Three adults in bright clothing stand with their arms around each other. In front of them is a large bouquet of red tulips.

Ethie Haworth named Philanthropist of the Year

A woman with short white hair wearing a lime green shirt leans down next to a child in a wheelchair. The child is wearing a pink polka-dot jacket with a matching hairbow. Kneeling down beside the child is a woman with long blond hair. The background is a toy shop.

Ethie, top, with wish kid Makayla and wish mom Nicole during a visit to Teeny Tiny Toy Store in 2019.

Make-A-Wish® America named Ethie Haworth as the 2020 Philanthropist of the Year for her impact on the Make-A-Wish mission.

Haworth, of Saugatuck, was first introduced to Make-A-Wish when her grandson Samuel experienced his wish adventure in 2008. Since then, the Haworths continue to elevate their giving. Ethie’s Teeny Tiny Toy Store in Saugatuck has been the lead sponsor for Wish Ball – West Michigan for six years with plans to continue. As a champion for the Make-A-Wish mission, the Haworths made a generous gift in the early stages of a fundraising campaign to address the current financial need to grant wishes in Michigan. 

“Friends like Ethie are vital to the Make-A-Wish mission,” said Ellie Wilcox, senior director of leadership giving for Make-A-Wish Michigan. “Not only because they help us by giving their time, talent and treasure to Make-A-Wish Michigan, but because she is a wonderful advocate for the work that we do at Make-A-Wish. When Ethie shares the story about her grandson’s wish, people listen. When Ethie talks about what the mission means to her, other people are inspired to get involved.”

Behind every child's wish, there are special individuals, corporations, student organizations and foundations that make it possible.

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