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Christmas in July at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital: A First Hand Look at the lives touched by Kids Wish Network

Elizabeth — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:34:45 +0000

When I tell people that I work for Kids Wish Network, I usually get asked the same set of questions. What exactly do you do? How do children qualify to have a wish granted? What are some of the wishes you’ve done? Do you get to meet the kids?

You might think that since I work at a children’s charity that I spend my days playing with kids and getting to see smiles on many faces. But the truth is that Kids Wish Network caters to so many children across the country that the opportunity for us to work with our children face-to-face does not present itself very often. Usually, the only interaction we get with our kids is when we speak with them on the phone or we get photos. Today, however, I was able to see what our work does in a real life setting, not just through the lens of a camera. This was made possible thanks to our friends at St. Joseph’s Hospitals and our gift bank program.

Kids Wish Network has a very unique program called the Holiday of Hope Gift Bank. This program allows us to donate literally millions of dollars worth of brand new toys to children’s facilities across the country. Games, puzzles, books, dolls and stuffed animals are given to children who need them the most. These toys are put in hospital and rehab playrooms, given as a birthday gift and distributed to young boys and girls who are scared and unsure of what their next hospital visit will bring. Our donations go a long way to brighten the lives of these very deserving children.

Kids Wish Network brought over $22,000 worth of brand new toys for the kids at St. Joseph’s today as part of a Christmas in July celebration. Our gift bank donations are made possible through the kindness and generosity of many companies, and a large portion of today’s gift bank came from our friends at the Social & Community Service Committee at Home Shopping Network.

I was lucky enough to tag along today with the mission of seeing KWN in action to write about it. Prior to going, I wondered if there were going to be kids in attendance, and I was super excited to find out many little boys and girls were inside coloring and playing.

I am a sucker for kids. Being at Kids Wish Network for over a year now has even more so amplified my love for children, and has really given me a heart for kids fighting illnesses and diseases. Getting to interact with the kids today has been my best day at Kids Wish Network by far.

I was lucky enough to talk to many kids today, but I was even luckier to meet David and Ezra.

I first saw Ezra with his mom, his little bald head bobbing up a down through the sea of children. His second birthday is just a few weeks away, and he will most likely spend it in the hospital receiving chemotherapy. Today was a fun and exciting day for Ezra, a day spent playing with new friends. When he saw that there was an inflatable kiddy pool filled with blow-up beach balls, he made a beeline for it. I approached his mom and informed her that her son was adorable, found out his name, and proceeded to play ‘throw all the balls out of the pool’ with him. He was determined not to have those balls in that pool, and he did a pretty good job of keeping them out. I kept saying, ‘get out of here ball,’ each time he would throw them out. And before we left, he repeated my phrase with a very small, somewhat tired voice.

David came by to visit during Ezra’s game. A cute, little red-headed boy, David was followed closely by his mother, and his IV pole. He was shyer than Ezra, but when Ezra climbed out of the pool and handed him a beach ball, he was soon ready to join the fun. I think that the funniest part of the day came when David noticed the inflatable flip flops, found a comfy spot on the floor, removed his sneakers, and proceeded to put the flip flops on his feet. Smart kid. He knew those shoes were supposed to be on his feet, not in a pool.

When the excitement of our toy donation, the commotion from the cameras and news crews and the noise from the entire Land ‘O Lakes high school football team died down, I snagged a quick interview with Nora Gunn, the Director of Development for St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation. I wanted to know what her job requires and what Kids Wish Network’s donation of toys means for the foundation.

“We are the fundraising arm for the hospital to help support patient care and capitol projects like construction and commercial outreach,” Gunn said. “We fund for St. Joseph’s Children’s, St. Joseph’s Women’s, the main hospital and St. Joseph’s North.”

Nora said that this is the second year the foundation has teamed up with Kids Wish Network. She said that the toys will be a big help to the patients.

“We have playrooms and we use the toys to stock all four playrooms. We also use them for special occasions like birthdays and special procedures,” said Gunn. “The toys certainly help keep the children’s minds off their hospitalization. It keeps their spirits up and helps with the healing process.”

Doing research for my job has often led me to articles and websites that reiterate Gunn’s comment: A happy patient is a healthy patient. Seeing the smiles on those kids’ faces today really proved to me how true this is. Even though they were at a hospital, they were having fun and it was helping them forget what was going on. They were smiling, not crying. They were playing, not lying in a hospital bed.

