(Cleveland, OH) August 18th, 2021 – Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana (Make-A-Wish OKI) is pleased to announce the Prince & Izant Hope is Essential Gala on Friday, August 6th at Hilton Downtown Cleveland raised more than $700,000! The record is enough to make more than 70 wishes come true for northeast Ohio children with critical illnesses.
“This past year, we all experienced what it feels like to wait for hope,” said Keri Haibach, Northern Ohio Sr. Market Director of Advancement. “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for all of our gala sponsors and guests who opened their hearts and gave generously to bring hope, strength, and joy to kids going through their darkest days. It was an unforgettable evening celebrating the Make-A-Wish mission, and I think everyone who attended left feeling more hopeful about their future too.”
The Hope is Essential Gala wouldn’t have been possible without Title Sponsor Prince & Izant or Hope Sponsors, Eaton Foundation, and the Levanduski family. Thank you also to Strength Sponsors, Lincoln Electric, Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Parker Hannifin, Penske Cleveland, and Tito’s Handmake Vodka, as well as our Digital Sponsor, Deloitte. And thank you to the Hope is Essential Gala committee comprised of Cheryl Levanduski, Lisa Margolis, Brenda Kucinski, Charlie Toil, Chris Sutcliffe and Terri Schreiber.
Guests enjoyed dinner and drinks, heard inspiring wish stories, bid on live and silent auction packages, and were treated to a performance by wish kid alumni Madeline. Make-A-Wish OKI followed all guidance from national and international public health and government organizations to host a safe event.
SAVE THE DATE for the 2022 Make-A-Wish Hope is Essential Gala on Friday, May 13th, 2022 at Hilton Downtown Cleveland!
About Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana:
Make-A-Wish® OKI creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in 1983, we have granted more than 18,000 wishes, and in fiscal year 2020, granted the largest number of wishes in the country. Make-A-Wish is more than wish granting, it’s a global movement of transforming lives through hope, and wishes need YOU! Due to the global pandemic, more children are waiting for a wish than ever before. To learn more about how you can donate, volunteer and share our mission, visit: wish.org/oki and follow us on social media @makeawishohkyin