| NEWS RELEASE | Past Events |
Make-A-Wish Foundation Ball, Friday, April 17, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2009
Contact:
Liz Kaplan, Chief Development Officer
Cell phone: 602-463-1240
lkaplan@wishaz.org
NFL superhero Kurt Warner, and Brenda Warner,
join Make-A-Wish to celebrate everyday heroes
Presenting the 13th annual Wish Ball, Friday, April 17, 2009 “Celebrating the superhero in all of us.”
PHOENIX—The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Arizona is honoring celebrity heroes and everyday heroes at the 2009 Wish Ball, proving that it doesn’t take superpowers to be a hero in the life of a child. “Celebrating the superhero in all of us” is the theme of this year’s black-tie gala, which will be held April 17 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix.
The evening will celebrate heroes from all walks of life, from sports and politics to education and philanthropy. Festivities include live and silent auctions, cocktails, a gourmet dinner, live entertainment and a presentation by wish recipients. Presenting media sponsor is 12 News. 12 News anchor Lin Sue Cooney will serve as the mistress of ceremonies.
The chair of the 2009 Wish Ball is Tina Majerle, and Arizona superheroes Kurt and Brenda Warner, have been named as honorary co-chairs of the event.
“We deeply appreciate the support of the Warners, the Arizona Cardinals, and all of our local sports teams,” says Robin Dunn, CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona. “We are proud to honor them for their role as heroes in the lives of the children we serve. It is the courage and strength of these amazing kids that truly make them the real superheroes.”
Kurt and Brenda Warner will be recognized at the gala for their commitment to philanthropy, their passion for children and their ongoing support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Each year the Kurt Warner First Things First Foundation provides a week-long trip to Walt Disney World® Resort for dozens of deserving children around the country, including children from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona. Last June, three Arizona wish families joined the Warners and families from St. Louis and Iowa for the seventh annual Florida trip.
Last January, Warner also made a wish come true for 16-year-old Chris. The teen football fan traveled from Massachusetts to meet Warner, his all-time favorite player. Meeting Warner and attending the Cardinals game kept Chris surrounded by the game he loved, and looking forward to playing again after his medical treatments were complete.
The goal of this year's Wish Ball is to raise $800,000 to fund more than 100 wishes for children like Chris. Tickets are $500 per person and include appetizers, cocktails, a gourmet dinner and entertainment. Table sponsorships and seating with celebrity heroes are also available. All proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona to grant wishes to critically-ill Arizona kids. For more information, call Liz Kaplan at 602-463-1240 or visit www.wishaz.org.
Or Contact: Robin Dunn, CEO, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona
Cell phone: 602-317-8028
About the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona is the place where wishes began in 1980, with a young boy’s dream of becoming a police officer, and is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona is launching a new campaign goal to grant more than 500 wishes per year in five years. The chapter has granted more than 3,200 wishes in Arizona since its inception. For more information, visit www.wishaz.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.