I am not sure when the time will arise again for me to interact with the children who are impacted by our work at Kids Wish Network, but I am anxiously waiting the next time I get to play with children like David and Ezra. The time I spent putting a smile on their faces today may have been a small moment in their lives, but it was a moment where they were smiling, not worrying about what is happening to them.

I am so proud of everyone at Kids Wish Network and for working so hard at what they do. Their efforts are impacting the lives of children across the country. I am also proud to say that I am a member of the KWN team.

Elizabeth
Wish Department

We Need More Heroes!

Margo — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:46:38 +0000

Last month we launched our first ever online photo contest here at Kids Wish Network. Our wish kids (Hero of the Month and Life-Threatening wishes) submitted their favorite photos depicting them on their wish, or receiving or enjoying their Hero of the Month award. I was looking over the photos this morning and we have gotten some really good ones in. There is just one thing missing….WE NEED MORE HERO PHOTOS!! Our Hero of the Month recipients aren’t represented very well on the photo contest page. We have 1 – little Miguel from CA. He’s holding his own in the competition, but he needs some company!

Come on Heroes, rep your program!!! We have received great pictures from our Heroes in the past, but we can’t enter the contest on your behalf. Send us your photos and enter for your chance to win some really cool prizes and tell your family and friends to vote, vote, vote!!!

Margo

Hero Facility Coordinator

Wishes Get Bigger as Disney World Expands!

Alicia — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:40:33 +0000

Almost half of the kids who have their wishes granted through Kids Wish Network wish to visit the awesome theme parks here in sunny Florida. Whether they prefer the Walt Disney World Resort or the Universal Studios Resort, it doesn’t matter; they just have too much fun! Either way, at both awesome parks, the kids who wish to visit there will now have some new experiences and memories to take home with them! I’m talking ALL NEW RIDES and ATTRACTIONS!

Now, as a Florida resident, I’ve been spoiled with only a one hour drive to Disney and Universal and I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited all of the parks at their respective resorts. I can honestly say that, though I’ve been excited about visiting these parks whenever I go, I’m more excited to visit them now than I ever have been before. Why? Because they’re expanding!

At Universal Studios, you can now visit the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of the park that faithfully recreates the world of Harry Potter from the Hogwarts Castle down to even the tiniest Snitch. There are new shops, experiences and rides, including a state-of-the-art ride called “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” that completely enchanted our wish kid Cameron, who visited the park right as it opened.

Wish Kid Cameron and his family in front of Hogwarts Castle at Universal Studios.

However, though I am a Potter fan and one of my favorite places of all time to visit is the Jurassic Park section at Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure, I am most excited about what’s going on over at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Ask anyone here at work and they can tell you quickly that I am a Disney fan through and through. My cubicle is surrounded with pictures of the Disney princesses and I even worked for 3 years at my local Disney Store!

Back in March, Disney announced that they officially broke ground on their Fantasyland expansion – the biggest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom. Construction will continue on into 2013, when they plan to finish the final touches on the last section to be worked on.

Although the wish kids who are visiting the Magic Kingdom from now until the expansion’s completion will have to walk by the privacy walls, they will still be able to enjoy their favorite rides and wonder what sort of magic will be unleashed when the project is finished.

As for me, I’ve been reading all I can about updates and news items – anything I can get my hands on that talks about the expansion! So far, I’ve learned that there is going to be a huge new ride, a themed restaurant, new sections in Fantasyland and several new interactive experiences to immerse families in the stories of several famous Disney Princesses.

Let’s see…I’ve found out that Beauty and the Beast will get a beautiful themed restaurant as well as an interactive experience where guests will meet Belle in the library of an enchanted castle to perform shows with her. I also read that we may even get a chance to explore Belle’s house, where she lived with her inventor father, Maurice, in the movie!

Wish Kid Lily and Belle at the Magic Kingdom.

I also read that the 3 good fairies who looked after Sleeping Beauty are going to invite you to her 16th birthday party at their hidden cottage in the woods in this Fantasyland expansion! Supposedly, you’ll be able to interact with the party and surprise Briar Rose (aka Sleeping Beauty) when she arrives. You’ll also be able to make birthday greetings for her! Woo! A Princess’s party!

