Philanthropy Focus: Wish Ball 2022
What a thrill to be back! This past weekend, Bob and I attended Wish Ball 2022 at Camelback Inn – the first fundraiser we’ve been to in-person since 2019, if you can believe it. This year’s theme was “Making Waves,” and I’ll say with absolute certainty that the event lived up to it! From the stunning setting to the elegant décor, to the amazingly generous showing from Arizona’s philanthropic community – waves were surely made. And when I mention waves, I’m not just referring to the palpable energy of support for Make-A-Wish Arizona, but also the enormous wave of wish kids who have become eligible for a wish during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these amazingly coordinated efforts, there continues to be a steady influx of children becoming eligible for their wishes, coupled with many who have been delayed for reasons of health and safety. Funds raised from this event are crucial in granting this wave of wishes.
We kicked off the evening meeting the Wish Ball co-chairs (both of them wish moms) and their respective sons who each suffered the same rare bone disorder. Both sons were granted wishes by Make-A-Wish Arizona a number of years ago and have grown up to be active, healthy young men. I was also able to meet with other wish kid alumni like my friend Lizzie who emceed the event and I last saw when she was just 8 years old. How quickly time flies. Lizzie is now 12 and growing into such a poised and inspiring young woman.
It was such a treat to catch up with Make-A-Wish staff and board members, both past and present, and many donors with whom we’ve built great friendships after more than a decade of attending Wish Ball. This is what organizations like Make-A-Wish Arizona do, bring people together in support of a common, and often transformative goal – in this case, changing the lives of children who suffer from life threatening illnesses.
Thank you, Make-A-Wish, for transporting me back to my days of co-chairing Wish Ball and serving as a board member. This is truly an organization that I treasure. Congratulations on a fabulously successful event, raising over $3.8 million in support of your mission.