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Make-A-Wish® Mid-South has been granting wishes and making children smile in Arkansas since 1996. The month of July was Make-A-Wish Month in Arkansas with the theme Wishes in July.
Some businesses chose to let employees dress casually if they donated. Stars were sold and percentage of proceeds nights were taken. The main purpose was to raise awareness and funds that would help enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy by granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.
In that spirit, I want to tell you a story. It’s about a girl named Chloe. In 2012, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and given one year to live. She was in high school and was faced with the great reality that she might be approaching the end of her life. During her treatment at St. Jude’s Hospital, her social worker there talked with her about the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Chloe had always loved the water and water animals. So, her wish was to go to Bora Bora to experience the marine life with her sister. Her wish was granted. They sent her to Bora Bora and part of that experience was going to Lagunarium and actually getting in the water with the sea animals! It was a dream come true.
This video below shares more of her story and the story of another young boy.
I spoke with her recently about her experience and her health. As of now, I am happy to report that Chloe’s tumor is currently stable (not growing)! She is now attending the University of Arkansas majoring in social work. This summer she has been serving as a development intern to the Make-A-Wish Mid-South in Little Rock.
There are two Make-A-Wish Mid-South offices in Arkansas. The first one is in Little Rock and the second opened in January in Northwest Arkansas. If you are interested in being involved, here are a few ways to do just that:
Volunteer
- Bilingual Volunteers to assist with talking to families
- Pre-flight Captains to help navigate at a few local airports
- Wish Granters to meet with families & work with staff planning & executing.
- Event Volunteers to serve in a variety of roles in upcoming events.
- Office Angels to use their skills to help with the many office tasks that are needed.
Give
- Donate Money
- Donate air miles
- Matching gifts
- Planned giving
Raise Funds
Support them with your purchases See their website for items which proceeds directly benefit Make-A-Wish.
Be a sponsor
Contact information:
Little Rock Office
Make-A-Wish Mid-South, Arkansas Office
320 Executive Court
Suite 101
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 376-9474
Toll Free (888) 376-9474
Northwest Arkansas office:
Contact: Esther Wills
ewills@midsouth.wish.org
(501) 258-6836
All images courtesy of Esther Wills & Chloe Sanders with Make-A-Wish Mid-South.
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