News Releases

See below listing for our latest news releases about major wish-granting events, campaigns, and other news.

ShopRite Donates Over $119,000 to Support Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley

Contact:
Abraham Almanza
[email protected]
914.478.9503

ShopRite has raised over $653,000 for Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley over the last six years

TARRYTOWN, NY (August 2, 2022) ShopRite announced that its annual Make-A-Wish® fundraising campaign raised $119,168 to benefit Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley. Twenty-seven ShopRite stores throughout the Hudson Valley collected donations at checkout from April 16 – April 30. The funds raised will support Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley and its mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Since its inception in 1986, Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley has granted more than 3,000 wishes for children in the Hudson Valley region. To date, ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc. has raised over $653,000 for Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley.

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Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley Announces World Wish Day Celebration with the Hudson Valley Renegades on April 29

Contact:
Abraham Almanza
[email protected]
914.478.9503

World Wish Day 2022 Capped Off with the Introduction of Brand-New Wish Impact Study

TARRYTOWN, NY (April 12, 2022) Having granted more than 3,000 wishes for children with critical illnesses since the chapter’s founding in 1986, Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley staff, volunteers and supporters know about the power of a wish and how it restores hope for local children battling with critical illnesses.

Every year, Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley – along with other chapters and affiliates worldwide – celebrate World Wish Day on April 29, the anniversary of the wish that inspired the founding of the organization 42 years ago.

In celebration of World Wish Day, Make-A-Wish supporters are invited to celebrate the power of a wish at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, NY to rally around the tagline:

“Restore hope with a wish.”

In partnership with the Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, Make-A-Wish will host a local World Wish Day Ambassador, wish kid Bryan and his family, to represent the over 3,000 children who have had a wish granted by the chapter. Bryan will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch and take part in on-field activities at the Renegades game that night. In addition, Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley President & CEO, Kristine Burton and Bryan will spend time in the radio broadcast booth to talk about the impact of a wish and how everyone has the power to restore hope with a wish.

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Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley Announces New CEO, Kristine Burton

Contact:
Abraham Almanza
[email protected]
914.478.9503

Former VP of Madison Square Garden’s Garden of Dreams Foundation Succeeds Retiring CEO Thomas J. Conklin

TARRYTOWN, NY (December 16, 2021) –Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley today announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Kristine Burton as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding CEO Thomas J. Conklin, who is retiring after serving for 17 years. Ms. Burton’s appointment will become effective January 3, 2022. 

With more than two decades of experience in the non-profit field, Ms. Burton has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of young people who need it most. Most recently, for the past 12 years, she served as the Vice President of Madison Square Garden’s (MSG) Garden of Dreams Foundation, where she was responsible for all aspects of the multi-million-dollar non-profit charity, including all strategic, operational, fundraising and programming efforts, as well as board management and administrative matters.

Ms. Burton is a graduate of State University of New York at Geneseo and has her Sport Philanthropy Executive Certificate from George Washington University School of Business. A lifelong resident of Westchester County and a graduate of Ossining High School, Ms. Burton currently resides in Peekskill.

The search for Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley’s CEO was led by Sagency, an executive search and leadership consulting firm, and a search committee made up of Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley Board members, with Casey Tansey, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Mid-South and Make-A-Wish America’s, Nicole Statt.