wrote, “I think that climbing the Stairway to Heaven would be a great way to celebrate overcoming cancer. I will be proud to accomplish both.”

Saxton’s father, James, described Saxton’s preparation for his wish. “From the time he completed his treatment, Saxton trained to climb Tienanmen Mountain.

After seven months of preparing, Saxton and his family were off to China where they had the time of their lives. The whole family traveled with Wendy Wu tours, where they journeyed from Beijing to Xi-An, to Zhangjiajie, to Shanghai!

The opportunities for exploration were endless for Saxton — he traveled to see the Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace, a Kung Fu show, Tienanmen Square, and the Forbidden City in Beijing. Once in Xi’An, he was excited to see the Terra Cotta warriors!

On their last day in Zhangjiajie, it was time to face the Gateway to Heaven and its 999 steps to the top. There is a section of the mountain where thousands of red ribbons are tied to trees, each representing a prayer.

Saxton wrote his prayer, “to be cancer free, forever” on his very own ribbon and hung it to the tallest tree he could find. When they reached the tip of the “Stairway to Heaven” It was a show of unending strength and dedication. It was a conquest.”

Saxton’s trip to China was even more full of adventure and excitement than he could have ever imagined — he will always have pictures and memories to remind him of what an incredible time he had, and he will always be grateful to Make-A-Wish Georgia!

FrOm the COver saxton Conquers China

make-a-Wish® Georgia1775 The Exchance SE, Suite 200Atlanta, GA 30339

www.georgia.wish.org888-517-9474

Our mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.