2014 SPRING ISSUE

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF MAKE-A-WISH® ORANGE COUNTY AND THE INLAND EMPIRE

Kate, 13Osteosarcoma

I wish to be a model

WARM WISHES

2

President & CEOStephanie McCormick

Finance & Administration:Jeff Wacha, Director of FinanceEvelyn Morad, Office ManagerMaria Ruvalcaba, Operations AssistantRossana Powell, Receptionist

Program Services Department:Christina Sandoval, Program Services ManagerMonica Fierro, Asst. Program Services ManagerMichelle Cuellar, Senior Wish CoordinatorHeather Craven, Wish CoordinatorLillianna Gomez, Program CoordinatorRachel Messina, Program CoordinatorMonica Cabral, Wish Assist SupervisorAngela Pueblos, Wish Assist Coordinator

Development Department:Sarah Pizzaruso, Director of DevelopmentRebecca Kwait, Sr. Manager- Corporate AlliancesFrancine Gobert, Manager- Corporate AlliancesHailey Smith, Event and Campaign ManagerDanielle Song, Campaign Coordinator Christine Gaxiola, Donor CareSusan Brand, Development Associate

Kara Bautch, Manager- Marketing CommunicationsAshley Duran, Graphic Designer

Volunteer Department:Melissa Gallagher, Volunteer ManagerMarissa Euperio, Volunteer Coordinator

FY14 Board of Directors:Ferril Onyett, ChairSieg Weber, Vice ChairJohn Link, TreasurerMelvin Tobaru, SecretaryKathleen Bardsley, DirectorJoan Donnellan, DirectorMichael Hickman, DirectorJeff Larson, DirectorMike Lednovich, DirectorJanine McDonald, DirectorKimberly Motta, M.D., DirectorJohn Ott, DirectorMichael Rapacz, DirectorJessica Reicher, DirectorTerri Sacks, DirectorMike Shapiro, DirectorJC Timmons, DirectorPamela Wasley, DirectorCheryl Watton, Director

It’s hard to believe that the holidays came and went so quickly! As always we at Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire love to celebrate the holiday season. We had two spectacular Holiday Open House events that brought a record number of guests to our Tustin Wish House as well as the Riverside office. We also had the incredible opportunity to celebrate with our Wish Families on the Annual Holiday Cruise sponsored by Electra Cruises, The OC Sheriff’s Department and Harbor Patrol. This was the 14th straight year for this great partnership – as we welcomed more than 50 recent wish children and their families aboard the Eternity for an evening of fun, surprises and of course Santa! It was great to have members of our board join us for the evening as well.

As we begin the new year, we do so with a bit of a melancholy feeling as we will soon bid farewell to our Tustin Wish House. We accepted an offer on the property and recently closed escrow, and have been working closely with our brokers and the Board Building Committee to identify the location for our new Wish home! It is our goal to stay in central Orange County with a focus on identifying an office space

that allows us to enhance our wish work; work more closely with our donors and volunteers; and provide a space for our wish family interviews and activities. This is a very exciting time for our chapter as we continue to demonstrate growth and continue to work diligently towards granting the wish of every medically eligible child in our region.

As we enter a new era for our chapter, we once again thank each of you for your on-going generosity and support. We could not do any of this without each and every one of you! We look forward to celebrating the next milestones with you. Thank you again, and we hope to see you at our upcoming Walk For Wishes events (more information on page 5)!

Best Wishes!

DEAR FRIENDS OF MAKE-A-WISH,From the CEO and Board Chair

Stephanie McCormickPresident & CEO

Ferril OnyettBoard Chair

on the cover

In September of 2011 Kate, an energetic 12-year-old with a passion for soccer, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare aggressive bone cancer in her left femur. Nine days later, she was admitted at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to start the first of 18 rounds of intense chemotherapy followed by eight surgeries to save her leg. Finally, after a long battle of nearly two and a half years, Kate began the process of learning to walk on her own once again. Now 14, Kate is cancer free!

3

One of Kate’s favorite pastimes is clothes shopping and dressing up, so it was an easy decision when it came to dreaming up her most heartfelt wish – she wished to be a model! Her experience began in December, as part of Macy’s “Believe Day” – where she was welcomed with a red carpet arrival to cheering crowds at Macy’s at the Brea Mall. Along with her mom and sister, Kate enjoyed special pampering with a make-over before spending the afternoon shopping for the perfect clothes for her upcoming photo shoot.

