Make-A-Wish® Arizona Wish Ball raises more than $765,000 to help fund 100+ future wishes.

PHOENIX (April 16, 2015) — Make-A-Wish® Arizona raised more than $765,000 during the 2015 Make-A-Wish Arizona Studio 540 Wish Ball presented by GoDaddy. Proceeds from the event, held on Saturday, April 11, will help grant 102 Arizona wishes.
The Wish Ball, which celebrates the mission of Make-A-Wish Arizona by raising funds to grant the wishes of Arizona children with life-threatening medical conditions, has long been a significant event for the chapter. This year, the 1970s disco themed evening was attended by more than 550 people who, including City of Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, dressed in colorful patterns and styles from the era to show their support.
In addition to being a fundraiser for future Arizona wishes, the event honored current Make-A-Wish Arizona Board Chairman Derrick Hall, president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the Tom and Madena Stewart Lifetime Compassion Award. The award recognizes outstanding community members who have brought honor to themselves, Make-A-Wish Arizona, and the communities where they work and live.
The evening also featured a special national award presentation by David Williams, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish® America. Bob and Renee Parsons were recognized as Philanthropists of the Year by Williams for their significant commitment to Make-A-Wish over the past six years. Through The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, the couple have gifted more than $6.3 million to the Arizona chapter, including a recent gift of almost $3 million to support the purchase of the chapter’s new home, The Parsons Wish House.
“We are all put on this earth to help each other,” said Make-A-Wish Arizona Board Member Renee Parsons. “Sometimes the smallest gestures of kindness, the granting of a seemingly simple wish, can make the biggest difference. Being part of that difference for Arizona Wish Kids and their families is one of our greatest joys.”
Renee Parsons, who served as co-chair of the 2013 and 2014 Wish Balls, again partnered with Jennifer Moser, of Rose+Moser+Allyn Public & Online Relations, to co-chair the ball. This year’s fun Studio 540 theme had special meaning to the co-chairs and organization as more than 540 children in Arizona are diagnosed annually with life-threatening medical conditions that would make them eligible for a wish.
Beyond the awards and silent auction, event highlights included a heartfelt video tribute and an energetic live auction, made more exciting by Bob Parsons who created a bidding frenzy over a 2015 Dyna Low Rider donated by Harley-Davidson of Scottsdale. Parsons offered to match the total bid with a cash donation and get a tattoo with the winner.
“Bob and Renee and Derrick have truly embraced our chapter, dedicating not only their dollars, but also their time and talents, toward our vision of granting the wish of every eligible child in Arizona,” said Elizabeth Reich, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona. “With the money raised during our event, we can grant an additional 102 wishes in the coming year, providing hope, strength and joy to more wish kids and their families than ever before.”
About Make-A-Wish® Arizona
Make-A-Wish® Arizona is the founding chapter of Make-A-Wish®, the world’s largest wish granting organization which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. With the help of generous donors, Make-A-Wish Arizona grants more than 300 wishes annually. For more information, visit www.arizona.wish.org to discover how you can share the power of a wish®.