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®.
Make-A-Wish® Arizona’s Wish for a New Home Granted by The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
Chapter’s Wish Granting Capacity to Grow to Eventually Reach Every Eligible Child in Arizona
Phoenix, AZ (January 6, 2014) – Thanks to a $2.8 million gift from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, Make-A-Wish® Arizona will soon be moving into a new Wish House. The new property will enable the organization to expand its wish granting capacity to eventually reach every eligible child in Arizona.
The grant also provides for most of the renovation and refurbishment of the new 11,000-square-foot property, located near Thomas and Hayden Road in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Make-A-Wish® Arizona has operated in its current location for more than 20 years. During that period the organization has grown its wish granting capacity from fewer than 125 to 330 wishes per year.
“The need for functional space for our staff, volunteers and the families we serve far exceeds the capacity of our current facility,” said Elizabeth Reich, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona. “Operating within the confines of our current space, we simply cannot grow to serve more children.”
“The new Wish House, so generously made possible by Bob and Renee Parsons, will provide a central location for our wish families and our volunteers, offering a home base of support that will help our chapter reach its vision,” said Derrick Hall, president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks and current board chair for Make-A-Wish Arizona. “Our Board is excited to work with the many advantages this new home will bring.”
An average of 550 Arizona children are newly diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions every year, making them eligible for a wish. Currently, children are referred to Make-A-Wish Arizona at a rate of approximately 400 per year – 50 more than the chapter is able to grant annually. No eligible wish goes ungranted, however the wait for some may be longer than desired.
“As the founding chapter, we are proud that one Arizona boy’s wish started a movement that now reaches children worldwide,” Reich added. “The new Wish House is a game-changer for our chapter. With the Parsons’ gift, Make-A-Wish Arizona will be able to expand our reach within our community to make more wishes come true.”
Make-A-Wish Arizona relies entirely on donors, both individual and corporate, to support their mission of granting the wishes of Arizona children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Bob and Renee Parsons are active donors with Make-A-Wish Arizona, having pledged more than $6.3 million to the organization over the last two years. Renee Parsons also volunteers her time to the organization as a member of the Board of Directors and as a co-chair for the Wish Ball.
“When a child is diagnosed with a life threatening illness their entire family is sent into a tailspin –challenged in ways most of us can’t imagine,” said Renee Parsons. “The new Wish House will be a beacon of hope for these families, and every wish granted a chance to inspire strength and joy.”
For more information, visit www.wishaz.org to discover how you can share the power of a wish®.
Make-A-Wish® Arizona Wish Ball Presented by GoDaddy Raises Record $2.7M Thanks to Gift from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
Bob Parsons Announces “Double-Down” Challenge in Support of Future Wishes
PHOENIX, AZ (April 10, 2013) – Make-A-Wish® Arizona will be able to fund an additional 360 future wishes in Arizona thanks to generous donors, both individual and corporate, who raised $2.7 million at the 2014 Make-A-Wish Arizona Great Wish Ball presented by GoDaddy, the world’s largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses.
Held annually, Wish Ball celebrates the mission of Make-A-Wish Arizona by raising funds to grant the future wishes of Arizona children with life-threatening medical conditions.
This year, Valley entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons made an impromptu announcement – The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation would double-down its support for the evening. The 570 Wish Ball attendees were challenged to give a little extra knowing that their personal donation would make three times the difference.
“We are so pleased that Bob and Renee believe in bringing their special brand of hope to our Arizona wish kids,” said Elizabeth Reich, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona. “This year, because of the incredible generosity of our donors, especially the Parsons who donated $2 million, Wish Ball exceeded all expectations and was by far the most successful fundraising event in Make-A-Wish Arizona’s 34 year history.”
Donating not only dollars but also a motorcycle from his Harley-Davidson of Scottsdale dealership, Bob upped the ante during the live auction this year. Bob shocked and thrilled bidders when he announced that he would get a tattoo with the highest bidder for the 2014 Softail Breakout.
“It is only through the generosity of many that Make-A-Wish is able to have such a remarkable impact on the lives of Arizona wish kids and their families,” said Bob Parsons. “If by doubling-down and having a little fun during the auction we are able to inspire additional gifts to help give hope to these amazing kids, you better believe we are going to do it.”
The ball, which was themed as a “Great Gatsby”-like party, featured a live auction, silent auction, and the ability for attendees to “Fund-A-Wish”. The Fund-A-Wish portion was preceded by a glimpse into a wish experience with Arizona wish kid Logan, 9, whose wish to have a playground built in his community was recently granted.
“Logan and his parents provided a first-hand account of the impact a wish can have on a child who is dealing with a life-threatening medical condition, and their story greatly inspired our donors,” said Reich. “With the average cost of a wish approximately $7,500, this money will help us move closer to our goal of granting more wishes each year.”
“As a member of the board of directors and co-chair for this year’s ball, I could not be more delighted with both the event and the outpouring of generosity from those who chose to spend the evening with us,” said Renee Parsons. “I truly believe when the community comes together, like they did on Saturday evening, amazing things happen – wishes come true.”
For more information, visit www.wishaz.org to discover how you can share the power of a wish®.
