Celebrating 25 Years of Granting Wishes!
Celebrating a Milestone in our Chapter's History: 25 Years of Success in the World of Wish Granting!
It was in June of 1985 that Bob Cleaveland and Greg Wong left Washington to attend a conference for life insurance investors. As they sat in a room with more than 5,000 others, these two unsuspecting individuals were on the verge of a decision that would change their lives and thousands of others. And, they didn't even know it.
Barely out of its infancy, representatives from an organization called the Make-A-Wish Foundation presented an incredible story about a very ill child who wished to be a police officer for a day and the community that rallied together to make his wish a reality. But, the story didn't end there. Out of this one wish, an inspiring organization grew from zero to 50 (chapters) in just five years and they were seeking the help of others to make it blossom further.
Enter, Bob and Greg.
And then there were three
It started with just the two of them, and then quickly a third, Penni Maples, joined their ranks to complete their motivated team.
In January of 1986, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington was born. The three set up an answering machine in Bob's spare bedroom, talked to everyone they knew about the organization, and began reeling in wishes, one child at a time.
Bob and Greg hit the pavement to generate the funds, while Penni headed up the wish granting and public relations efforts.
In the Beginning
It was just a handful of dedicated individuals who pulled together the Foundation we know today. For each of the founders, the beginning of Make-A-Wish in Washington was a stirring time, experienced differently by all three.
Penni remembers their car trips south to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon who played an instrumental role in helping our chapter get off the ground.
In an odd twist of fate, Greg's own three-year-old son was diagnosed with Leukemia just a few years after he helped to co-found the chapter. His ties to Make-A-Wish then became even more meaningful as one of his fellow Make-A-Wish board colleagues became his son's physician.
Bob recalls one of the earliest wish kids: Armando, from Central Washington, who wished to meet the world famous WWE superstar: Hulk Hogan. He will never forget the moment Hulk wrapped his championship belt around Armando's waist. Inspiring memories like these propelled the local chapter to the success that it enjoys today.
Oh the Places We'll Go!
Since its humble beginnings with a few dedicated friends and an answering machine in the bedroom, the local chapter has granted wishes to more than 4,500 children in the Northwest. At its start, the chapter took on six wishes in one year. This year, we will grant 332 wishes to local children in Alaska and Washington.
Special thanks to all those who have come before us and all those who will come after us for their love, dedication and great support allowing our mission to grow and thrive. Here's to the next 25 years!