When the day of her wish arrived, she was whisked away to the St. Regis Monarch Beach Hotel, where her room was decorated with goodies picked out just for her. After a stop at Toni and Guy for a new haircut and fresh makeup, Kate was greeted by a limousine for her trip to Fashion Island, where she signed autographs before her photo shoot with Goddard Studios. The next stop – her runway debut at Bloomingdales! Kate was confident and absolutely stunning while strutting down the runway. You’d never know this young model was learning to walk again just months before- her wish day was a celebration of a promising future ahead!

4

Thank you, Macy’s! Chaleece’s year-round Christmas room gives her hope – her wish come true. Thanks to Macy’s

support, she has a place to escape from the worries of battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

For more than 10 years, Macy’s has helped Make-A-Wish® empower the lives of wish kids, like Chaleece. Guests and associates have united to raise more than $73 million

to grant life-affirming wishes.

These wishes can help kids with life-threatening medical conditions rediscover their strength and optimism.

Chaleece, 16non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

I wish to have a year-round Christmas room

5

We invite you to join Wish Society, the exclusive membership program available for annual donors who are committed to fulfilling our vision of granting a wish to every eligible child by making a generous donation of $1,000 or more a year.

As a member of Wish Society, you play an essential role in continuing our chapter’s legacy by giving hope, strength and joy to children who need it most. You will also continue to enjoy exclusive benefits according to your membership level.

For more information or to become a member of the Wish Society, contact our Donor Care Team at: getinvolved@wishocie.org or 714-573-WISH (9474).

Come celebrate in our world of wishes with a day of fun and

a spirited family-friendly walk!

Last year nearly 2,000 walkers joined Make-A-Wish® and raised more than $200,000 between the walks in Riverside and Orange County! That’s more than 40 wishes granted and 40 lives forever changed!

Help us reach our goal of granting more than 60 wishes by joining us this April for Walk For Wishes® presented by Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning.

Both events will feature a family-friendly walk and a World of Wishes Festival where you can experience each type of wish and live entertainment!

Join us on April 12 at Castle Park in Riverside and receive FREE admission into Castle Park after the walk.

OREnjoy a variety of FREE lunch options from delicious restaurants on

April 26 at the OC Great Park in Irvine.

Become a Sponsor • Start a Team • Become a Vendor

April 12 • Castle Park, Riverside

April 26 • OC Great Park, Irvine

Register Today at ocie.wish.org

Presented by Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning

6

Our chapter has the pleasure of working with almost 50 Make-A-Wish clubs and these students have been hard at work this past winter! They kicked off the season of giving by hosting gift wrapping tables and hot chocolate sales throughout the local community. 2014 started out strong as the Academy for Academic Excellence, El Dorado High School, Fountain Valley High School, Marina High School, Northwood High School, Rosary High School, Tarbut V’Torah Community School, and Troy High School each celebrated their successful achievements of raising more than $5,000 toward granting wishes.These students have a lot more exciting events coming up! From dodgeball tournaments, male beauty pageants, cultural fairs, garage sales, concerts and shows, the creativity of these teens is undeniable. But they don’t stop there! More than 16 different high schools will be participating in the Walk for Wishes celebration this year, so be sure to smile at the students cheering on our participants along the walk route.

When Janvi was six years old, she heard the story of Miles S., better known as “Batkid”, and how he saved San Francisco. His journey inspired this young girl to become a hero in her own community to help kids in her neighborhood that needed a little extra joy. For Janvi’s next birthday, she not only had a fun roller-skating party, but

she also collected donations for Make-A-Wish in lieu of birthday gifts. With the generous help from her friends and family, this seven-year-old raised over $1,000! We are so grateful that this sweet girl chose to turn her birthday wish into one that supports the wishes of kids in our community.

Are you a student, parent, or teacher that would like to be a part of

Make-A-Wish? Email getinvolved@wishocie.org today!

A m e r i c a n C a r e e r C o l l e g eThe students at the American Career College’s Ontario campus held their first Christmas Carnival this winter to help our local wish kids. With students, family members, and friends as their guests, everyone was able to enjoy carnival favorites like game booths, sweet treats, face painting and popcorn. Not only was there plenty of opportunity for fun, there also was an opportunity to relax for a good cause through the “massage-a-gram” service the students offered to collect donations. The campus carnival was a huge success and raised more than $1,700.

HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS

7

The Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS are a diverse group of young leaders under the age of 40 who are dedicated to supporting the mission of Make-A-Wish.

Visit ocie.wish.org to learn more, or contact us at getinvolved@wishocie.org.

City: Riverside, CA

Volunteer Since: 2011

Volunteer Roles: Wish Granter, Event Volunteer, Young Professionals Leadership Council

“I am so blessed to be a part of an organization that helps make dreams come true.” Since joining our Make-A-Wish volunteer team in 2011, Kelly Moran has continually increased her passion for and involvement with our chapter, most recently joining the Leadership Council of our Young Professionals group. We checked in with Kelly to find out more about why she volunteers and what it means to her:

What keeps you coming back to volunteer each year?Make-A-Wish renews my faith in humanity every day. The wish kids and their families are some of the strongest and bravest people that I have ever met in my life. But truly it is the response of the community that inspires me. My participation in Make-A-Wish has made me so proud of the community that I live in and I am inspired to keep volunteering because of the efforts of those around me.

What has been the most rewarding, touching or memorable experience for you? I am so blessed to be a part of an organization that helps make dreams come true. I love all of my wish kids and each experience has been memorable. However, I honestly cannot imagine that any wish I do will ever be as unique as Marcus’ wish. At five years old, Marcus was obsessed with mermaids and he wanted nothing more than to become

a merman. On Marcus’ wish day, he was presented with a silicone merman tail, custom designed for him. The Aquarium of the Pacific opened early for Marcus and his family so that he could meet Mermaid Linden. Mermaid Linden and Marcus enjoyed soaking up the sun, with their tails in a tide pool, while they read together and talked about ocean life.

The best moment of the day was when Marcus turned to his sister and said “I told you mermaids are real.” For a few hours, Marcus and his family were able to forget about the struggles that they had been through and just enjoy the experience that he had dreamed about.

Do you have any advice for individuals considering volunteering with Make-A-Wish?DO IT - seriously! Make-A-Wish has given me more than I could ever possibly give back in return. I encourage everyone to get involved. You will not regret it and it will become one of the best parts of your life.

Want To Help Make Our Events A Success? Join the Auction Committee!Our Auction Committee is a group of passionate supporters who take an active role in making sure our events are a success! The committee is the backbone of Make-A-Wish events throughout the year and we are looking for a few new members to join our team. The group meets monthly to collaborate on upcoming events, then you can work independently to solicit auction packages. If you are great at fundraising and networking, or are a team player willing to talk with potential auction item donors, we would love to have you on our team!

Contact Hailey at hsmith@wishocie.org to learn more.

8

Aaron, 6myelodysplastic syndrome

I wish to have a dog

Abraham, 5charge syndrome/leaking aortic and cleft mitral valves

I wish to have a playset

Breanna, 4retinoblastoma

I wish to go to Disneyland

Haley, 18Hodgkins lymphoma

I wish to meet my favorite actress

Madison, 7polymicrogyria

I wish to have a spa/hot tub

Emely, 16Hodgkin’s lymphoma

I wish to go on a shopping adventure

Nicholas, 17anaplastic large cell

I wish to go on a Disney Cruise

Savannah, 9lennox gastaut, seizures, and cerebral palsy

I wish to have Disneyland Annual Passes

Cody, 17germ cell tumor

I wish to meet the Miami Dolphins

Brianna, 9aplastic anemia

I wish to have a Yorkie Puppy

Jon, 6DIPG tumor

I wish to go to Aulani – A Disney Resort

Julian, 6acute lymphocytic leukemia

I wish to meet Thomas the Tank Engine

LOCAL w i s h e s

9

Brenda, 19acute lymphocytic leukemia

I wish to go to Italy

Vincente, 17osteosarcoma

I wish to have a shopping adventure

Kate, 13osteosarcoma

I wish to be a model

Izabelle, 5langerhans cell histioctosis

I wish to go to Walt Disney World Resort

Daniel, 15plasmacytoid neoplasm

I wish to go to an awards show

Dante, 12sickle cell disease

I wish to have a game room

Caleb, 15 - FloridaI wish to go to Disneyland

w i s h a s s i s tEach year, our chapter welcomes hundreds of children from around the world to have their wishes granted in our own backyard. These wishes are in addition to the hundreds of wishes granted for children who live in Orange County and the Inland Empire.

