The Century Village East in Deerfield Beach held its 3rd Annual Tennis Fundraiser to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida. This fundraiser included tennis lesson's from the Village's Tennis Instructor, Mark Joffey, and an extensive silent auction was held at Le Club on March 16th. This year's event raised an amazing $6,680 or more importantly enough to grant a child's wish!
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The Theta Xi chapter of Alpha Xi Delta sorority at Florida International University has been tremendous supporters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida by participating in our Wishmakers on Campus program this ’07-‘08 school year. In the Fall of ‘07 AZD raised $5K to sponsor 3 year old Zuyami’s wish to go to Walt Disney World. In the spring of ’08 AZD raised an additional $4200 through their annual “Xi Man” competition which incorporates the entire Greek community at FIU to raise money in support of Make-A-Wish. Thanks to the sisters of AZD for their hard work and outstanding commitment to the Foundation!
A generous thanks goes out to Quarterdeck in Palm Beach Gardens for hosting Swishes for Wishes: March Madness Watch Party. Quarterdeck donated first drink free and appetizer buffet for the Palm Beach Wishmakers to enjoy.
The Miami-Dade Wishmakers and more than 60 Make-A-Wish supporters celebrated Carnaval style aboard the luxury party yacht Aqua and raised over $1400 for the Foundation. Guests enjoyed the festive atmosphere with champagne toasts, Caipirinhas, tasty hors D'Oeuvres and a traditional Brazilian Dance performance. A special thank you to all of our guests who bared the rare cold South Florida night and to Aqua, Boca Loca, Big Chef, Piola USA, ZMann, and Maculele Capoeira for their contributions.
More than 125 people attended the Miami-Dade Wishmakers exclusive networking reception at SET. Guests enjoyed an intimate atmosphere at the South Beach hot spot while sipping on complimentary drinks courtesy of The Opium Group and Premier Beverage. This event raised an amazing $2800 or more importantly enough to become a wish partner and help grant a child's wish like 11-year-old Ricardo. Ricardo's wish was to go on an enchanting getaway to Paris, France but because of his battle with muscular dystrophy his doctor advised against it. That's when he came up with the idea for a family cacation to the Paris Las Vegas Hotel where he felt like he was truly in France and even got to climb the Vegas-style Eiffel Tower.
Car enthusiasts joined together to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida at the Florida Mopar Nationals. which was held at University Dodge. Attendees enjoyed the cars on display while curbing their appetite with concessions sponsored by the District #3 Moose Lodge. Members of the Moose Lodge raised $1500 in concession sales.
Field of Wishes Softball Tournament
Eight teams competed to win the 1st Annual Field of Wishes Softball Tournament. After a long day of games, NY Mercantile Stock Exchange came out on top as the champions! A big thank you to Regional Park, team sponsors and the players.
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Four wish families pitched in to help celebrate the start of baseball season. The Florida Marlins hosted Make-A-Wish Wish Families for an afternoon of fun and games at their Caravan to Boomers in Hollywood. Wish Children and their families enjoyed coaster rides, basketball, bowling and even the chance to bump into their favorite Marlins players, Mermaids and Billy the Marlin on the bumper boats. The Make-A-Wish Foundation thanks the Florida Marlins for their commitment to the South Florida Community and wish them continued success.
Cactus Moon Dancers lined up to help make wishes come true at their 6th Annual Helping Hands Line Dance Workshop. Veterans and beginners alike stepped together and raised over $700 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida.
Bettina's wish soon became a goal. She wanted to help grant at least one child's wish. To help her accomplish this goal she set her sights on running the Marathon of the Palm Beaches and begin soliciting donations. Bettina's fundraising efforts raised enough to become a wish partner for Hannah's wish. Hannah suffers from Chronic Vasculitis. Despite her illness, Hannah is like most girgls her age, she enjoys the beauty and athleticism of horses and her wish is to go horseback riding-but just not anywhere. Hannah is also proud of her Irish heritage and wants to visit Ireland, so her ultimate wish is to go horseback riding in Ireland in thee summer of 2008.
