“Father’s Day is the perfect time to host our first 5K event,” said Todd Crisson, General Manager, Maggiano’s Little Italy in Durham. “It provides an opportunity for families to get together to honor their fathers while helping Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina bring joy to local children courageously facing life-threatening medical conditions.”

From April 25 through July 3, 2013, all Maggiano’s restaurants across the country will encourage their customers to “Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish” to help raise money for Make-A-Wish. The campaign will run 10 weeks long in celebration of the 10th Annual “Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish” campaign. Since the program’s inception in 2004, Maggiano’s has donated $3 million to Make-A-Wish. During the 2012 campaign, Maggiano’s donated $700,000 and hosted 65 wish enhancement parties.

WHAT:   Maggiano’s Father’s Day 5K Run/Walk
WHERE:  The Streets at Southpoint; 6910 Fayetteville Rd.; Durham, NC 27713
WHEN:  Sunday, June 16
8:30 am—1 Mile Fun Run/100 Yard Kid’s Dash; 9:00 am—5K Run/Walk

“We are extremely honored and grateful to be part of such a special event,” said Kristen Johnson, President and CEO for Make-A-Wish® Eastern North Carolina.  “Through the generous support of the Cossa family and their organization, we will be able to grant several wishes to local children with life-threatening medical conditions in Matt’s memory.”

Based in Cary, the Matt Cossa Memorial Foundation is dedicated to promoting the support of cancer patients, research and treatment. The organization strives to rally the community through the memory of Matt Cossa, a 2003 alumnus of Green Hope High School. Matt lost his courageous battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during his junior year at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in the spring of 2006.

“Matt was always about fun with friends and a passion for life,” said Bill Cossa, CEO of the Matt Cossa Memorial Foundation. “We wanted to bring that spirit to children and their families in the Make-A-Wish program and help them enjoy some relief from the daily challenges that they face.”

Since its inaugural event in 2007, the Matt Cossa Memorial Foundation has raised more than $200,000 for various causes including cancer research and Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina.  Additional information about the Matt Cossa Memorial Foundation can be found by visiting www.mattcossamemorial.org.

Come out on Father’s Day to run or walk with us supporting Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina.  This inaugural event will begin next to Maggiano’s on Main Street and will run around the Streets at Southpoint Mall and then to the beautiful American Tobacco Trail, before returning to Maggiano’s for the Finish.

Entry fee for 5K is $25 per participant.  Register here.

Kevin, 5, has spent the last year in treatment for a brain tumor.  Cameron, 4, is diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  Both children experienced their wishes to visit Walt Disney World recently.

“We are thrilled to help provide these magical experiences to Kevin and Cameron,” said Rich Balot, A Wireless chief executive officer. “We sincerely appreciate the efforts of our employees to make these wishes come true and look forward to working with Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina to bring more smiles to children.”

A Wireless was founded as a partnership in October 1996 in Wilson, North Carolina and incorporated as ABC Phones of North Carolina, Inc. in 1999. The privately-held company, headquartered in Greenville, North Carolina, is an Exclusive Premium Retailer for Verizon Wireless and employs over 700 people at 112 locations in eight states and the District of Columbia. For more information, including employment opportunities, please visit www.myawireless.com.

World Wish Day® is April 29th and celebrates the day Chris Greicius received his wish to be a police officer for a day, inspiring the founding of Make-A-Wish® and the global wish-granting movement.  Throughout the month of April, Make-A-Wish® is celebrating this milestone by conducting a nationwide campaign to support our Wishes In Flight® program, which promotes the donation of frequent flyer miles, a critical wish resource.

Make-A-Wish® Eastern North Carolina has a special opportunity to DOUBLE donations of frequent flyer miles received by April 29th.  If 1 million miles can be raised locally, Make-A-Wish® America will add another 1 million miles!  Over 83% of local wishes are travel-related, so this is a simple and easy way to help and to provide a life-changing wish experience.  To learn more, please visit www.eastnc.wish.org/ways-to-help/celebrateworld-wish-day/ or call 1-800-432-WISH (9474).

The children and their families will travel to the New York City area on Thursday, April 4, for a weekend full of activities that culminates with WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium. In addition to experiencing the excitement of WrestleMania 29, the children will:

 have exclusive opportunities to meet WWE Superstars and Divas including a private autograph session Friday, April 5;
 be inducted into the Circle of Champions at a luncheon with a surprise WWE Superstar at the Liberty Science Center on Saturday, April 6;
 attend the biggest fan event of the year, Fan Axxess, on Sunday, April 7.