10

COMMUNITYEVENTS IN THE

Union Bank hosted the 2nd Annual Concert series benefiting the Southern California chapter of Make-A-Wish. The event featured performances by Tony Lucca, Brendan James and Brian Jarvis, as well as an incredible collection of silent auction items!

Union Bank

We were excited to partner with AltaMed Health Services at their annual Christmas Tree Magic luncheon in December at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. This event featured a unique auction with beautifully decorated Christmas trees which put everyone in the holiday spirit!

Christmas Tree Magic

Surety Underwriters Association of Southern California (SUASC) hosted their annual Holiday Banquet for all their members at the Summit House in Fullerton. SUASC matched each guest’s ticket price to raise enough funds to adopt Giselle’s wish to go to Disneyland!

SUASC Holiday

Landwood Title Company participated in the Make-A-Wish Stars for Wishes campaign. They challenged all of their employees, family and friends to help raise funds and together they were able to raise nearly $6,000.

Landwood Title Company

11

We’d like to recognize the following events in our community for outstanding support of Make-A-Wish. Each of these events raised $5,000 or more, helping us get closer to our goal of granting every eligible wish. The following events took place between Dec. 1 and Feb. 28.

iTAN hosted a Stars for Wishes campaign in December and raised $15,367 for the San Diego, Orange County and the Inland Empire chapters of Make-A-Wish.

iTan

During the holidays, Model Citizen, a fashion boutique in Huntington Beach, hosted a very successful Stars for Wishes campaign, called “12 Days of Giving.” Each day, they offered customers different discounts and incentives to purchase paper stars.

Model Citizen

We were thrilled to partner twith Run or Dye™ the world’s most colorful 5k™. The event welcomed more than 6,000 participants to the Orange County Great Park in Irvine.

Run or Dye

Falken Tire Corporation hosted their annual Holiday party at their Rancho Cucamonga headquarters. They donated enough funds to adopt Preston’s wish to meet his favorite country singer!

Falken Tire Corporation

12

Tyler Gilbert I was born with a rare heart condition called Ebstien’s Anomaly, which by the time I started high school it had reduced my heart to below 10 percent function. I had dreams of becoming a composer, and writing beautiful scores for movies, but my dreams and ambitions no longer seemed

attainable while stuck in a hospital bed. In 2004, Make-A-Wish changed all that. They put a top-of-the-line recording studio in my home, so that I could write and record music whenever I wanted. They also sent me to a real recording studio/scoring facility, where I got to jam with professional musicians and record a few of my own compositions with them. More than just a wonderful gift,

Make-A-Wish gave me the means to accomplish my dreams, and taught me that I could live my life, instead of just merely surviving it. Ten years later, I am now a film composer living in Los Angeles, have worked closely with Make-A-Wish on several projects, and support annually with a grant from the Tyler Gilbert Heart Transplant Survivor's Foundation.

13

THANK YOU

We extend our deepest appreciation to the following businesses, events, foundations, individuals and youth groups that have given donations to help fulfill the dreams of our wish children. The following list represents donors who gave $1,000 or more between Dec. 1-Feb. 28, 2014. We apologize if we inadvertently left anyone off the list.

Corporate Donors: AirlinxAlexander’s Mobility ServicesARESBeta Benefits Insurance

Services, Inc.Car Donation FoundationCox Communications, Inc.Diagnostic Consulting Network, Inc.Dollar Tree Distribution, Inc.E.M. Transportation, Inc.Foam Concepts, IncFrederick J. Hanshaw PropertiesFront DoorInland Empire Harley Owner

Group, Inc.Inland Empire Pool ExpoJT5K, LLCManheimSmall Business Growth AllianceNorm Reeves Acura of Mission

ViejoNorm Reeves Honda SuperstorePacific Technical Resources, Inc.People Clothing Co.SamiyatexW. Brown AssociatesWinder FarmsYum! Brands Foundation, Inc.

Future AdsEmployees of Pacific ContoursCoit Real Estate Group

events:Run or Dye 5k Fun RunFalken Tires Holiday PartyThe Hippie RunChristmas Tree Magic hosted by

AltaMed Health ServicesSurety Underwriters Associa-

tion of Southern California’s (SUASC) Holiday Banquet

2nd Annual Union Bank concert series

Greater Palm Springs Wedding Association’s Holiday Party

Sevenly Sample SaleLark Creek Restaurant’s Gingerbread Wishes

FounDations & Grants:Michael Sweig FoundationChisick Family FoundationE. Rhodes and Leona B.

