The mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch is to “prevent delinquency and develop strong, lawful, resilient, and productive citizens who will make a positive contribution to our communities for years to come.” In other words, the Youth Ranch is a place for at-risk children to stay where they can learn important life skills to help them cope with the situations they are faced with.

My contact there was Thomas Combs and, after his representatives came and picked up our gift bank of toys, he called me as soon as the truck made it to their facility. He said that he rushed over to look for himself because he was so curious as to what we sent. He said that when he walked in, he was absolutely wowed by the sheer amount and quality of the products that we had given him. The one thing that really caught his eye was a giant stuffed panda.
He went on to tell me that the other day, they opened up a ‘sibling cottage’ for families to come and stay together and one of their youngest children that will be arriving is 4 and the giant panda would be a great ‘welcome’ gift. Thomas said that he was so happy and grateful for what we had given them that he just wanted to call us right away and thank us personally.

I was overjoyed when I heard his thanks. I felt so good. It made me happy and proud that we were able to help them out.

Jeannette
Programs Dept.

Dear Anna,

Respectfully,
William Palmisano Jr.
Executive Director
Mary Help of Christians Foundation Inc.

Alicia
Editorial Dept.

In fact, I just got one of these submitted by the parents of Kaylee, who suffered a very, VERY traumatic experience that started off like a seemingly normal stomach virus. I would like to share little Kaylee’s story with you now:

Kaylee, who was 5 yrs old at the time, came down with a low grade fever on a Sunday back in May of 2011. We gave her Motrin and sent her to bed. The next morning she could barely get out of bed, fever was 100.2 and we kept her home from school. She said she couldn’t walk to the bathroom without pain. We assumed she just had an awful stomach virus and by that night my husband called our Doctor and he wanted to see her first thing Tuesday morning. By this time she was throwing up all of Monday night.

Tuesday, we brought her to the office and her doctor said it was just a flu and sent us home. She acted a little better on the way home, even had the lollipop the nurse gave her. Tuesday night she felt awful and could only drink, not eat. We sent her to bed with more Motrin and a prescription nausea med the doctor gave her. Tuesday night, she had a high fever and was suffering terrible bouts of vomiting and other problems every hour. We called the doctor in the morning and he said he could prescribe something for the pain. We said no and that we were taking her to ER.

In the ER, we waited for about an hour and a half with my husband holding Kaylee. He later said that he was worried that he felt Kaylee slipping away. The ER staff took her in and put a nose tube in her right away and green mucus started pumping out of her. They were not concerned and thought it was a stomach flu. I begged them to do a scan of her tummy. They did and they couldn’t find anything – it was too dark in the area and they were thinking it was bile and bowel.

They kept her overnight and she was fading in and out. She was very bad and the drain that was in her nose that went to her tummy was draining dark green, almost black liquid. My doctor came to see her and was surprised to see how bad she was. He demanded that she get life-flighted to a Children’s Hospital that was two hours away.

Once there, they rushed her into surgery and 2 and half hours later it was confirmed her appendix burst and spread throughout her body. They took her intestines out and cleaned them and put them back before stitching her up. A few days later she went in again they didn’t get it all. They did this 3 more times, each in a different area. She had to have blood transfusions. She got pneumonia. She had a PIC tube placed in her arm. There were drains coming out of her tummy…she was a trooper the whole time.

She was finally able to leave the hospital 4 weeks later on her birthday. She is doing well now and it was to her excitement when the hospital chose her as a Hero. She really enjoyed shopping with her Walmart gift card after her final visit to her surgeon. Thank you, Kids Wish Network and a great big thanks to Janet Weiss Childrens Hospital in Danville, PA.

Hattie
Programs Dept.

Here at Kids Wish Network, we’ve been a fan of leading lady Dolly Parton for quite some time now. Back in 2000, she graciously helped our organization grant the wish of a teen that had been battling severe kidney problems. After receiving a kidney transplant from her mother, Victoria got to travel to Dollywood, the Country diva’s very own theme park in Tennessee, where she actually got to meet her idol. Later, Victoria claimed that meeting Dolly was “everything [she] had dreamed of… and more!”

Then, in 2010, another young fan of the star got her wish granted through Kids Wish Network. Amanda of Michigan suffers from Chiari Malformation – a disease that occurs when brain tissue extends into the spinal canal and puts pressure on the brain. Even after surgery, Amanda still experiences migraines, neck aches, and dizzy spells. But, the day her wish came true, Amanda could think of nothing more than her pure excitement!

Amanda’s dad, who accompanied her to meet Dolly Parton, says, “It was like the two of them bonded,” and Amanda adds, “It was incredible!” Amanda has always been a fan of Dolly. She thinks the woman is amazing, loves her music, her literacy program, and “all she does.” Like Victoria, Amanda also visited Dollywood. She was also able to see Dolly perform a show and attend the famous Black Bear Jamboree!

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Amanda and Victoria may be two of Dolly’s biggest fans, but we know there are MILLIONS more out there. Kids Wish Network is calling all Dolly Parton fans to come together and support her new movie, Joyful Noise, in celebration of her deeds, her accomplishments and, honestly, her amazing over-all “divatude!”

(source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1710396/)

Kristen

Proud new parent, Beyonce Knowles, has assisted Kids Wish Network in granting some very special wishes. In 2011, the music icon met with Genysis, a teen from Georgia battling a blood disorder called sickle cell anemia. She attended a live concert in Central Park and was brought back stage for a meet-and-greet with her absolute favorite star. Beyonce also gave Genysis a gift bag, signed autographs, and posed for pictures.

