Make-A-Wish^® San Diego is thrilled to announce that their 2022 WINE & WISHES GALA raised a record-breaking $840,000 (and counting) in a single night. The JOY-themed event was held at the prestigious Fairmont Grand Del Mar and raised funds to grant more than 80 future wishes to children with critical illnesses in San Diego.

The posh and playful WINE & WISHES GALA provided guests with a selection of fine wines from California winemakers thanks to event partner Meritage Wine Market. Event sponsors included PSSI, Affirmed Housing, AMN Healthcare, David Bialis, Laura Hart, Kaiser Permanente, Trevor & Cristal Outman, Shipware, and Wheelhouse Credit Union. Table sponsors included BIT Pros, Inc & Discflo Corporation, Tim Broadhead , DPR Construction, The Hegardt Family, Richard Kelley, Omni2Max, Lisa Pedersen, Rady Children's Hospital Foundation, Lauren Sambazis & Amber Vorsheck, Sempra, Justin Tomlin, Trusted Choice, and The Worley Family.

Make-A-Wish San Diego Board Champions Lisa Paul-Hill and Dustin Cano led the charge for this year’s event focusing on Remembering JOY. Event co-emcees included Steven Luke, news anchor with NBC 7 San Diego, and wish kid Julia. Wish kids inspired many aspects of the event from a beautiful play structure on site during wine tastings, drawings that were brought to life for recent wishes, and even the dessert was inspired by a talented wish kid with culinary aspirations.

More than 325 guests attended the event, which included a successful live auction featuring world-renowned surf legend Rob Machado. Special thanks to new Make-A-Wish San Diego board member Tiffany Scarborough and her husband Terry Beck for pledging $100,000 to kick off the Fund-A-Wish paddle raise.

“A wish can be a game-changer for a child with a critical illness and by joining us at our WINE & WISHES GALA, guests were part of the magic that makes wishes come true,” said Suzanne Husby, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish San Diego. “We are so grateful for the generosity of our attendees and sponsors, and that they too believe in the mission of Make-A-Wish — Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.”