Dear Friends and Family,

In December 2005, Alexa, Olivia & Sophia Andrisani decided they wanted to help make other kids’ dreams come true by raising money for Make-A-Wish®. After watching the movie Elf, in which Buddy the Elf says that “the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear,” they came up with the idea of singing Christmas carols in their community to raise money for Make-A-Wish®. Along with their friends Riley, Molly & Evan Paolino and Jillian, Megan & Michael Foster, they began going door to door singing songs and spreading Christmas cheer to raise money so that sick children could experience the power of a wish.  Over the past seventeen years many others have joined the team of carolers – including the St. Anastasia Varsity Girls Basketball Team – to keep this tradition alive and growing.  Together, we have raised over $342,000 for Make-A-Wish® to provide hope and the magic of granting a child’s wish to sick children and their families in our local area.  With your help, we are hoping to raise even more this year.

The money raised has been used to grant wishes that have brightened the spirits of, and provided strength and encouragement to some incredibly brave children who are battling serious illnesses in our community. One wish child – who received his wish of going to Hawaii during a break in his chemotherapy treatments with money that had been raised by the carolers – best described the power of a wish in his thank you note:

"I am now 18 years old, three years in remission and embarking on my college career. You have inspired me to help others. I hope someday to be in a position to return the favor to someone else in need. Your kindness, generosity and selflessness will never be forgotten. It gave me hope during the most difficult times of my treatment and battle to overcome cancer and it has inspired me to help others by offering them hope through the power of a wish. Thank you and God bless."

Your generous donation can help inspire hope and make a wish come true for a child battling a serious illness, while providing strength and courage to the child and their family during the battle. We hope that you will be touched by the love and joy of this Christmas season and will be inspired to donate in support of our efforts.

You Can Make A Difference . . .

On its own, a wish is not a cure, but wishes do have the power to change lives. Wishes settle deep inside the hearts of seriously ill children and become a source of strength they can draw upon to manage, or even overcome, their medical conditions. Indeed, the results of a national survey confirm the power of a wish:

• 89% of doctors, nurses, social workers and child life specialists reported that they believe that the wish experience can influence wish kids’ physical health.
• 83% of adult former wish kids confirmed that the wish experience improved their physical health and strength.
• 97% of adult former wish kids reported that receiving a wish provided them with improved mental and emotional health.
• 79% of adult former wish kids confirmed that the wish experience marked a turning point in their treatment and recovery and 74% of wish parents reported that the wish experience marked a turning point in their own child’s response to treatment.
• 76% of adult former wish kids indicated that their wish experience helped them continue to comply with their medical treatment protocols and 81% of wish parents observed that the wish experience improved their child’s willingness and ability to continue to comply with their treatment protocols.

No donation is too small to help make a difference.

Thank you for your support. May God bless you and those you love with peace, love, and happiness this holiday season! Merry Christmas!