Wishes Do Come True
In celebration of Make-A-Wish Canada’s 40th anniversary, 40 wish families from across Canada will have their wishes to Walt Disney World Resort granted simultaneously in a special week-long group vacation experience from July 18-25. This is the first time in the organization’s history that 40 wishes have been granted at once. The week will be chock full of special touches including pre-flight, welcome and anniversary parties, and fun family activities.
Having a wish granted is not just a “nice to have” item. It is a life-changing experience for families facing critical illness as they begin to write a new story; one that is focused on positivity. On this historic trip, 40 families will have an opportunity to bond over their shared experience.
Meaghan Stovel McKnight, CEO, Make-A-Wish Canada, said: “A wish is essential for children facing critical illness to support their physical recovery while also strengthening their mental and emotional health.”
Stovel McKnight continued: “For our wish families, this wish trip creates the opportunity to build positive families memories which help with the healing process that they all so vitally need. We are so grateful to all the donors who have made this possible and particularly WestJet, Blue Cross and Sofina Foods Inc. for their exceptional support of our wish kids and families.”
WestJet is generously donating a chartered 737 aircraft and providing crew to fly this VIP (Very Important Plane) from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport to Orlando, Florida.
Blue Cross is not only providing comprehensive travel insurance so that each family can enjoy a worry-free vacation. but will be hosting a pre-flight lounge full of fun family activities, to give families a proper send-off in Toronto before their journey begins.
Sofina Foods has proudly partnered with Make-A-Wish Canada over the past 10 years. Their impact has supported 45 wishes and over $650,000. Sofina Foods’ employees rallied together through their annual Dream Builders’ Campaign and donated an additional $150,000 to help make this trip possible.
Angela Avery, WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief People, Corporate and Sustainability Officer, said: “For the last 16 years, WestJetters have been helping to create a special and memorable travel experience for Wish Kids and their families through our WestJet Cares for Kids program. We could not be more honoured to play an integral role in Make-A-Wish Canada’s 40th anniversary celebration, bringing the care of our WestJetters to each Wish child and their families as they set off on this historic and life-changing trip.”
Tim Bishop, Managing Director, Blue Cross of Canada, said: “We are proud to help make these wishes a reality by providing comprehensive travel insurance so that these incredible kids and families can experience the wonder of travel. This commitment is part of a larger pledge to Make-A-Wish Canada, which will support over 6,000 travel wishes for 26,000 Canadian families over the next few years. We applaud Make-A-Wish on this historic milestone and we are honoured to have been part of this legacy for the last 30 years. Congratulations to all wish family members and we can’t wait to see the joy on their faces as they embark on their long-awaited wish.”
Umeeda Madhany, President, Sofina Foundation, said: “Children’s causes are important to us at Sofina Foods. We know first-hand the positive impact that wishes have, not only on each family, but on their entire community. We know that the positivity that each family will gain from this experience will spread back into each of their communities and enrich the lives of everyone they touch.”
Go to www.makeawish.ca for more.
