VOL 26 ISSUE 1 SPRING/SUMMER 2017 Serving children in the 15 counties of the 518 area code since 1987 Albany, Clinton, Columbia,Wishmaker Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington counties in upstate New York YEARS OF WISHES Wishmakers is published twice a year by Make-A-Wish Northeast New York 3 Washington Square Albany, NY 12205 518.456.9474 (WISH) Fax 518.782.0618 with gratitude E-mail [email protected] this issue www.neny.wish.org from the Board Chairman and CEO To Our Valued Donors and Volunteers, BOARD OF TRUSTEES Brian V. Hannafin, Chairman Since the start of our current business year on September 1, 2016, we have enjoyed H Sarah McKinney, Vice Chair WIS Microsoft Corporation an extraordinary time of first-ever wishes granted and fundraising records broken! T-A- ADOP Steven Kuring, Secretary The adventure began last September when 11-year old Landon, of Troy, had his GE Power & Water wish granted to meet and to be blessed by Pope Francis in Rome. Then, on January 2 4 6 Kristen D. Berdar, CPA, CMA, Treasurer 18, 2017, a nine-year-old girl from Clifton Park became the first Wish Kid in our BST & Co., LLP chapter to meet the President of the United States – President Obama, that is. And Adopt-A-Wish campaign Our 30 year history Gala 2017 Jennifer M. Boll, Esq. Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC literally one day before he completed his eight years in office! Lisa M. Clifford Key Private Bank James Considine In March, two key events happened. We launched our 30th anniversary as a Make-A- Philips Healthcare Wish chapter at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga with a most-ever 500 guests, netting David A. Druzynski, Jr. Auto/Mate Dealership Systems a record $260,000 for our wish granting program. And then we granted another “wish Judith C. Gabler first” – sending 16-year-old Tyler to Portland, OR to enjoy a NIKE experience and Realty USA James R. Giordano meet world-renowned shoe designer, Tinker Hatfield. And then we granted Wish No. Latham Pool Products 1,700 in April, sending 17-year-old Cameron on a very special Senior Class trip to John S. Hinkle CommerceHub Italy and Rome for a European Travel wish. Wow! And the adventure continues! Reid C. Hutchins 8 9 10 Advantage Capital Partners We are truly blessed to have been able to grant these and so many other incredible Michael P. Lasch World Wish Day Preview: Walk for Wishes Pine Street Capital Partners wishes since last fall, thanks to the dedication, commitment, and generosity of Wishes David O’Leary, Esq. AYCO Company, LLP volunteers and donors who are broadening the impact of our great mission locally. Sharon Phillips We continue to build a strong and visionary Board of Trustees, as reflected in the CAP COM Federal Credit Union Gary Sancilio profiles of three new trustees elected to the Board this spring: Sharon Phillips of The Affinity Group, LLC CAP COM Federal Credit Union, Judi Gabler of RealtyUSA, and David O’Leary of Joshua Spiegel the Ayco Company. Trans-Border Global Freight Systems, Inc. Chris Walton Total Facility Solutions/M+W Group Andrew Weibrecht We continue to develop opportunities for sustainable growth of the chapter, as U.S. Olympic Ski Team we continue to establish and deepen relationships with major supporters like the Price Chopper/Golub Corporation, Green Mountain Electric Supply, C2 Design & EX OFFICIO 12 13 14 Chief Executive Officer Architecture, and Callanan Industries, to name just a few. It is their commitment – William C. Trigg, III, Ph.D. and yours – that make magical wishes like Tyler’s and Cameron’s come true! Wish Jump / Wish 1,700 New Board Members Volunteers Honored STAFF William C. Trigg, III, Ph.D. We are proud to share their exciting stories, as well as the stories of wishes granted Chief Executive Officer in the past six months, and the exciting ways we are engaging our donors and the Caryn Anatriello public to help fulfill our vision of granting the wish of every eligible child in our Director, Mission Delivery Margot Anderson, CFRE chapter. We and our Wish Families are immensely grateful for your support, as Director of Philanthropy donors and as volunteers. Thank you for helping us to transform lives, one Kirsten Broschinsky Director of Annual Giving wish at a time! We wish you and your families a safe and relaxing summer season! Erin Goodfellow, LMSW Manager of Volunteer Engagement Jaime Ralston Best wishes always, Wish Coordinator Tim Riley 16 17 19 Director, Marketing & Communications Kyle Elizabeth Wixted Wish Manager Adopting Wishes / Fundraising Events Dave & Buster’s continues Mackenzie Watroba Administrative Coordinator Brian V. Hannafin William C. Trigg, III, Ph.D. Legacy of Wishes support Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer SPRING/SUMMER 2017 / 01 Upcoming 2017 7/19 8th Annual Tech Valley Charity Golf Tournament Saratoga National Make-A-Wish 7/26 NYS Laborers Golf Tournament Saratoga National events MARK 7/27 SP Livingston Golf Tournament YOUR Winding Brook Country Club, Valatie CALENDARS 7/29 American Legion Post 337 Golf Tournament Broadalbin JUNE 2017 Wish Jump 2017 6/4 Ryan’s 20th Annual Make-A-Wish Fishing Tournament Skydive the Ranch, Gardiner, NY 7 Mile Waterworks Park, Albany Wack’s Ride 6/5 Kingsway Community Annual Golf Tournament Queensbury Mohawk Golf Club, Schenectady 7/30 Wish Family Picnic 6/15 Volunteer Appreciation event Adopt-A-Wish Joe Bruno Stadium, Troy Hilton Garden Inn, Troy 6/25 Set Sail for Wishes AUGUST 2017 campaign marks Captain JP Cruise, Troy 8/12 Walk for Wishes WISH Joe Bruno Stadium, Troy T-A- JULY 2017 A OP 24th year with 8/17 Play it Foreward 518 Golf Tournament D 7/8 Team Dame Golf Outing and Barbecue Van Patten Golf Course, Clifton Park Fairways of Halfmoon 8/19 Bobbie Arsenault Memorial Family Day strong local support North Country Flying Togers Charity Fun Fly Air Show Butler Park, Averill Park Fort Edward 8/22 Board of Trustees Annual Meeting 7/19 Naked Turtle Golf Tournament Mid-November marked the beginning Star sales at Trustco Bank branches Madison, 11, “I Wish to Go to Plattsburgh of the 24th annual Adopt-A-Wish were particularly strong, with more Walt Disney World Resort” campaign that kicked off at Crossgates than $20,000 generated through the Connor, 18, “I Wish to go on an Mall and wrapped up in March with branches alone. Island Beach Vacation” final school donations. The tradition Mall campaigns were impressive The Ambassadors helped to continued with the “sale” of paper this year as well with nearly $75,000 support the sales of the wish stars, Chapter Facts and Figures stars throughout the holiday season, raised throughout the various and many could be found at area each with a photo and story of a locations. Schools raised a record malls and schools, helping with the local Wish Kid. In all more than amount of more than $20,500. This campaign and meeting supporters. HISTORY Once the wish is approved, the $167,000 was raised this year! included Troy School 14 with just “These Ambassadors, like all our Make-A-Wish® traces its beginning volunteers work with the chapter With support of a small army over $1,500, St. Jude the Apostle Wish Kids and Teens, are the real to one boy’s wish. In 1980, 7-year- staff to make the wish come true. of volunteers, the Adopt-A-Wish school with nearly $1,000, and stars! We thank them, our sponsors, old Christopher James Greicius Our chapter grants 90-100 wishes Campaign is one of the most well- Turnpike and Rensselaer Park and our volunteers for making the from Arizona was being treated for each year and has granted more than known and successful fundraising Elementary Schools that combined campaign a success again this year,” leukemia. Every day, he dreamed 1,700 wishes since 1987. campaigns in the Capital Region. their efforts to raise just over said CEO William Trigg. of becoming a police officer. Thanks “Hundreds of volunteers from across $2,000! to the generosity of some caring FUNDING the chapter participate in local This year’s campaign individuals, Chris was sworn in as Make-A-Wish Northeast New York malls, schools, and businesses to Ambassadors included: the first honorary patrolman in the is a non-profit, tax exempt organi- make sure that we raise the needed Jacob, 12, “I wish to history of Arizona. Thus, the Chris zation under Section 501(c)(3) of funds to help grant every eligible go on a Western train Greicius Make-A-Wish Memorial the IRS code and does not receive Granters, volunteer at fundraising local child’s wish,” said Kirsten adventure” – which later became the Make-A- any state or federal funding. All events, help in the chapter office or Brochinsky, Director of Annual Nicky, 4, “I wish to go Wish Foundation of America – funding comes from individuals, serve on a committee. Both individ- Giving. The funds raised are key in to Atlantis” was born. corporations, grants and special uals and companies can organize events. The average cost of a wish a special event or make a financial granting the nearly 100 wishes that Faith, 10, “I wish to go WISH GRANTING are taken on by the chapter yearly. on a Disney Cruise” is $12,000. contribution to the chapter. Volunteer Wish Granters are For more information please This year, stars were available David, 12, “I wish to go assigned to a child after medical at Aviation Mall, Champlain to Walt Disney World” HOW TO GET INVOLVED visit our website at www.neny.wish.