Make-A-Wish? Arizona

Our Gen-Z intern made Bryan Ortiz, Senior Wish Manager, take them on a Wish House Tour. ??? Want an official tour of the Parsons Wish House in Scottsdale? Visit us to learn how Make-A-Wish began in Arizona and see our historic timeline featuring nearly 45 years of wishes! Schedule a tour! ? DM us or email [email protected].

Dena Zell, Partner at Capital Asset Management, has joined the Make-A-Wish? Arizona Board of Directors. ?? After facilitating the sale of her family’s brokerage firm, ZELL, in 2021, she joined Capital Asset Management, focusing on strategic retailer rollouts and managing over 6 million square feet of retail space in Arizona. Recognized as a top performer in her industry, she was named a 2024 Person to Know in Commercial Real Estate. Dena served as Co-Chair for the 2024 Make-A-Wish Arizona Wish Ball.?

?? This Saturday, we’re cycling for wishes! ??♀? Join our Wish Support Manager, Sawyer Kilen, and the Make-A-Wish Arizona team at El Tour de Tucson to help make life-changing wishes come true. Your donation brings joy, hope, and strength to children facing critical illness. Donate at ?? https://lnkd.in/gCttThAp.

This fall, Paul's Ace Hardware Family of Hardware Stores and their customers came together to support Arizona children through our Round Up for Change campaign. ?? Thanks to their generosity, we've raised $11,602 to help grant life-changing wishes for children battling critical illnesses. ?? We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and for the continued commitment to making wishes come true. ? Thank you!

James P., Co-President of Lifted Trucks, has joined the Make-A-Wish? Arizona board.???? With a passion for entrepreneurship, creative marketing, and sales processes, James co-founded a tech company during his time at Arizona State University that offered mobile streaming video services to the restaurant industry.?He now leads Lifted Trucks, a niche independent automotive group with a network of dealerships across the nation.

#WishStory ? | Alessandra, 6, loves to play house. ??? Indoors, outdoors, in her room, or in any room of the house, she can often be found playing house with her brother and her friends, weaving a fantasy where she never has to go to the hospital again. That would be a big ask considering her critical heart condition has required multiple surgeries, months in and out of the hospital, doctors’ appointments, and even five helicopter transports for emergency care. “I found out about Make-A-Wish in a Facebook group for heart kids,” said Alessandra’s mother, Raquel. “When her volunteers came to speak to her about her wish, she wasn’t 100 percent sure what she would wish for, but when they talked about a playhouse, she was excited.” The playhouse, built by Enrique’s Littletown Playhouse, includes a slide, doors and windows, and a front porch to greet her “guests.” Alessandra is ready to invite her little friends and have fun together in her playhouse. “I want to invite Sofia and my brother to my playhouse,” said Alessandra. “To see Alessandra’s wish come true means everything to us. Being able to see her so happy after all she’s gone through fills us with so much joy that we simply can’t explain in words,” said Raquel, Alessandra’s mother. “This wish will help Alessandra express that positive attitude that characterizes her, but that sometimes she finds it difficult to show it anywhere else other than here at home.” Unwrap the power of a wish for kids like Alessandra by making a donation today. ?? arizona.wish.org/donate

Since 1980, Make-A-Wish? Arizona has transformed lives, one wish at a time. Today and every day, we are inspired by our community of supporters, whose acts of generosity make a big impact on the lives of children facing critical illnesses. Thank you for helping unwrap the power of a wish. ?? Visit arizona.wish.org/donate to make a difference this #NationalPhilanthropyDay. ??

Michael Hilburn, VP of Event Development and Production for the Arizona Diamondbacks, has joined the Make-A-Wish Arizona board.??? He leads Arizona Diamondbacks Events and Entertainment (ADEE), responsible for Chase Field. Hilburn first led event operations and production upon joining in 2018, adding responsibility for event sales, booking, and promotion in 2021. He focuses on utilizing the ballpark in unique ways that create lifelong memories for guests.??

We love seeing local partnerships in action! ?? In July, the Peoria Subaru of America team joined forces with the Make-A-Wish? Arizona chapter to create custom airport signs for wish kids heading off on their dream trips. From Hawaii to NYC and many places in between, our wish kids were celebrated before traveling in July and August — and these signs added an extra touch of joy for the journeys ahead. A huge thank you to Peoria Subaru for helping make these wish send-offs so special. Together, we’re spreading hope and joy to children with critical illnesses, one trip at a time.

This Veteran's Day, we’re highlighting the power of a wish. ??? Meet Isacc, 15, whose wish of becoming a fighter pilot came true! After watching Top Gun, Isacc became obsessed with airplanes and has dreamed of joining the Air Force ever since.? ? While he’s no stranger to flying fighter jets in video games, his wish to be an honorary fighter pilot was a day he’ll never forget.? “Seeing everything up close was amazing. The coolest part was sitting in the F-35A cockpit!” – Isacc ? Thanks to the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Isacc was treated to a guided tour of the 61st Fighter Squadron and the F-35A Lightning II. ? ? Isacc picked the call sign "Axe-Man" (because he loves to play guitar ??) and even received his very own flight suit! He put his gaming skills to the test in an F-16 Fighting Falcon simulator. ??? ? This #VeteransDay, you can help other kids like Isacc’s dreams take flight. Your donation can make a wish come true for children facing critical illness. Donate at ?? arizona.wish.org/donate. ??