BOSTON, Massachusetts – Over $1.5 million was raised on Saturday evening, April 1, as Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island welcomed 600 guests and supporters to SoWa Power Station in Boston for its annual Make-A-Wish Gala. The energy was high all night long as guests heard from wish recipients and wish parents, honored award recipients David Ortiz and PwC, and celebrated the organization’s 40th anniversary and its mission of granting life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Presenting Sponsors of the Make-A-Wish Gala were PSG and Steve and Deborah Barnes. 
 
The 2023 Wish Hero Award was presented to David “Big Papi” Ortiz. Ortiz has granted an impressive 39 wishes through Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including one for Stephan Zepeda. Zepeda had his wish to meet Ortiz granted in 2007, and said it was the best day of his life. The experience was featured on ESPN’s My Wish series. Zepeda passed away from his disease, neurofibromatosis type II, last summer. His parents, Faby and Doug LeColst of Middleton, MA, his sister Madison, and his cousin Joshua Zepeda helped present Ortiz with the award. Ortiz was visibly moved by the honor and reuniting with Zepeda’s family. During his acceptance remarks, Ortiz said “Being able to make a wish happen is an honor…it’s one of the biggest homeruns that I could ever hit.” He wrapped up his remarks, saying, “To the Make-A-Wish Foundation and to all the kids, you can always count on Papi.” 

During the 40th anniversary celebration, Ortiz granted his ceremonial 40th wish, surprising 14-year-old Dominic Driscoll of Middleboro, MA, with a reveal that his wish for a Red Sox experience will be granted this season. Driscoll, who has congenital heart disease, is one of the top amateur power-hitting and pitching prospects in the country, and hopes to be the first player with congenital heart disease to be drafted by a Major League Baseball team. Driscoll raises awareness and funding for congenital heart disease charities, a cause close to Ortiz’s heart and at the focus of The David Ortiz Children’s Fund. 

The hope and joy that a wish provides were highlighted throughout the evening with playful touches, beginning with a presence of the 501st Legion, a costuming organization dedicated to celebrating STAR WARS™ and a longtime supporter of Make-A-Wish, during cocktail hour, and culminating with an ice cream truck for late night desserts. Liz Brunner of Brunner Communications returned for her 17th year as emcee of the event. The Community Hero Award was presented to PwC for their decades of support through generous financial gifts and leadership through the Board of Directors and newly launched Make-A-Wish Emerging Community Leaders Council. The award was accepted by PwC Partner Tim Grady, who serves as Vice Chair on the Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island Board. 

Wish recipient Colby Horvath, 11, of Lexington, MA, and his mom Courtney Horvath, shared the story of Colby’s cancer diagnosis and wish to meet a Disney Imagineer. “My wish trip was the first time since my diagnosis that we [my family] got to just have fun together without worrying about my cancer,” said Colby during his remarks. “When things were really hard for me during my treatments, thinking about my wish really gave me something to look forward to.” Colby, a young man dedicated to giving back, created 40 limited edition 3D stars that he distributed during the Afterglow reception, collecting donations for the organization. 

Macy Sullivan, originally from Milton, MA, and now New York City resident, shared the story of her wish for a backyard playhouse that was granted in 2002. Macy’s yellow playhouse was driven cross-country and lifted into her yard by crane. On her wish day, the star of her local town’s school production of Annie sang her favorite song, “Tomorrow.” Macy told the crowd, “When she stood on the steps of my very own house and sang, “the sun will come out tomorrow,” for the first time in my life, I believe it to be true.” Macy credits her wish for showing her that dreams come true, and she’s now living her dream as an Associate Publicist on Broadway. 

Many more wish recipients and families were in attendance, including Derrick “DJ” Cook, from Springfield, MA, who wished for a swimming pool, Jose Rios-Bello, from Roslindale, MA, who wished to meet Tom Brady, and Elivette Garcia, from Salem, MA, who wished for a trip to Hawaii. DJ, Jose, Colby, and Elivette each had the chance to meet and have their photos taken with Ortiz. “He shook my hand and he was touching my shoulder,” Cook said of his interaction with Ortiz, “so I am never washing my hand or my shoulder again.” 

An animated live auction and Fund-A-Wish were hosted by Auction Knights’ John Terrio of Dennis, MA, who has supported the organization for 30 years. Upon completion of the program, guests enjoyed an Afterglow reception sponsored by Good Dogg Beverage, with live music by Night Shift Entertainment. 

To learn more about Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island and find out how you can get involved during its 40th anniversary year, visit massri.wish.org. The organization’s next fundraiser is its annual Wine and Wishes tasting event, Friday, April 28, at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter in Boston. 

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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 400+ volunteers, the organization has granted the wishes of nearly 10,000 children in Massachusetts and Rhode Island since its founding 40 years ago, and its vision is to grant the wish of every medically eligible child. For more information, visit www.massri.wish.org.