Music, Art, Sports: Wishes Are Granted Across America
The Make-A-Wish organization grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. Since its inception in 1980, Make-A-Wish has been responsible for granting the wishes of thousands of children. Each year, thousands of these wishes come true, helping communities, families and children overcome the challenges. That's why, Make-A-Wish has been chosen for the (Noise Magazine) cover. Please help to Make-A-Wish come true, by making a donation or volunteering your time.
Remember, all you have to do is have faith in what you wish for. Wishes really can come true!
Love Shelley
See the Noise Magazine Cover on the Front Page..
Now, join Wells, the Makers of Blue Bunny Ice Cream celebrate 100 years. And the next time you're looking for a cool treat, you might want to try Blue Bunny.
Celebrating 100 Years
Michael Jordan Grants 200th Wish
Michael Jordan recently added another impressive feat to his long list of accomplishments – he granted his 200th wish through Make-A-Wish. The hall of famer and six-time NBA champion is one of only a few celebrities to reach the 200 wish mark.
The iconic milestone was surpassed late last month when seven kids with life-threatening medical conditions and their families met Jordan in Charlotte, N.C. Jordan, Chairman and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, spent time with the wish kids prior to the tip-off between the Bobcats and the Phoenix Suns. He made sure each wish family received his undivided attention during their one-on-one time with the superstar. Later that night, the wish kids were Jordan’s guests of honor at the NBA game.
Michael Jordan’s involvement with Make-A-Wish has spanned throughout the organizations existence. Jordan’s legendary basketball skills in conjunction with the high quality wish experience he delivers has caused him to remain a popular wish request to this day. In addition to granting wishes, Jordan is a passionate fundraiser for Make-A-Wish. The wish-granting organization is one of a select number of charities to receive the proceeds from Jordan’s highly successful, annual golf tournament, the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational.
“Michael Jordan is one of the all-time greatest athletes, but he is an even better person,” said David Williams, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. “He has changed the lives of hundreds of wish kids and their families for the better, and for that, we are forever grateful.”
In addition to reaching this milestone, Make-A-Wish recognized Jordan for his unwavering support for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Make-A-Wish bestowed Jordan with the distinguished title of Chief Wish Ambassador in 2008. Read More at Look To The Stars
Beyonce Made Young Girl's Wish Come True
Earlier this month, the singer invited Taylon, a terminally ill cancer patient, onstage to dance with her in concert.
Now Beyonce has released a video capturing the touching moment on her YouTube page. In the segment, we learn that Taylon’s “dying wish was to dance with Beyonce.” Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Taylon had the chance to do just that. "I am having so much fun. I can't wait to see Beyonce,” she says before the Las Vegas show. Then in the middle of the concert, Beyonce heads into the audience and sings to Taylon during “Survivor." They dance together, and Taylon is quickly brought to tears. From CBS News
Make A Wish Kid Jeff Hanson
A 19-year-old in Kansas took up art at age 12 as he started to lose his sight, and has managed to raise more than $1 million for charity.
It would've been easy for Jeff Hanson to mourn at the tender age of 12 when doctors discovered an optic tumor that helped explain why he was losing his vision, but the soon-to-be philanthropist had a better idea.
He became a self-described "accidental artist" showing others how he saw the world with vibrant illustrations, first on note cards before moving to canvas paintings and later to designs for women's dresses.
Seven years later, with roughly 1,300 paintings under his belt, Hanson has reached a goal originally set on his 19th birthday: to reach $1 million in donations for charities by the time he was 20. He did it with time to spare, reaching the mark at the annual Make-a-Wish Gala in North Texas earlier this year. He turns 20 on Sept. 30.
"I thought it would be good to give back to the world and not use it for myself," the Overland Park, Kan., man says. He points out the effort was never actually about the money, but the help it would provide. "My art makes people happy."
A large portion of the funds were raised by donating paintings to more than 100 organizations including Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Children's Tumor Foundationand Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Hanson and his family also make sure to keep a small portion to support Jeff and his business, Jeffery Owen Hanson LLC, created by the time he was 17.
David Williams, CEO of Make-a-Wish Foundation, says there are many young philanthropists and former Make-a-Wish kids like Hanson who use their condition and sometimes even their wishes to make a difference.
"You almost have to look deeper into some of the wishes that are granted," he says. "So often there's a lot more to it."
Kristin Elliot, 18, of Richmond, Texas, has cancer and used her wish in 2008 to build an orphanage in Zambia. Another girl used her wish to engrave small gifts for friends and family. Most kids want to do something that would benefit others or their friends and family, Williams says. "It's pretty remarkable."
Make-a-Wish kids must have a long-term illness and be nominated by physicians. Jeff qualified after being diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis and optic glioma. The Hansons renamed the condition CLOD,a bully that would be made fun of, beaten down and defeated.
"You can pick the pity path and be disabled forever," says Hal Hanson, Jeff's father. "Or you can redefine yourself and find your passion. Focus on what you can do instead of being the kid down the street with the tumor."
Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder, making it easier for kids to develop tumors typically along the nervous system or under skin. In rare situations, like Jeff's, the tumor grows on the optic nerve and is treated with radiation and chemotherapy in extreme cases. The tumor in combination with treatment left him legally blind, able only to vaguely see shapes and colors.
Alan Gamis, Jeff's doctor and the chief of oncology at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, says though a cure doesn't exist yet, advancements in treatment have been made.
"It's a complicated disease and it can affect many parts of your body," Gamis says. "In general, our families get over the shock within the first couple of weeks and become fighters. Some do so at a much greater extent, like the Hansons."
Jeff no longer has the tumor and he doesn't let the threat of resurgence bog him down. Because of his can-do attitude, he has traveled around the world, met the likes of Elton John and Warren Buffett, and received many awards including Prudential's National Spirit of Community Award in 2012. His work has sold collectively at auctions for roughly $46,000 to $68,000, and his hand-painted dresses have even made it to the runway.
"We were just sitting at a lemonade stand (seven years ago) … and I was actually crying because I thought that's all we could come up with," Hal Hanson says. "Jeff wasn't supposed to be an artist. This is so surreal that I just don't even know how to interpret it."
Jeff already has a few more projects up his sleeve including painting a Porsche for the tumor foundation's program, Racing4Research at Daytona in 2014, an inspirational tour inspired by his father's book Lessons from CLOD and hopes his dresses will make it to the red carpet.
"He's always doing the right thing and it gets him into the most amazing experiences," says John Risner, the president and CEO of the Children's Tumor Foundation. "But it's his long-term commitment to philanthropy that's rare."
The Hansons plan to continue their work, but will take a quick celebratory break in September and later lighten up the workload, spending more time on larger projects.
All thanks to CLOD, Jeff says. The family's dream bank is finally overflowing.
"It was a very unlikely place to find inspiration," says Julie Hanson, Jeff's mother. "I used to think it was luck and then I decided we're just blessed."
Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 02:42AM
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