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            Contact: Krachel Greenwood
Office: (801) 262-WISH
kgreenwood@utah.wish.org

Make-A-Wish^® Utah Celebrating “World Wish Day^®” April 29
by Granting Wishes Across the Globe
- Celebrities/sponsors help commemorate the wish that started it all -

Murray, UT April 26, 2012 – On April 29, more than 30 years to the day after a young boy named Chris was granted his wish to be a police officer for a day, Make-A-Wish supporters around the globe will celebrate World Wish Day, in honor of the wish that sparked a global wish-granting movement.

Make-A-Wish will mark World Wish Day with celebrations throughout the United States and in the 47 other countries in which it operates by celebrating wishes being granted on that day. Every 23 minutes, Make-A-Wish grants the wish of a child with a life-threatening medical condition somewhere in the world.

Many celebrities and professional athletes are granting wishes in honor of World Wish Day throughout April. On April 29, Thomson Reuter’s electronic billboard in Times Square will feature a special World Wish Day video, which includes celebrities such as John Cena, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Buddy Valastro, Jon Stewart, Nigel Barker and Tiffani Thiessen. The video debuted on the Make-A-Wish America YouTube channel on Monday, April 23. Chief Wish Ambassador Michael Jordan kicked off the World Wish Day festivities by granting Lucas’ wish to meet him at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament in Las Vegas.

Sponsors celebrating World Wish Day with special activities are Maggiano’s, Disney Store, Brooks Brothers, Macy’s, Hard Rock International, Dave & Buster’s and BLOCKBUSTER Express.

During the month of April, US Airways invites Dividend Miles members to donate their miles to one of five national nonprofits, including Make-A-Wish. For every 5,000 miles donated, US Airways will match the first 1,000 miles, up to 25,000 per donor. Visit wish.org/dividend to donate today.

“Here in Utah we are granting the wish of three-year-old Emylie from Ogden to celebrate World Wish Day and highlight the hope, strength and joy that Make-A-Wish brings children every day,” said Krachel Greenwood, Make-A-Wish Utah Communications Manager. “We encourage people to join in the celebration and help us reach every eligible wish child across the state.”

Emylie, who has respiratory-failure, has a trach and is ventilator-dependant. When she had the opportunity to declare a wish it was no question that Mickey and Minnie were at the top of her list. Emylie just returned from her wish trip to Walt Disney World Resort this past Monday.

“The opportunity that Emylie had to have a wish come true gave us as a family a chance to do something I don’t think we would have ever been able to do. They gave us family time that can’t be replaced. It gave our older children a chance to have their dreams come true, too. Before [the wish] we didn’t have a clue how we’d ever be able to go on a family vacation, considering our medical expenses, but Make-A-Wish made it happen,” said Emylie’s mom.

Emylie’s family is available for media interviews this weekend. If you would like arrange a time to meet with Emylie and her family, please contact Krachel Greenwood either in the office or on her cell.

Thank you for helping us to share the power of a wish^® as we celebrate with Make-A-Wish chapters and affiliates across the country on World Wish Day.

ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH UTAH

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. With the help of generous donors and volunteers, Make-A-Wish Utah granted 151 wishes last year. Located in its facility in Murray, A Wishing Place, the Foundation offers a quality wish experience that includes a magical wish-making ceremony in the Wishing Tower, special wish tokens to throw in a wish fountain, and plenty of room for wish-granting celebrations. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit http://www.utah.wish.org/.

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       Contact: Krachel Greenwood
Phone: (801) 262-9474
kgreenwood@utah.wish.org

Make-A-Wish^® Utah Annual Gala Helps Wishes Take Flight

WHAT:   Make-A-Wish Utah’s Annual Gala & Auction

WHERE:  South Valley Regional Airport Hangar, 7315 South 4450 West, West Jordan, UT

WHEN:   Saturday, April 14, 2012, 5:30 p.m.

For 27 years Make-A-Wish Utah has been bringing hope, strength and joy to the lives of Utah children with life-threatening medical conditions. This year, as we look to grant more wishes than ever, we invite current and former wish families, donors, volunteers and other Make-A-Wish^® supporters to join us at our annual gala as we help to make Wishes Take Flight. This exciting event will take place at the South Valley Regional Airport Hangar, located in West Jordan. Guests will join emcee Sheriff Jim Winder as we raise money to grant magical wishes for Utah children.

During the evening we will give special recognition to our founder and former CEO, Christine Sharer, who retired after 26 years with the Foundation in December of 2011.  

Take off for this event begins at 5:30 p.m. with the opportunity to participate in both our fantastic silent and live auctions. A dinner program will get underway at 7:00 pm as guests enjoy gourmet food and drinks, served by Utah’s own 8-time Best of State caterer, Culinary Crafts. The live auction will directly follow the program. Special thanks goes out to this year’s gala sponsors, including the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation, Discover, Utah Business, Jiffy Lube, Media One, Leading Edge Aviation, ISI, Spring Mobile, Key Bank, Durham Jones & Pinegar, Moreton & Co., Barrick Gold, TV Specialists and Wheels For Wishes.   