Wish Kid Mackenzie curtsies with Sleeping Beauty at the Magic Kingdom.

Cinderella might also get a chateau of her own where guests will have a special interactive experience with the “rags to riches” princess and even witness the magic that transformed her own rags into a beautiful gown. Oh! I can’t wait to see that! I saw it once during a show where the Disney Villains took over the show and Cinderella’s dress transformed from her beautiful ball gown into her rags, and it was something! To see it happen the way it did in the movie will be an experience of a lifetime!

Wish Kid Marissa and Cinderella at the Magic Kingdom.

Ooh…Tinker Bell is also going to let guests shrink down to fairy size to visit Pixie Hollow and meet the famous fairy along with her friends Rosetta, Silvermist, Iridessa and Fawn! Right now, our wish kids who want to meet the fairies can visit Disneyland in California, but Pixie Hollow is now a part of the Disney World expansion here in Florida! I think this part of the expansion will be the last to open in 2013.

Wish Kid Gabby, her older sister and Fawn the fairy at Pixie Hollow over in Disneyland, California.

Dumbo’s famous flying ride will also be relocated, this time to a circus! In addition to gaining a second tower with flying Dumbo cars just like the original (in order to accommodate more guests), there will also be a new Dumbo-themed rollercoaster (which will be Goofy’s Barnstormer from the ToonTown Fair, but just made over) and an interactive circus tent to visit while you’re in line for the Dumbo flyers!

Hee hee…I’ve saved my favorite for last. If you’ve never been to the Magic Kingdom, I can tell you that there used to be a Grotto where Ariel, the Little Mermaid, came out to greet guests. Although they are taking this Grotto down, Ariel is now going to have a ride of her very own!!!

Wish Kid Maxim meeting Ariel in her Grotto at the Magic Kingdom.

From the looks of the pictures of the model that Disney made that details the expansion, Prince Eric’s castle by the sea will be built, surrounded by water. Oh! All my dreams are coming true! One section will be the newly redesigned Ariel’s Grotto, where everyone’s favorite redheaded mermaid will “swim” out to meet guests and sign autographs. The other section will be a ride that will take guests on an “under the sea” journey with the Little Mermaid!!! So, in 2012, the Disney Princess updates are scheduled to finish, including Ariel’s new ride, and in 2013, Pixie Hollow will be open for guests to meet Tinker Bell. I can’t believe it!

You won’t believe how many wish kids just love the Disney Princesses and Fairies; they’re all going to be so excited! I can’t wait until 2013 to see the pictures that the wish families will send to us – just so I can see the smiles on the faces of these kids as they interact with their favorite princesses and fairies on a level that they’ve never been able to enjoy before.

Oh yeah!!! AND at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the awesome Star Wars ride, Star Tours, is now undergoing an amazing update as well! The ride will reopen next year and it’s going to be fantastic!

Oh wow. So many dreams are going to be realities very soon. I can’t wait!

Alicia
Editorial Department

My Very First Thank You Letter

Carrie — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:38:01 +0000

How exciting! I just finished granting a wonderful wish for a little boy named Adam, who wanted a greenhouse to grow vegetables. Today, I received a very warm and appreciative letter from Adam’s parents. It made me so happy to read it! I don’t know who was more excited: Adam when he received his greenhouse, or me while I was granting such a special wish!

Here’s a picture of Adam, celebrating the 4th of July with a salad he grew in his garden:

And here is what was in the letter:

Dear Carrie,

We cannot appropriately thank you and Kids Wish Network for taking Adam’s “unusual” wish and making it come true, and then some! It was easy to see that you put your heart and all of your energy into Adam’s wish. A greenhouse, a team to build it, irrigation systems, growing pots, a heater, tools, soil, books, seeds, seeds and more seeds. You can see the magic of the wish in Adam’s smiles in the images we are sending you, and the wonderful, generous people who came together to support Adam’s wish. That you thought to include Adam’s sister Shannah (see images of Shannah opening her packages) was truly kind.

This has been a magical ride for our family and we are very thankful for the pleasure that this wish has brought to Adam.

