LIHU‘E — Kukui Grove Center this Saturday, Aug. 6 is the site of free anniversary events hosted by Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i, celebrating 40 years of granting life-changing “wishes” for local children with critical illnesses.
Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i thanks presenting sponsor Domino’s Hawai‘i for its continued support of Make-A-Wish and the anniversary event that features live entertainment, keiki activities, prize giveaways and family fun.
“Over the past 40 years, Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i has seen the power that granting wishes has to transform lives, engage communities in life-changing moments and give children and their families the hope and strength to fight harder against their critical illness,” said Trini Kaopuiki Clark, Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i president and CEO.
“The majority of wish kids go on to live healthy lives and reflect on their wish as a turning point in their recovery journey,” she said. “With the support of our community, donors, volunteers and our dedicated staff, we look forward to granting wishes for another 40 years.”
Make-A-Wish was organized and founded on Sept. 15, 1982 by Jack Stanford, a local businessman with a passion for serving the community. The group granted its very first wish in 1983 to Albert Ackerman, a 10-year-old boy from Hilo diagnosed with leukemia who dreamed of visiting Disneyland with his family.
Since granting that first wish, Make-A-Wish has grown into one of the busiest chapters in the nation, granting more than 1,500 local community wishes and hosting more than 17,000 wishes from mainland chapters.
All funds raised for Make-A-Wish stay in Hawai‘i to bring local children with critical illnesses one step closer to brighter days.
During the Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i 40th anniversary, the group is striving to reach its goal of granting 40 more wishes to local keiki from now through the end of this year.
Everyone’s support is welcome, and contributions can be done securely through the website, hawaii.wish.org.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