Please contact Krachel Greenwood at kgreenwood@utah.wish.org or (801)262-WISH for more information.

ABOUT THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF UTAH

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. With the help of generous donors and volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah granted 151 wishes last year. Located in its facility in Murray, A Wishing Place, the Foundation offers a quality wish experience that includes a magical wish-making ceremony in the Wishing Tower, special wish tokens to throw in a wish fountain, and plenty of room for wish-granting celebrations. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit http://www.utah.wish.org/.

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                 Contact: Christine McAtee
Phone: (801) 262-WISH ext. 116

MEDIA ADVISORY / PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Easter Bunny Visits Wish Kids and Families at Make-A-Wish® Utah’s
15th Annual Easter Egg Hunts in Ogden and Salt Lake City

WHAT:   Easter Egg Hunt, Games and Crafts 

WHERE:  Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park
              1544 East Park Boulevard, Ogden, Utah

              Wheeler Farm
              6351 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah

WHEN:   Saturday, March 31, 2012, 9:00 -11:00 am (Hunt starts promptly at 9:30 am).

WHO:   Make-A-Wish Utah staff & volunteers will be hosting this event. 

Make-A-Wish Utah hosts its annual Easter Egg Hunt for wish kids past, present and future, and their families, in Ogden at Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park and in Salt Lake City at Wheeler Farm on Saturday, March 31, 2012. In addition to the egg hunt, there will be clowns, games, crafts, and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Mask Costumes, Fundaze and Holidaze, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park, Starbuck’s Coffee, and Boy Scout Troops 1479 and 243 are donating supplies to help make this event possible.

Please note that this event is an invitation only event and not open to the general public. The Foundation creates activities for families who have had a wish, or are in the process of a wish. These activities offer a chance for our wish families to enjoy moments of respite and fun and an opportunity to network with other families who have experienced some of the same challenges.

ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH UTAH

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. With the help of generous donors and volunteers, Make-A-Wish Utah grants over 150 wishes a year. Located in its facility in Murray, A Wishing Place, the Foundation offers a quality wish experience that includes a magical wish-making ceremony in the Wishing Tower, special wish tokens to throw in a wish fountain, and plenty of room for wish-granting celebrations. For more information, visit www.utah.wish.org.

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             Contact: Krachel Greenwood
Phone: (801)262-9474

Wishes Made Possible Through Frequent Flier Mile Donations

Murray, Utah – “I wish to meet Rascal Flatts.” “I wish to visit the theme parks in Florida.” “I wish to attend the 49ers only Monday night game.” Wishes like these are granted every day thanks to frequent travelers across the country who donate flier miles to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® and help make wishes come true. Through pooled flier miles from many donors, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is able to grant travel wishes to children across the world, wishes that require an estimated 2.5 billion airline miles yearly.

When Make-A-Wish^® volunteers ask children with life-threatening medical conditions what their most heartfelt wish is, the child very often responds with a statement that begins, “I wish to go to….” Last year, 70 percent of all the wishes from Utah children involved travel. Since most major airlines have formal partnerships with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, many more wishes are made possible for Utah children because of frequent flier mile donations. Children like Hunter are then able to enjoy the opportunity to escape the stress and share a magical experience with their families.

Being a fan of smooth melodies, ten-year-old Hunter is a down-to-earth guy. In 2010 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Although it wasn’t cancerous, it is a continuous growing tumor and he will need to have hormone replacement therapy for the rest of his life. Hunter has always been a Rascal Flatts fan; listening to them helped him get through his treatments. So when he heard they were doing a live concert in Florida he wished to go meet them.

Hunter arrived at the Rascal Flatts concert in VIP style, donning his new Make-A-Wish^®/Rascal Flatts t-shirt and riding in a limo. After receiving a warm welcome from fans and enjoying the show the band invited him back stage. He was ecstatic when he was able to shake Gary LeVox, the lead singer’s hand. LeVox even thanked Hunter for come to the show. “I cannot put into words what this wish has done for hunter and our family. It was a worry-free, great time that will stay with us forever,” said Hunter’s mom. Like the title of Rascal Flatts’ new album, Nothing Like This, Hunter’s wish was nothing short of amazing.

“A contribution of frequent flier miles to the Make-A-Wish Foundation is one of the most direct ways to help make a difference in the life of a child with a life-threatening medical condition,” said David Williams, president and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of America. “The mileage the Foundation receives will help provide experiences that wish children and their families will cherish for a lifetime.”

Most major airlines have mileage donation programs. To view a complete listing of participating airlines and donate online, please visit the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Utah’s website at http://www.utah.wish.org/, go to “Ways to Help” and click on “Donate.”

In addition to frequent flier miles, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah can use transferable airline vouchers or tickets on a case-by-case basis. To find out more about airline voucher or ticket donations, contact  the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah at (801)262-WISH.

ABOUT THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF UTAH

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. With the help of generous donors and volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah granted 151 wishes last year. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah, visit http://www.utah.wish.org/.

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