BOSTON, MA (April 6, 2024) – Over $1.2M was raised at the 2024 Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island Gala on Saturday, April 6, in support of granting wishes for local children with critical illnesses.
As the organization kicks off World Wish Month—a global celebration of the Make-A-Wish mission— the Gala brought together nearly 600 Make-A-Wish supporters, recent wish recipients, and members of the alumni Wish Community for an evening of storytelling and generous fundraising.
The evening’s theme highlighted the five common types of wishes, as the organization joined with Boston Celtics President Rich Gotham in a surprise wish reveal to 9-year-old Tairih King of Dorchester, MA, announcing that his wish to meet Jayson Tatum will be granted on April 11 at TD Garden. Tairih’s tears of joy were visible as he learned his wish is coming true. Tairih also assisted with announcing the winner of the night’s Boston Celtics raffle for Game 1 NBA Playoffs tickets generously donated by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation.
As he helped kick off the evening program at the Gala, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island CEO Sean Holleran emphasized the charity’s current need for additional support. With over 650 eligible children waiting for wishes, the organization is budgeted to grant 370 wishes this year. “We have built tremendous momentum but we are at a crossroads. We need to be there for every single eligible child who has been referred to us. Make-A-Wish is a ‘yes’ organization and we do not want to be in a position to have a child wait even one day more than necessary.”
Additional featured wishes during the evening program included Mansfield, MA, 10-year-old Mark “Swaggy” Lane’s wish to meet the Savannah Bananas baseball team, granted last summer in Savannah. Mark’s father, Brian Lane, spoke about its impact on their entire family, saying, “Our favorite part was the feeling of community that everyone along the way created for Mark and for his siblings.” Mark and his four siblings and mother Aprill Lane then joined Brian on stage to perform Mark’s signature Bananas-inspired dance.
Nina Macri, 17, of North Attleboro, MA, shared how her bedroom makeover wish with HGTV/ABC design star Taniya Nayak came at just the right time in her life. “Through this experience, I got an incredible new room,” said Macri. “I also gained a family through Make-A-Wish. For once, having CF brought me something good. I love this Make-A-Wish community.”
With videos throughout the program and interactive Wish Stations during the cocktail reception, additional wishes and wish recipients highlighted included:
- 18-year-old Amelia Zai from Westwood, MA, who wished to give back by writing an activity book for pediatric oncology patients. The Westwood teen, whose book release party was hosted at best-selling author Jeff Kinney’s bookstore, An Unlikely Story, last summer, signed copies of her book for Gala guests.
- Raelyn Augusto, 7, of Lincoln, RI, who decorated treats during the Gala cocktail reception in honor of her 2023 wish to be a pastry chef at Pixar Studios in California
- Alyssa Dos Santos, 7, of Pawtucket, RI, whose wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort was granted last August
- Jake Drake of Florida, whose wish to meet Rob Gronkowski, was granted this past fall in Foxboro. Gronkowski is a past recipient of the charity’s Wish Hero Award.
The Make-A-Wish Gala Committee was honored with the 2024 Wish Hero Award, presented by Chief Advancement Officer George Deveney, in recognition of the group’s unwavering support in bringing hope, strength, and joy to wish children.
“This committee is passionate about the Make-A-Wish mission and we work hard to make this event not only a successful fundraiser but also an experience that you will enjoy and remember,” said Committee Chair Cheryl Wilkinson of The Colony Group as she addressed the audience during the award presentation.
The 2024 Community Hero Award, which recognizes those who empower wish children and Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island beyond measure, was presented to growth-stage private equity firm PSG by Make-A-Wish Board Chair Tim Grady of PwC. “Among all the causes PSG supports in the community through impressive corporate citizenship, they make our wish children a priority,” said Grady.
“Even though there are only a few of us on stage tonight, over 140 employees have been involved [with Make-A-Wish],” Glosser said. “As a local, impactful organization that brings us all together, Make-A-Wish is a shining example of what PSG strives to support in our community.”
Premier Sponsors of the 2024 Make-A-Wish Gala were PSG and Steve and Deborah Barnes. Star Sponsors included The Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, Brown Brothers Harriman, The Colony Group, The Crimson Lion Lavine Family Foundation, The Keene Family, Kirkland and Ellis, PwC, The Red Sox Foundation, and The Rees Family.
Major in-kind supporters of the Gala included A.M. DePrisco of Wellesley, An Unlikely Story, Boston Dynamics, Corvus Vodka, Creative Playthings, and 90+ Cellars.
Longtime Make-A-Wish supporters Liz Brunner of Brunner Communications and John Terrio of Auction Knights hosted the mission-based evening program and auction/Fund-A-Wish portion of the night respectively, bringing their passion for the Make-A-Wish mission to the stage at SoWa Power Station in Boston. Local artist Ben Jundanian displayed his talents as he created an interactive art piece during the event, portraying guests’ requests in a “Make-A-Wish World” mural.
As Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island celebrates World Wish Month this April, individuals, businesses, and community groups can visit www.massri.wish.org/worldwishmonth to learn more about getting involved as WishMakers through events, promotions, and more, including the virtual Walk & Roll For Wishes with special guest Rob Gronkowski coming up on April 27-29.
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About Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. A wish can be a spark that helps a child believe anything is possible. In the face of life-threatening medical conditions, wishes enable children to experience profound joy, renewed strength and resiliency, and lasting hope to keep striving and dreaming for the future. Together with generous supporters and 450+ volunteers, the organization has granted the wishes of over 10,000 children in Massachusetts and Rhode Island since its founding, and its vision is to grant the wish of every medically eligible child. The organization celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023 and relies on the generosity of the community to continue its wish-granting work. To learn more and get involved, visit www.massri.wish.org.
About World Wish Month
During World Wish Month this April, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island joins with other U.S. chapters, international affiliates and supporters worldwide to celebrate the Make-A-Wish mission and the power of wish—and to encourage people to take action to grant more life-changing wishes through the “WishMakers Wanted” campaign. World Wish Month culminates on April 29, the anniversary of the granting of the wish that inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish. Learn more about World Wish Month opportunities at www.massri.wish.org/wishmaker.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND GALA PHOTO/VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:
Heather Davidson, Sr. Manager, Communications - [email protected]