A Partnership Built on Purpose: 27 Years of Making Wishes Come True
Guest article by Dan Sherman, partner at Pacific Plumbing Supply Company
When you own a family business, you look for partners you can trust — people and organizations that share your values. That’s what we found in Make-A-Wish 27 years ago. It’s why we continue to support this outstanding organization, which helps local kids and families while helping Pacific Plumbing Supply fulfill its purpose: making a difference.
In 1948, my grandfather broke away from the family business and established Pacific Plumbing Supply the following year. It has been in our family ever since. Our relationship with Make-A-Wish has deepened that sense of family, aligning with our desire to do the right thing and, simply put, make people happy.
Our first golf tournament was a fun way to bring our contractors and vendors together — to connect and enjoy time together away from work. We also wanted to benefit a charity that shared our values and gave us an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in our community.
After a few years, Make-A-Wish surfaced in our discussions, and we knew it was the right fit.
We take pride in our work and in partnering with the right people. We’re passionate about what we do, and we value that same passion in others. We’ve seen it in our Make-A-Wish partners over the years. Together, that passion has helped us raise more than $440,000 for Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington over the past 27 years.
Our most recent golf tournament — our 34th — set a record, raising $38,500. We embraced a Hawaiian theme and invited our guests to take part in wish kid Emily’s wish presentation, just two days after her birthday.
After golfing all day, we gathered with some Make-A-Wish staff and Emily’s family. We sang “Happy Birthday” and watched as Emily learned that her wish to go to Hawaii would be granted on Valentine’s Day 2027.
Nothing pulls at the heartstrings like seeing the joy on a child’s face when they learn their wish will come true. The hope a wish creates is palpable. When Emily’s family spoke at dinner, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Giving flowed naturally.
For someone in the plumbing industry, we understand the difference it makes when you can solve a problem for someone. You show up when they need you, find a solution and help make things better. There’s a similar sense of relief and joy when a child’s wish comes true. A critical illness can take away so much of what makes childhood special. Make-A-Wish helps give some of that back — giving kids the chance to smile, laugh, play and imagine, and simply feel like kids again.
Make-A-Wish changes lives and invites people, like all of us at Pacific, to be part of that change. The mission is pure and unifying: it’s about helping kids. Pacific Plumbing Supply is all in.
Together, we can meet the need and support those who dedicate their time and energy to changing lives.
If you have an idea for a fundraiser to support wish granting, please contact Jessica Quijada at jquijada@akwa.wish.org.
