Mike Halle pays it forward by granting wishes in Arizona

Mike Halle was born and raised in Tucson, and his relationship with Make-A-Wish Arizona began with an unlikely friendship that changed his life forever. 

“I met Ruth Tankersly, or ‘Bazy’ as everyone called her, through the Christian Education Committee and we hit it off,” said Mike. “I always thought she was another horse rider because she was so humble and always wore blue jeans and a riding blouse. One day, she invited me over and I discovered she was an Arabian horse breeder with a family estate!”

“Before she passed away, I was included with two of her children in the Ruth McCormick Charitable Trust. I still pinch myself and think, ‘how does a friend bring you into a family trust?’ but everyone tells me I touched her heart and I am so honored,” he continued.

Ruth Tankersly was a big supporter of causes benefiting children, education and horses, so when Mike considered where to donate his share, he thought back to a personal experience. 

“A friend of mine had a child named Joey, who was diagnosed with leukemia and wished to go to Disney World,” he said. “I thought Make-A-Wish was a perfect fit for Bazy’s legacy and I love the story of how it started with just $37 from the founders reaching into their pockets to see what they could give.”

The first wish Mike was a part of still holds a special place in his heart.

“A child named Ethan wished to have a canopy over his swimming pool because he can’t be in the sun with his condition, and after seeing the pictures I think I cried for three days,” said Mike. “He even wrote me a thank you note, which I will keep forever.” 

In the past four years, Mike is responsible for granting nearly 20 wishes, but he says this year has motivated him to give even more. 

“This is a really hard time for nonprofit organizations, and right now it’s so important to support an organization like Make-A-Wish Arizona that does not receive any government funding,” he said. “I know the pandemic has caused a lot of people to not have the means to give and it feels good that I’m able to grant wishes that change lives for kids in my community.”

“Make-A-Wish has shown me what quality looks like as an organization. These kids deal with such serious illnesses, and a wish gives them the boost that helps them turn things around,” he continued. “Every donation helps a child get to experience a wish that pushes them to keep fighting.”