Make-A-Wish volunteers got hockey fans to team up for a chance to win some money and help charity by participating in the 50/50 Lucky Ticket Drawing at the January 30th Florida Panthers Game. The evening's drawing raised $965.
In celebration of Art Basel The Sports Club/LA in Miami hosted the Luxury Art Ball to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida. Guests enjoyed complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres as they toured the art work on display. This event raised over $700.
B.R.I.A.'s Monthly Meeting
The members of the Broward Real Estate Investors Association (B.R.E.I.A.)and their guests raised $1518 at their December meeting to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida. B.R.I.A. has been hosting fundraisers since 2003 and has raised close to $15,000.
The Rainforest Cafe at Sawgrass Mills hosted a Civic Safari which benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida. Rainforest Cafe donated 10% of meal and retail purchases from Make-A-Wish supporters between the hours of 5pm - 8pm.
Applebee's Breakfast with Santa
AppleSauce Inc. (a division of Applebee's) teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida to grant the wishes of four children in the South Florida area. Locations in Florida City, Cutler Bay, Doral, Plantation, Pembroke Pines, Margate, Tamarac, Coral Springs, Sawgrass and Southwest Ranches held a special Breakfast with Santa at their store locations on Saturday, December 8th to raise money to help them achieve their goal of granting four special wishes.
The Sawgrass store took this partnership one step further when the General Manager, Don Gore, challenged his staff. He told them if they made more dontations than any of the other South Florida stores they could shave him a new hairdo, a mowhawk! As you can see from the pictures, Don's employees stepped up to the challenge and Don has a new hairdo thanks to his dedicated staff and community members that have donated on behalf of the Foundation. They didn't stop there....while at the breakfast, special guest wish child Robert was asked to make a Christmas list. Don and his staff went above and beyond by purchasing gifts for Robert and his family as well as their assigned wish child Dylan.
AppleSauce Inc., a regional corporate sponsor, raised $20,000 total to grant the wishes of four very special wish children.
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Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Dress Down Friday
The Clerk & Comptroller's Dress Down Friday charity program began in 1994, when employees requested a relaxed dress code for Fridays. In return for wearing casusal attire each Friday, employees have the option of donating $2 a week from their paycheck. The contributions raised each pay period are donated to nonprofit organization selected by employees. Make-A-Wish Foundation of Sourthern Florida was fortunate enough to be one of the selected charities this quarter. Currently nearly 50% of the Clerk & Comptroller employees participate in the Dress Down Friday Charity program. Since it's inception, the program has donated over $448,000 to more than 30 charities.
Pictured (top): Sharon R. Bock, Clerk & Comptroller of Palm Beach County, and representatives from all benefiting charities
(bottom): Sharon R. Bock and Deirdre Trevett (Make-A-Wish Foundation)
Vine Bar Wine Tasting
Tracy of 2Racy Fitness & her teammates hosted a Wine Tasting event to benefit Make-A-Wish to help them achieve their goal of sponsoring a wish. The team will be participating in the 2008 Disney half marathon in January. To make their experience more meaningful they decided to align with Make-A-Wish to help fulfill a child's wish. The team has been working earnestly to prepare for the race and to grant a child's wish. Their hard work has finally paid off..after the Vine Bar event Tracy & her teammates have secured in excess of $5,000 in donations which will actualize Terry's wish to go to Walt Disney World.
Pictured (top, l to r): Sandi DiSalvo, Mary Owens, Joanne Ryan, Martha Gibell and Caroline Nicholson
(bottom, l to r): Caroline Nicholson, Sandi DiSalvo, Mary Owens, Tracy Walsh, Martha Gibell
This fall, students and families from La Petite Academies in and around the tri-county area helped make wishes come true. From Oct. 22-26 Learning Care Group Brand Companies natonwide held fall festival events complete with food, games and fun to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Pictures featured are from local La Petite Academy in Royal Palm Beach.
Author Yvonne Addario held a private book signing and dedication for her new book, "Treasure Diving wiith Captain Dom" to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida. Yvonne Addario agreed to donate 20% of the evening's book sales. This intimate reception sold 26 books and raised $80 for the Foundation.
