I wish to go to Sea World

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Kate's wish was to touch a manta ray at Sea World. Her grandpa had previously given her a set of animal encyclopedias.  While looking through one of the books, she came across manta rays and had talked about wanting to see a real manta ray ever since.

Her favorite moment at Sea World was touching the manta rays, including one that was 4 feet long.  Kate described the experience as "awesome".   Kate also wanted to touch a dolphine.  But, she was afraid to touch the animal's head so the tour guide had the dolphin turn around so she could touch its tail.                   

At the Disney Parks her favorite moment was meeting the characters, especially the Princesses. Belle asked her if she had any friends that were princesses, and Kate replied "you".  When she met Ariel, Kate told her she was beautiful.  Ariel replied, "I think you are beautiful, too".   Ariel then gave Kate a few sequins from her tail.           

Kate's parents were overwhelmed by the trip, and how it affect their daughter.  They wrote to us, "Our family wants to thank the thoughtful individuals and businesses that donate to the Make A Wish Foundation.  If they could have been with us on our trip and seen Kate's reactions to each new experience they would understand why thank you cannot truly express how grateful we are. We would also like to thank everyone at the Foundation for granting Kate's Wish.  It was a great experience that created wonderful memories for Kate and our family."

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I wish to go to Spring Training.

Six year old Wish Child Cole is a typical little boy.  He loves baseball, and he loves the St. Louis Cardinals.   So you can imagine his joy when he got his wish to go to Spring Training in Jupiter, Florida.

Cole and his family left for Florida on March 21st, thanks to the Jewelers for Children organization that sponsored his wish.  Cole's mother Laura was overwhelmed by the experience.  “I cannot begin to describe all the amazing things the Make-A-Wish Foundation® did to make this trip so very special,” she said.

During Cole's first day as part of a Major League baseball team, he was given a tour of Roger Dean stadium, which is the place the Cards call “home” during the spring.  David Eckstein and Scott Rolen went out their way to make Cole feel special.  Rolen gave Cole a bat and some batting gloves.  Eckstein played catch with Cole and even threw him some batting practice.  Cole's mom said, “"One he hit through Davids legs, and he is so proud!”

Cole's second day at Spring Training was equally exciting.  The New York Mets adopted Cole for the day, and made him an honorary coach.  Cole says the Mets are his second favorite team, and the players flooded Cole with autographs and other gifts. 

The Cardinals saved the best for last, as Cole watched the entire third game between the Cards and Mets from inside the Cardinals dugout!   He even got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.   Cole's mom Laura said, “"Scott Spiezio, Aaron Miles, Adam Kennedy and others took time to sit with him and talk to him. They were so great to him, and he had the greatest time!"

The journey to Jupiter was a remarkable experience for Cole and his family.   To the Jewelers For Children organization that sponsored the wish, and everybody who supports the mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, Cole's mother has this message- “"It was the trip of a lifetime.  We were a million miles away from cancer.”"

"I wish to go to on a Cruise"

The sun was beating. The St. Louis humidity was raging. And the General Motors Wentzville Assembly Plan employees were working hard–each trying to get necessary responsibilities completed before their annual two-week shut-down.

The day was trying to be typical and yet, instead, it was anything but. It wasthe day twelve-year-old Wish Child Garrett received his Wish “Bon Voyage”and thousands joined the Make-A-Wish Foundation to Share the Power of a Wish.®

Wish Child Garrett wished for a cruise of the southern Caribbean. A wish sponsored by the United Auto Workers, General Motors and participating GM dealers, Garrett was invited to the Wentzville Assembly Center to receive his airline tickets and send-off.

At 8:15 a.m. on June 25, Garrett and his family were on their way to a day filled with surprise and excitement. Rick Hinzpeter,Quality Manager with General Motors, arrived in one of the Wentzville Assembly Center’s fine conversion vans to transport the family from a day of ordinary to a day of boundless joy.

Arriving to the Wentzville Assembly Center,Wish Child Garrett was escorted into the plant’s holding lobby which was brimful of employees surrounded by festive “cruise” décor. Plant Manager Mike Camp addressed Garrett and his family and gifts began rolling. The Make-A-Wish Foundation presented Garrett his airline tickets and a bag full of fun selected by Wish Granters Elaine Theisen and Cathy Flynn, General Motors employee and St. Louis Cardinals practice pitcher John Lackey provided Garrett with three autographed baseballs – autographed by Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen!

Gary Style and Bill Schiltz, President and Chairman of the UAW Local 2250
respectively, presented Garrett a festive basket of gifts General Motors Dealers Kendall Austin with ELCO Chevrolet, Sam Massey with Bommarito Automotive Group and Brad Matheny with Lou Fusz Automotive Network joined with Area Service Managers Ron Mercer and Paul Greenland as participants in the send-off.

Each stop was a bundle of showstopping awe. At the stops, and even throughout the plant, dozens of signs were seen autographed by employees wanting to wish Garrett well on his trip. Employees were everywhere, wearing their tropicals, smiling
and waving as the tram went by. Wish Child Garrett went home from his send-off pumped and ready for the cruise of his lifetime. Employees had provided bags and bags of goodies to make his trip a blast. From beach balls to snorkeling gear and swimsuits to commemorative items, the employees at the Wentzville Assembly Center went beyond anything imaginable to make sure Garrett remembered his send-off, his trip and then some.

To United Auto Workers and General Motors employees nation-wide, you really
have caught the spirit of the Foundation’s work. You took an “airline ticket delivery” to unparalleled heights and made Garrett’s wish one of sheer excitement complete with lifetimes of memories. Garrett & his family were treated to a grand tour of the Wentzville Assembly Plant.

"I wish to go to Walt Disney World"

It’s not every day that someone gets to their gate at Lambert Airport in St. Louis to find a bright balloon arch, cake, and presents, all of which to welcome them to their boarding! But for Wish Teen Kanidryana, who was traveling by air for her first time, this was the case, all due to the generosity of American Airlines, American Eagle and the Something MAAgic Foundation, as well as Aramark and American Airlines Credit Union.

Kanidryana’s wish was to go to Walt Disney World® Resorts. American Airlines wanted to play a major role in helping her on her way to the “time of her life!” American Airlines Customer Service Manager Vera Schrock and Flight Attendant Paul Hines volunteered their personal time and escorted Kanidryana all the way to Florida. Of the experience,Vera said,“The Wish Flight was one of my most positive, unforgettable and rewarding experiences in my life. It was the biggest thrill for me to see Kanidryana’s face when we came off the plane in Orlando and
about 50 volunteers greeted her with clapping and shouting her name.
It was a moment in time I will never forget.”

Kanidryana thoroughly enjoyed her wish and it will remain a memory to celebrate forever. We thank Chapter Sponsor American Airlines for their earnest efforts in making wishes come true.