WWE has been a supporter of Make-A-Wish for more than 30 years and is host to some of the most dedicated wish granters in the organization’s history. WWE’s popularity transcends generations, and accordingly, the wishes its talent have helped grant number in the thousands. WWE also has given a multi-year commitment to continue its support of Make-A-Wish and its wish-granting activities.

“The anticipation is building for what we know will be an incredible experience for Anjar, Robert, Justin and Trey. All of the wishes we grant for courageous children with life-threatening medical conditions provide wish kids and their families a break from treatment and give them a chance to return from their wish energized and inspired. It can be a life-changing experience,” said Kristen Johnson, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina. “Make-A-Wish is fortunate to have WWE as a supporter who believes so strongly in our mission.”

World Wish Day® is April 29 and celebrates the day Chris Greicius received his wish to be a police officer for a day, inspiring the founding of Make-A-Wish® and the global wish granting movement.  Beginning April 1, Make-A-Wish® will launch an organization-wide campaign to raise the equivalent of airline tickets that enable travel, a critical wish resource.

83% of the wishes that Make-A-Wish® Eastern North Carolina grants are travel related, which amounts to an equivalent of more than 29 million airline miles used on an annual basis.  Donating miles is a simple way to help grant a life-changing wish experience.  To donate miles and learn more about World Wish Day®, please call 1-800-432-WISH (9474) or visit www.eastnc.wish.org/ways-to-help/celebrateworld-wish-day/.

Each year, Make-A-Wish® Eastern North Carolina grants nearly 200 life-changing wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. These wish experiences can be pivot points in the course of a child’s treatment, making them feel better and in some cases, even helping them get better. A wish-come-true strengthens families, provides moments of happiness and inspiration, and helps create strong community bonds.
Nearly 83% percent of wishes that Make-A-Wish® Eastern North Carolina grant require air travel, making it a critical – and costly – resource. In fact, approximately 600 airline tickets, the equivalent of more than 29 million airlines miles, are needed each year to get local wish kids and their families to and from these incredible experiences.

During the month of April, supporters can visit www.eastnc.wish.org/ways-to-help/celebrateworld-wish-day/ to donate dollars or frequent flier miles in just a few easy steps. As an added incentive, WWE® Superstar John Cena® will personally match every frequent flier mile donated in April, up to 4.5 million. United Airlines will also support World Wish Day by matching the donations of its MileagePlus® members, up to 3 million miles, through April 30.

Several other Make-A-Wish sponsors are coordinating special World Wish Day promotions nationally, including Maggiano’s Little Italy®, Marquis®, Brooks Brothers, and Dave & Buster’s. The month will culminate with the announcement of a new, national sponsor.

“Air travel is a critical resource as we work to grant the heartfelt – and oftentimes very creative – wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions,” said Kristen Johnson, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Eastern North Carolina.  “Donating airline miles or dollars will allow us to continue creating thousands of lasting moments for children with life-threatening medical conditions.”

It seemed like just yesterday that Alexis’ cousin, Christopher, had cancer.  Christopher received his wish to go on a cruise to the Bahamas from Make-A-Wish® Eastern North Carolina in 1996.  He passed away just a few weeks after returning from his trip at the age of 17.

Now the family would once again have to rally around one of their own – Alexis, too young to understand the gravity of the situation.  For the next two years, Alexis underwent rigorous chemotherapy.  The medicine prescribed affected her adversely, causing her skin to break out in blisters when exposed to direct sunlight.  Yet another obstacle for a girl who loved to play outside.

During her treatment, Alexis and her family were referred to Make-A-Wish and worked with volunteers Valeria Barrow and Anne Willis.  When asked what she would like to have for her wish, Alexis quickly selected a pink playhouse like the one she saw near her home in Trenton.

Balfour Beatty Construction, a long-time financial supporter of Make-A-Wish, helped make Alexis’ wish come true.  A dedicated group of Raleigh-based employees built and donated the pink-painted playhouse that featured a porch, three windows, a 10-foot ceiling and writeable interior walls.  The perfect wish for a girl who enjoyed drawing and coloring on the walls of her great-grandmother’s house!

