With a 300-person Wish Night fundraiser at Ocean Gateway on Nov. 11, Make-a-Wish Maine celebrated 1,700 wishes granted since the nonprofit was founded in 1992. The event helped raise $300,000.
“We celebrate the life-changing impact of granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses,” said event co-chair Jess Chamberlain.
The evening featured country rock band 12/OC, festive drinks and heavy appetizers, live and silent auctions, inspirational stories and wish-themed activities.
Guests wore corsages in honor of Declan’s wish for a garden in 2022, ate cake pops in honor of Skylar’s 2018 wish to bake with “Cake Boss”, played the video game Cruisin’ in honoring Jeffrey’s 2010 wish to meet Dale Earnhardt Jr., spun hoops in honor of Nick’s 2020 wish to have his own yard and threw horseshoes in honor of Cody’s wish in 2016 to visit a dude ranch.
A photographer took portraits of guests on a red carpet alongside cardboard cutouts of Dolly Parton and John Cena in honor of six Wish kids from Maine who got to meet their favorite celebrities – Parton, Cena, Emeril Lagasse, Zac Efron, Katy Perry and Rascal Flatts.
“I’ve seen the challenges our Wish families face and how one wish can be a turning point,” said board chair Hannah May of Cumberland. “It gives the family something to focus on, focusing on the wish, not the disease.”
The highlight of Wish Night was a Disney-esque theatrical production announcing that Wish’s child Ainsley Huckins (and twin sister Jordan Huckins) will soon be princesses in the Magic Kingdom. Make-a-Wish volunteer, 20, Hayley Desjardins put the crowns on the girls’ heads – a looping moment for a former Wish kid who had the same Disney dream when she was 7 with a serious bone marrow disease.
“Crowning these two little princesses was such an incredible and moving experience,” said Desjardins. “Being able to grant Ainsley’s wish is a memory I will cherish, and I hope Ainsley and his family will too.”
On average, Make-a-Wish grants one wish every five days. Information about Make-a-Wish Maine’s Season of Wishes campaign, which runs through December 16, can be found at wish.org/maine/season-wishes.
Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer and photographer based in Scarborough. She can be reached at [email protected]
” Previous
Freeport teenager welding metal sculptures with a message
Next ”
Related stories
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Use the form below to reset your password. After you submit your account email, we’ll send you an email with a reset code.