Make-A-Wish Honors Suncoast Individuals, Organizations

On an evening when it celebrated success and the donors on the Suncoast that made it possible, Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida also recognized four specific contributors from the community at its annual donor appreciation event at Michael’s on East in Sarasota.

In its most recent fiscal year, Make-A-Wish increased the number of life-changing wishes it granted critically-ill children on the Suncoast by 72%. That was due, in part, to the efforts of this year’s award winners:

• “Rising Star” – Dr. Si McAninch
• “In-Kind Angel” – Renee Phinney
• “Corporate Partner of the Year” – POP Yachts & POP RVs (Nick Owens)
• “Media Partner of the Year” – The Observer Group (Emily Walsh)

“The wish experience isn’t just nice, it’s necessary, and we’re indebted to all those whose ongoing support allows us to make dreams come true for medically-eligible children and families in the Sarasota area,” said Make-A-Wish Southern Florida Regional Director Jess McIntyre.  

Three local wish kids and families were in attendance at the donor event to share perspective on their medical hardships and the ongoing impact of the wish experience: McKinley traveled to the Aulani Resort in Hawaii to provide a respite from leukemia-related struggles, Coleton, who also has cancer, went on a Disney Cruise, and Cody received a customized golf cart to assist with complications from a nervous system disorder.

Make-A-Wish Southern Florida (www.sfla.wish.org) has granted more than 12,000 life-changing wishes since 1983 for children who have critical illnesses. It aims to grant a wish for every medically-eligible child in its territory, with research showing that wishes fulfilled aren’t just nice, they’re necessary to the health and well-being of the child and his or her extended family at some of the most difficult times of their lives.

Wish kids most often ‘wish to be’ (something), ‘wish to meet’ (someone), ‘wish to go’ (somewhere), ‘wish to have’ (something), or ‘wish to give’ (to a cause) and the nonprofit organization makes this happen for the child and his/her entire family at no cost or obligation. The average cost to grant a wish on the Suncoast is $8,000.

The Southern Florida chapter’s territory includes four regions (Suncoast, Tampa Bay, southeast and southwest Florida) and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

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