Make-A-Wish^® Central and Northern Florida

Celebration, FL – The annual Celebration Exotic Car Festival celebrated a major milestone while celebrating 20 years of charitable giving. Not only did the event mark a milestone 20th year for the CECF Wish Foundation, but the team led by Jim and Jeff Ippoliti raised a record-breaking $600,000 for Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida. MakeA-Wish allows children battling a critical illness to step outside the walls of a sterile hospital room and forget about their next treatment. It restores a sense of normalcy and childhood that their diagnosis has taken from them. A wish provides hope when a child needs it most, restores strength, and has a transformative impact on a child’s life. Research shows a wish can give kids the strength to fight against and even overcome a critical illness. 

“When my brother and I founded the Celebration Exotic Car Festival in 2004, our primary motivation and goal was to raise money for children battling life threatening illnesses. Our plan was to take the best elements of the many exotic car events around the globe, and create one incredible annual event, with all of the money being donated to help these kids. This led us to a fantastic partnership with Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida. We are a 100% volunteer organization, and through the help of many dedicated people that share our vision, we have raised and donated more than $5 million to children’s charities, including Make-A-Wish.” – Jeff Ippoliti, Co-Founder of CECF Wish Foundation

Throughout the 4-day event, the team also played a critical role in granting wish kid Levi’s wish to ride in a Ferrari at Daytona International Speedway. As an avid fan of exotic cars and attending car shows with his family, Levi knew he would have the time of his life during the 4-day event. The Celebration Exotic Car Festival provided Levi with the opportunity to be the honorary judge of the car show, attend the evening gala, and, most importantly, ride in a Ferrari on Daytona International Speedway.

“We are so incredibly grateful for the support we receive through the Celebration Exotic Car Festival each year. Jim, Jeff, and the entire team involved have once again blown us away with their historic donation of $600,000. Thanks to the team, we are able to reach even more children battling a critical illness to make their most heartfelt wish a reality.” 
– Anne Cuba, President and CEO at Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida.

Make-A-Wish® Central and Northern Florida

1020 North Orlando Avenue, Suite 100

Maitland, FL 32751

MEDIA CONTACT: Kelsea Hauck, Director of Marketing via [email protected] or 201-841-5759

The CECF Wish Foundation will present Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida a check for 
$600,000 on Thursday, August 10th at Reggiano’s of Celebration.
Thursday, August 10th, 5:00PM. 
Location: Reggiano’s of Celebration
Address: 691 Front St, Celebration, FL 34747

About Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida:
Make-A-Wish® Central and Northern Florida creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring every eligible child's wish to life because every child deserves a childhood. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 24,000 volunteers across the nation, Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida and 57 other chapters throughout the U.S. have granted more than 360,000 wishes nationwide. 

For more information about Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida, visit wish.org/cnfl