“This wish meant a lot to our family,” said Frances.  “It was something that Alexis truly wanted and gave her something to look forward to during her long and painful treatment.”

Along with the playhouse, Alexis received a kid-sized table and chairs, a welcome mat and color markers that will last her at least a year.  Since delivery of the playhouse in November 2012, her “Papa” installed a toy stove that put the finishing touches for her tea parties with friends and family.

The best news came just a few months later on January 8, 2013 – Alexis’ 4^th birthday.  The medical team told Frances and her family that the “cancer cells were gone.”  Happy Birthday Alexis!

Make-A-Wish® Eastern North Carolina is pleased to announce its 2013 Walk for Wishes. This fun 5K walk will be held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC on Sunday, September 8, 2013 and at John Nesbitt Loop in Wrightsville Beach, NC on Sunday, September 22. These walks will honor Wish families and recognize the efforts of sponsors, donors, volunteers and medical staff.  Join us for this fun event and help grant the wishes to more special children.  Register today!

Cary Walk for Wishes

Wrightsville Beach Walk for Wishes

UnitedHealthcare sponsored Bradley’s wish through its national alliance with Make-A-Wish® to support the organization and its mission of granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. As part of a renewed three-year, $3 million alliance, each of Make-A-Wish’s 62 chapters is eligible to receive wish-granting funds. UnitedHealth Group has funded more than 1,250 wishes beginning with its initial three-year, $4.5 million alliance in 2007. Additionally, UnitedHealth Group employees and the dollar-for-dollar company match have donated more than $2.8 million through its annual United Giving Campaign.

“We are very happy to play a role in making Bradley’s wish come true,” said Garland Scott, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina.  “Make-A-Wish truly makes a positive impact in our communities and brings joy to so many children courageously facing life-threatening medical conditions.  We hope Bradley enjoys his deep sea fishing trip in Florida.”

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with 780,000 physicians and other health care professionals and 5,900 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 40 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

World Wish Day® is April 29 and celebrates the day Chris Greicius received his wish to be a police officer for a day, inspiring the founding of Make-A-Wish® and the global wish granting movement.  Beginning April 1, Make-A-Wish® will launch an organization-wide campaign to raise the equivalent of airline tickets that enable travel, a critical wish resource.

80% of the wishes that Make-A-Wish® Eastern North Carolina grants are travel related, which amounts to an equivalent of more than 29 million airline miles used on an annual basis.  Donating miles is a simple way to help grant a life-changing wish experience.  To donate miles and learn more about World Wish Day®, please call 1-800-432-WISH (9474) or visit our website at www.eastnc.wish.org.  You can also follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/eastncwish) and Twitter (@MakeAWishEastNC).

“We are so blessed to be involved in granting Ashley’s wish,” said Clyde Bailey, president of Bailey’s Fine Jewelry. “While a piece of jewelry may seem like such a small thing, we’ve seen the joy it can bring to people and we can’t wait to see that with Ashley.”

Jewelers for Children (JFC) began its relationship with Make-A-Wish® in 1999, continuing the steadfast support for nearly 15 years.  JFC has raised over $8 million for Make-A-Wish®, helping to grant over 1,300 wishes in the U.S.  Jewelers for Children was founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of helping children in need. Since its inception, JFC has donated more than $40 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse or neglect through our charity partners St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Make-A-Wish®, and the National CASA Association. JFC also provides support to Make-A-Wish® International, and the Santa-America Fund. This nationwide success is due to the continuing generosity of jewelry trade organizations, jewelry and watch manufacturing companies, jewelry retail stores, individual jewelry professionals and jewelry consumers.

Founded in 1948, Bailey’s Fine Jewelry is a family owned-and-operated company with stores in Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Greenville and Fayetteville. Bailey’s is dedicated to giving back to the communities it serves and participates in many philanthropic projects throughout the year. Bailey’s offers jewelry from today’s most esteemed designers, exquisite diamonds, estate jewelry, fashion accessories, fine timepieces and gifts. With an emphasis on customer satisfaction, personalized services include custom design, watch and jewelry repair, appraisal and bridal registry. Steeped in family tradition, Bailey’s is one of the most well-regarded and innovative jewelry stores in North Carolina and is best known for its distinctive ‘Bailey Box’ slogan. For more information on Bailey’s, visit their website at www.baileybox.com or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/baileysfinejewelry) and Twitter (@BaileyBoxes).