‘Our Family Will Carry This Incredible Wish In Our Hearts Forever’
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Wish mom Noelle of Albany writes of her daughter’s recent wish that could have ended in sadness, only to be made even more gratifying …
Thanks to Make-A-Wish Northeast New York, our family just had the journey of a lifetime.
Our 7-year-old daughter, Isla, who has refractory epilepsy, swam with the dolphins at a special dolphin sanctuary, Island Dolphin Care, in Key Largo, Florida, that along with physical therapists works with children with different abilities. The joy it brought our daughter was like nothing we’ve ever witnessed.
But on our trip our greatest fears came true: She endured a prolonged seizure and had to be transported from a hospital on Key Largo to a children’s hospital in Miami. We were devastated not only by her seizure, but that her wish was interrupted and potentially ended.
But in one of our most challenging moments came some of the greatest love we’ve ever received. Make-A-Wish Northeast New York wrapped us in love. They went above and beyond to extend our trip so that Isla could return to the dolphins, rearranging all our travel plans as well as making sure we were still able to visit the turtle hospital. They made sure that Isla’s trip remained magical.
Make-A-Wish is a reminder of all that is good in this world. Our family will carry this incredible wish in our hearts forever.
Note:
Make-A-Wish Southern Florida assisted on this wish.
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After the Talk, You All Walked the Walk
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Hundreds of wish families, supporters and volunteers came out in force, radio personalities and bosses were dunked, and funds for 10 wishes were raised at this month's Sixth Annual Walk for Wishes at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy.
The Walk featured a record number of teams -- 52 -- and 642 walkers. We raised more than $115,000 and counting to grant the heartfelt wishes of children right here in the 518 and 838 area codes. As a bonus, wish kid Kamal learned his wish to go to Atlantis had been granted.
Thank you to all who came out to the home of the Tri-City ValleyCats and/or supported the event at The Joe. We look forward to an even bigger walk in 2020! In the meantime, check out the photo gallery below.
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Don't Even Think of Putting the Clubs Away
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Golf and Make-A-Wish have long gone together, as there are tournaments throughout the spring and summer to benefit the chapter. Play it Foreward 518 recently held its fifth annual tournament, hosted by the Watroba family.
"We raised over $24,000 in net proceeds, and have now eclipsed the $100,000 mark in net proceeds for the five years since Play It Foreward 518 began!" the family said. "This money goes directly to help local children and their families right here in our community, with the proceeds having now supported four Make-A-Wish trips and countless diversion activities and initiatives for children at the Melodies Center at Albany Medical Center."
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Everyone's mind is on the end of summer and back to school, but we at Make-A-Wish Northeast New York are already thinking about the holidays -- and our Adopt-A-Wish Holiday Campaign.
Our 2019 Capital Region Adopt-A-Wish ambassadors --- Cole, Alexis, Jaxon, Logan, Giada and Sammy -- joined CBS 6 Albany meteorologist
Alyssa Caroprese
recently at the station's studios to shoot a series of promo spots you will see on air this fall and winter. See you at our kickoff at Crossgates Mall on Nov. 14!
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Heartfelt Thanks for Another Year of Heartfelt Wishes
As our fiscal year winds down in the coming days, now is a good time to reflect on the vital contributions of our donors, volunteers, wish families and staff, and the successes we've had as a chapter the past 12 months.
We granted 82 wishes, sending children to Walt Disney World® Resort and Hawaii and to meet Yankees and Giants. Our wish kids went on shopping sprees, had a vintage arcade installed in their home, and much more.
We assisted on five more wishes, including Tiago's memorable bobsled wish, and Trinity's desire to be a princess, castle and all.
We raised, thanks to you, $1.8 million, allowing local wishes to happen, and generated 145 wish referrals.
We posted to social media, a lot -- more than a thousand photos across all our platforms.
At Make-A-Wish, we can mark the passing of the year by events: Our Adopt-A-Wish Campaign, the Wish Gala, the Walk for Wishes, and all the fundraisers put on by our dedicated supporters. We also like to mark it by looking at all the smiling faces in those thousand photos, proof of the hope, strength and joy you help provide day after day, year after year.
Sincerely,
William C. Trigg, III,
CEO, Make-A-Wish Northeast New York
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Make-A-Wish Northeast New York
3 Washington Square
Albany, NY 12205
(518) 456-9474
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