Carpenter FoundationSeven “C” FoundationThe Crean FoundationMattel Children’s FoundationThe Kiger FoundationEmployee Community Fund of

Boeing California

in-KinD Donors:Aulani A Disney Resort and SpaBarnes and NobleBlack, Starr & FrostClassique LimousinesDiane HudsonDisneyland ResortFalken TiresGive Kids The WorldHomewood SuitesIrvine Chamber of CommerceKnott’s Berry Farm/ Soak City

USAMedieval Times Dinner &

TournamentParadise Pier HotelStay ClassickTwobirds BridesmaidUniversal Studios Hollywood

sChools & universities:Academy of Academic

ExcellenceAdvance Beauty CollegeAmerican Career CollegeCorona Del Mar High SchoolFountain Valley High SchoolLewis Center for Educational

ResearchMarina High SchoolPoly High School FBLA/

Computer ClubPost ElementaryTarbut V’Torah Community

SchoolTrabuco Hills High School

inDiviDuals:Ali and Robert Bartholomew *Charles and Alice Di Lorio *Charles Eld *Cheryl Bell *Christine Grybos *Cynthia Eyre *David and Alecia Kampff *Donald Meyering *

Doris Harder Estate Dorothy M. Booth Charitable TrustFred Behr *Gary Brown *Hob and Suzanne IssaJames MacPherson *Jeff and Robyn Larson *Jeff and Teresa Lewis *Joe Wilshire *John and Mary Krebs * John Lind *John Ninnis *Joyce Schweppe *Katherine Smith *Kent Russell *Mark and Noreen Lerner *Mary Niven *Michael Cupps *Michael Murphy *Richard Cerruti *Richard Kruegar *Roger and Elaine Wheeler *Ruben and Karen Vogel *Russ and Stephanie McCormick *Sean O’Toole *Taylor Family TrustTanya Christensen *Tom J. Eastman *William Van Vleet *Young Ho *

*2014 Wish Society member

for making wishes come true

Community members:Ali and Robert Bartholomew Doris Harder EstateFred BehrJames MacPhersonJennifer Krutsch John and Mary Krebs

John NinnisMichael Cupps

Companies, Groups, & sChools:Academy of Academic ExcellenceAirlinxCarpenter FoundationE.M. Transportation

Foam Concepts, IncFountain Valley High SchoolFuture AdsPacific Technical ResourcesSmall Business Growth AllianceThe Boeing Company, GCC Troy High School

Adopt-A-Wish SupportersIndividuals, companies and community groups that donate $5,000 or more have the opportunity to adopt the wish of a local child. Thank you so much to these Adopt-A-Wish supporters!

14

To get involved with Make-A-Wish and the Women’s Circle of Wishes

contact: getinvolved@wishocie.org or learn more at: www.ocie.wish.org

Starting April 1, donate your airline miles and get amazing ECBC products!

supported by

Visit ocie.wish.org/air for more details.

1,000 – 5,000 miles donated:•Ares iPad sleeve ($24.99 retail value) 5,001 – 10,000 miles donated, choose either:•Dart Laptop Tote ($79.99 retail value) •Poseidon Messenger ($99.99 retail value)

10,001 – 20,000 miles donated, choose either: •Thor Laptop Backpack ($119.99 retail value)•Lance Executive Backpack ($149.99 retail value)

More than 20,001 miles donated, choose either:•Falcon Wheeled Duffle ($349.99 retail value)•Sparrow Wheeled Garment ($399.99 retail value)

Help Grant More Wishes for Make-A-Wish Orange County and

Inland Empire by Hosting an Angel Bin

Each Angel Bin you host helps raise money for Make-A-Wish at

NO COST TO YOU!

For more information contact Elaine Abelaye-Mateo, Angel Bins Representative (916) 533-8727

.

15

3rd Annual

For sponsorship opportunities or tickets, contact Sarah Pizzaruso714-573-WISH – pizzaruso@wishocie.org

Mesa Verde Country ClubMay 12

19TH ANNUAL

WE CARE FOR KIDSBENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT,

DINNER & AUCTION

14232 Red Hill AvenueTustin, CA 92780714-573-WISH (9474)OCIE.WISH.ORG

Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Presented by Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning

ocie.wish.org #walk4wishes4/12- Castle Park, Riverside | 4/26- OC Great Park, Irvine

CONNECT WITH US!Find out what’s happening at Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire!

@MakeAWishOCIE