As I shared with you in the beginning, as soon as you called to tell us Kids Wish Network was granting Adam’s wish, I picked up a shovel and began digging a garden next to where the greenhouse would go. Adam started planting vegetable seeds in the house in germination pots in the late spring and we knew that even though an outdoor garden could only work at our altitude if plants were started in a greenhouse, his excitement to begin this adventure was written all over his face daily. The outdoor garden was hit by 3 hailstorms in June and another one yesterday, along with torrential rains that flooded our basement on the 4th of July! We had moved some plants like lettuce from the garden to the greenhouse as soon as it was built and not only did the lettuce survive the hail, but Adam harvested the greens (which grew like crazy in the greenhouse) for a 4th of July salad! See the included picture with Adam’s beaming smile and fist-pump for his first harvest.

During the construction of the greenhouse, Adam went to the garden where we had temporarily put in cherry tomatoes and he plucked 4 of the 5 fruits and carried them past neighbors and reporters and brought them to Pat, Jill and Rod and proudly handed them over to them. Adam’s heart and generosity made our volunteer team feel that they were truly volunteering their time for a very special boy. Adam was thrilled that we were able to transfer the plants from the cool outdoors into the warm and humid greenhouse environment where they are now starting to really grow.

Carrie, from a health standpoint, this wish is a gift that will keep giving. Adam is thrilled to nurture his seedlings and plants, and he is so joyful when he eats a vegetable that grew from seed at his hands. The benefit to the rest of the family is important as well, as we share in Adam’s bounty and take pleasure in his energy to explore where food comes from.

Again, thank you for your heart, thoughtfulness and energy in providing a gift of a lifetime to Adam. Our family will share our thanks with your management team so they know how much you gave of yourself to make this dream spectacular.

Warmly and with extreme gratitude,

Karen and David

Adam’s parents

Carrie

Wish Department

Silver Lining in an Economic Slump

Susan — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:01:58 +0000

One can’t open a copy of the Wall Street Journal or turn on CNN without reading/hearing distressing news about the country’s economic struggles. Like many business big and small, charities are undoubtedly feeling the effects of this downward spiral: doors are closing, budgets are diminishing and donations are dwindling.
But a recent study shows that there IS a silver lining on the black, ominous cloud that has been hovering over the nonprofit world.
The Corporation for National & Community Service profiles, ranks, and researches information on volunteering and civic engagement for every state (and most cities) within the United States. Their annual “Volunteering in America” report found that 63.4 million Americans volunteered through a formal organization last year, giving more than 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service worth an estimated $169 billion.

With the estimated value of volunteer time ranging from $21 – $24 per hour (amounts vary by state), it’s no wonder that charities depend on their dedicated volunteers as a crucial part of their organization’s livelihood.

We at Kids Wish Network appreciate and value each and every person that volunteers their time – whether two hours or two days. They may not be making the calls to Disney World but are just as responsible for making dreams come true and we consider each of them an extension of our team.

I also spend some of my free time volunteering for other nonprofits in the Tampa Bay area and encourage everyone to do so if they can; it truly makes a difference in many lives – including your own!

~ Susan
HOTM Coordinator

A Big Thank You to the Volunteers from Kohl’s!

Alicia — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:43:12 +0000

For almost exactly a year now, groups of volunteers from local Kohl’s stores in Clearwater and New Port Richey have been stopping by and helping out in our warehouse. While they’re out there, they do all sorts of awesome things like packing and sorting toys for the children we help. It’s amazing what they do and we all really appreciate it – so do the kids!

Today, they were out there again with their cheery voices ringing throughout the warehouse as they sorted, packed bead kits (a favorite of kids everywhere) and even stamped books so we can send them out nationwide. The Kohl’s volunteers even helped us put together our in-office silent mascot, Sully, from Disney/PIXAR’s “Monsters, Inc.” What a group!

So, from all of us at Kids Wish Network to all of our awesome Kohl’s volunteers, we’d like to extend our warmest thanks for all that you do. You rock!

Economic Difficulties Affecting Children’s Hospitals Nationwide

Susan — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:54:21 +0000

Through a flurry of communication with my Facility Coordinators, I’ve seen a heart-wrenching trend emerge over the past few months. As part of Kids Wish Network’s Hero of the Month team, I have the privilege of working with these men and women who have dedicated their lives working with children in hospitals, abuse shelters, homeless coalitions, rehabilitation/therapy centers or advocacy centers nationwide.

