Winter 2012 E-Newsletter

Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Carolina

February 2012

Vol 3, Issue 2

The Wishmaker®

Greetings!

Well, the holidays are over and the colder weather is finally starting to settle in, but things continue to heat up with the South Carolina Chapter! On track to grant more wishes than ever in one year, we are working hard to make 140 wishes come true with the help of some new and exciting sponsorships, as well as the continued efforts from our long-standing supporters.

Please take a look at the amazing events and campaigns that are helping to make this achievement possible and join us in thanking all of our volunteers, individual donors, corporate supporters, and schools for their hard work in helping to make wishes come true!

Be sure to stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and our website. We love to know what you like to hear from us!

Best Wishes,

Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Carolina Staff

In This Issue

New Supporters

Mark Your Calender!

Things You May Have Missed

Granted Wishes

Quick Links

Chapter Website

Join our Mailing List!

New Supporters: Trusted Choice®

Trusted Choice®, a national supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America, is an organization made up of thousands of independent insurance agents and offers a broad selection of insurance and financial services. The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of South Carolina (IIABSC) division of Trusted Choice is now the proud sponsor of our youth programs, Kids For Wish Kids® and Wishmakers On Campus®. Through a $50,000 matching grant, funds that our South Carolina schools and youth organizations raise through these programs will be matched 100%! In just the very few beginning weeks of the partnership, Trusted Choice members have already attended three school check presentations across the state and will continue to do so as opportunities arise. An official announcement of the partnership will take place at Trusted Choice's annual Spring Conference to held in Columbia on March 14 and 15. The South Carolina Chapter is thrilled to have Trusted Choice on board as a supporter and helping to double the hard work of our students!

Mark Your Calender!

March 3:
Statewide Volunteer Meeting, Columbia
All currently active volunteers are invited to be our guest at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Carolina Statewide Volunteer Meeting on Saturday March 3, 2012 at the SC State Museum in Columbia. Attendance for volunteers is strongly encouraged as this meeting will serve as an annual re-certification that is required in order to remain an active volunteer. Also, this year we will award a prize to the region with the highest attendance. You do not want to miss out on this exciting event!

When: Saturday, March 3, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Where: SC State Museum, 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201
RSVP to Tiffany Howard at thoward@sc.wish.org or 843-853-7880 no later than noon February 24.

March 17:
St. Patty's Day 5K Presented by Jarden, Greenville

As a long-time supporter of Make-A-Wish Foundation® of South Carolina, Jarden understands the healing power of hope and joy that a granted wish brings to a child. Jarden is proud to present the St. Patty's Day 5k and after party, a new fundraising event for Make-A-Wish that will be fun for the entire family! Read more

April 29:

World Wish Day, Worldwide
World Wish Day is a worldwide celebration of the day a leukemia patient named Chris got his wish to be police officer for a day, inspiring the founding of Make-A-Wish® and the global wish-granting movement it created. Since April 29, 1980, more than 280,000 children with life-threatening medical conditions around the world to have their most heartfelt wishes fulfilled by Make-A-Wish. It is a day on which we invite people everywhere to rededicate themselves to support the life-changing act of granting wishes.

Please join the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Carolina in April as this world wide event culminates on April 29 and be recognized on the South Carolina chapter website as one of the many participating companies, schools and organizations of World Wish Day. Together, we can make wishes come true. All proceeds will benefit the wishes of South Carolina children. For more information, please contact Heather Pierce at hpierce@sc.wish.org.

Some Things You May Have Missed

SYNNEX Share the Magic Shares $230,000 With Make-A-Wish

SYNNEX Corporation held its first inaugural Share the Magic event to benefit four local charities, with Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Carolina as the major beneficiary receiving $230,000. Read more

Macy's Santa Bus Tour Makes a Stop in Columbia

As part of the Macy's Believe campaign, Santa and his elves began their 26-city bus tour after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to bring holiday happiness to boys and girls. This year, Santa made a stop at the Macy's store in Columbia, SC and made a big splash on morning television with Wish Kid Jayden! See photos here

Zaxby's Celebrating Wishes Coming True Zaxby's

Once again, 16 Zaxby's locations in the Spartanburg, Columbia and Charleston areas granted the wishes of three local SC Wish Kids. Collectively, the licensee locations raised over $30,000! With Wish Parties and Limo Tours, there were many opportunities for the Zaxby's associates to engage with their wish kid and for the wish kids to thank Zaxby's for their support. Check out photos and read more about the campaign here.

Applebee's Grants Record-Number Wishes for 9th Year Apple-J

Apple-J, South Carolina franchise of Applebee's raised a record-breaking $183,000 during their 2011 campaign and granted the wishes of 32 local wish kids. With a new approach to fundraising and the vision to connect the Make-A-Wish® mission to their local communities, the stores were more successful than ever in helping to make wishes come true. Read more

Lexington County Battles it Out for Wishes Battle of the Badges

For the third year, the Lexington County Sheriff's Department and Lexington County Fire Service battled it out on the basketball court to help make wishes come true by raising nearly $8,800, and this year it was all for a wish child right in their town. Read more

A Look Back On Granted Wishes

"I wish to go to Yellowstone National Park!"

Joel, a 12-year-old at the time of his wish, suffers from neuroblastoma. Joel knew he wanted to get in touch with nature for his wish. After careful consideration and planning, Joel, his mom, his aunt and his cousin flew from Columbia,SC to Jackson Hole, WYto go to Yellowstone National Park! Read more

"I wish to go to Los Alamitos Race Course!"

In September, one of our most original wishes was granted to 17-year old Emanuel of Estill, SC. He was diagnosed less than a year ago with Osteoporosis Sarcoma-bone cancer. Prior to getting sick, Emanuel was an up and coming jockey on the backyard tracks of Georgia and South Carolina. It was only after falling off one of his horses that doctors found a tumor in his leg. Horses are still his passion and his one true wish was to visit Los Alamitos Race Course in California and meet the trainers of the Quarter Horses. Read more

"I wish to be a princess at Walt Disney World® Resort!" Hannah K.

Hannah loves to read princess books everynight and has always dreamed of being a princess, which is why she wished to be a princess at Walt DisneyWorld^®Resort! Read more

"I wish to go to a New Orleans Saints game!"

While the rest of Katy's friends were making plans to ring in 2012, Katy and her family were flying to New Orleans to cheer on the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome! Read more

We hope that you enjoyed our winter e-newsletter and are looking forward to our spring issue! If you have any questions or comments about any of the content mentioned above, please do not hesitate to contact us and let us know. Thank you again for your continuous support and helping make South Carolina wishes come true!

Best Wishes,

Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Carolina Staff

www.sc.wish.org

Greenville Office: (Administration, Fundraising, Marketing)

225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Suite B8

Greenville, SC 29607

864-250-0702

864-250-0704 fax

Charleston Office: (Program Services, Wish Granting, Volunteer Management)

3520 Meeks Farm Road, Suite C

Johns Island, SC 29455

843-853-7880