Many – too many – are experiencing significant budget cuts, resulting in… you guessed it – staff layoffs and less patients served. (And in extreme cases, entire hospitals are closing their doors.) Children and families – who so desperately need care and assistance from these facilities – are getting turned away in droves.

Granted, I don’t know the specifics (What is being done? When will the bleeding stop?) and I’m certainly not pointing fingers, but it is disturbing news nonetheless. Like so many others, I can only hope that improvements are made within our country’s healthcare system STAT!

To all of the doctors, nurses, Child Life teams, therapists, teachers, advocates and others that we work with – we couldn’t do our jobs without you and thank you for letting us be a part of your programs and lives.

~Susan
HOTM Coordinator

Sports Wishes

Susan — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:52:01 +0000

Major League Baseball All-Star shortstop Derek Jeter has accumulated many accolades in his illustrious 14-year career with the New York Yankees (including Rookie of the Year in ‘96 and World Series MVP in ’00), and was bestowed an honor of a different kind, named Most Caring Athlete of 2010 by USA Weekend.

Call me biased. Yes, I root, root, root for the Bronx Bombers, so hearing about this evoked a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. But more importantly, it’s great that a distinction like this exists for athletes, a fraternity (or sorority) often known for their “unsportsmanlike” (“unsportswomanlike”?) behavior on and off the field/court/ice.

Kids Wish Network often receives requests from Wish Kids who dream of getting up close and personal with their favorite jock. The Wish team has had the pleasure of working with a roster of amazing, big-hearted athletes from: NASCAR (Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson); NBA (Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Boston Celtics); NFL (Pittsburgh Steelers); WWE (John Cena – always a consistent fan favorite!); MLB (Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves) and many more.

I worked in the sports industry for many years and witnessed how generous these “larger than life” superheroes are. There isn’t a sports team or athlete out there that doesn’t consider community relations a significant priority, often via a Foundation of their own, in addition to partnerships with numerous nonprofits whose philanthropic missions are near and dear to them.

With that, we salute Captain Jeter and ALL the athletes who always make time for our children (and all worthy causes). Thanks for being heroes to our little heroes by creating endless smiles and happy memories that last a lifetime!

-Susan
HOTM Coordinator

George Steinbrenner Remembered

Susan — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:22:25 +0000

George “The Boss” Steinbrenner had three loves – his family, his team, and his community. The 80-year-old Yankees owner, businessman and community leader passed Tuesday morning in Tampa, a city he referred to as “home” despite his affinity to New York. His philanthropic “soft spots” focused on children, teachers, law enforcement & firefighters, and the military.

Known as a “Pillar of the Tampa Community”, various landmarks around the city proudly carry his name as a testament to his prolific contributions: George Steinbrenner High School in Lutz (an honor bestowed by Hillsborough County School Board); the renaming of Legends Field to Steinbrenner Field; George M. Steinbrenner Family West (a/k/a Boys & Girls Club of Tampa); and Steinbrenner Emergency/Trauma Center for Children at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.

BayNews 9 stated, “Steinbrenner and his Foundations have quietly given millions to many causes in the Bay area without much fanfare or public notice.”

Like many Yankee legends before him, this icon will be remembered as a true champion on and off the field.

~Susan
HOTM Coordinator

Community Service + Baseball = An American Tradition!

Susan — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:09:53 +0000

Congratulations to this year’s “All-Stars Among Us”, 30 inspirational individuals who will be recognized for outstanding community service at tonight’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

The pre-game tribute includes appearances by A-Listers Ben Affleck, Sheryl Crow, Harrison Ford, Salma Hayek, Matthew McConaughey, Julia Roberts and Charlize Theron.

Commissioner Bud Selig fondly recalls the 2009 celebration: “Last year’s All-Star Game in St. Louis was memorable for many reasons, but perhaps my favorite moment was the pre-game ceremony where we honored the People All-Stars Among Us.”

Each “All-Star” is affiliated with one of the 30 teams within the league. Representing our local Tampa Bay Rays is Bill Criswell of Windermere, FL who established “Home at Last” to give U.S. soldiers injured in Iraq a fresh start in life by giving them mortgage-free homes.

~Susan
HOTM Coordinator