Again, Kids Wish Network wishes to congratulate both Beyonce and Jay-Z and also send a very warm welcome to their new daughter, Blue Ivy Carter!

For some fun Kids Wish Network’s Celebrity Wishes visit: Celebrity Wish Wars

(source: http://www.eonline.com/news/happy_bday_beyonceacute_jay-z_welcome/284797)

Kristen
Editorial Dept.

We also reached out to the local branch of Easter Seals – a charity that “provides exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people living with autism and other disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities” – who were in desperate need for their children this holiday season. In fact, they were even wondering if they would be able to provide for their families and children for the holidays this year, seeing how badly everyone was faring in this devastating economic slump. When we heard this, we jumped into action and sent 25,000 dollars worth of toys and gifts to the Easter Seals through the local FOX 13 Care Force toy drive. You can actually watch the video of our representatives JackLyn and Jeannette taking the toys to the toy drive below:

We were only too glad to help such a worthy local charity brighten the lives of children in need this holiday season and, when we came back for the New Year, we had a lovely Thank You in our inbox from Tracy Clouser, the Vice President of Development for Easter Seals Florida, saying that Easter Seals Florida “would not have had enough gifts without the items you gave us.” She also wanted to share the video that FOX 13 went out and made the day of their gift giving event – something that I would like to share with you now:

The gifts that keep on giving: MyFoxTAMPABAY.com

What a marvelous event and what a wonderful charity! We are honored that we were able to help Easter Seals Florida along with other local charities during this year of economic distress. It brings us immeasurable joy to be able to bring smiles to the faces of children nationwide.

Alicia
Editorial Department

There were pastries and coffee for everyone and our staff all decked themselves out in some fine, festive holiday hats to accentuate the holiday atmosphere, the volunteers from the local Wal-Mart Store #4669 were all ready to get toys packed into trucks…it was great. The most wonderful sight of all, however, were the pallets of toys and the wonderful children’s bicycles all packed and waiting for the right facility to claim them.

As the trucks from the facilities started to arrive, the Wal-Mart volunteers and our staff kicked into high gear to get everything going. I can honestly say that I have never seen such an amazing display of concentrated efficiency as exhibited by the joint effort of our warehouse crew and the awesome volunteers from Wal-Mart #4669. As soon as our guys brought a pallet of full boxes over to a waiting truck, the volunteers immediately unwrapped it and formed a pair of lines to hand the boxes into the truck to their guys waiting in there. Each pallet was packed securely in under 10 minutes. Incredible!

Wal-Mart’s “assembly line” in action

While their pallets were being packed, the facility representatives took the time to talk to us and thank us for the toys and gifts. They also delighted in telling us where the gifts were going to and who would be receiving them.

Angi and Estelle of Cavalry Chapel Worship Center with festive Sully

“With the economy so tight this year, we were stressed out about how we were going to reach out to families,” said Angi Magoulis of the Cavalry Chapel Worship Center. “When your organization called me, I started crying. It came at a perfect time. I was running down the hallways saying, ‘YES!’ We are completely blessed by you guys. We’re going to be able to, instead of give each child a toy, we’re going to be able to give need families a Christmas, so we’re very excited. You guys are a blessing and we appreciate you so much. Thank you.”

Karen Higgins of PARC with Sully

Karen Higgins of the Pinellas Association for Retarded Children (PARC) – an organization we reached out to last year as well – was excited to be back again this year:
“We have such a wonderful relationship with Kids Wish Network; we couldn’t wait to come and say thank you in person. Over 300 children have benefitted, including adults with developmental disabilities, from the wonderful gifts and donations. We can’t thank you enough.”

Even our volunteers were grateful to be a part of the event!

Laura (right) and a friend with Sully after ‘liking’ the KWN Facebook page

According to Laura of Wal-Mart store #4669, “I think it’s wonderful. It’s great that we can actually participate in giving the toys!”

To hear where the toys were going right from those who would soon be handing them out was absolutely humbling. Their thanks and praise for Kids Wish Network, our mission and our staff made us all blush a little bit more, but it also made us feel that much more honored to have been able to help this holiday season and all year round.

At the end of it all, we gathered the Wal-Mart volunteers to take a group photo and we were surprised by Rich Redder from the Wrigley Foundation, who brought out a large check for $1,000 and presented it to Anna, our Executive Director. She was flabbergasted (as we all were) and asked why. Rich said that he was the Operations Manager – U.S. East division for Wrigley and he had come all the way down from Rochester, NY to present the check to Anna. He also explained that Wrigley had all of the Wal-Mart stores participate in a contest to see who sold the most Wrigley products and the winner would get a $1,000 donation to give to their charity of choice. Apparently, the Pinellas market won and they picked Kids Wish Network! What a surprise! It was certainly the perfect end to an absolutely amazing day of giving.

Anna (center) with Rich (left) and the Wal-Mart #4669 crew

For all of their amazing work and generosity, we’d like to send out a HUGE thanks to the awesome people at Wal-Mart Store #4669. We’d also like to thank all of the facilities and their representatives who came from all over Florida to pick up the pallets of toys and Rich Redder for coming all the way down from NY to present the Wrigley check in person.

Alicia
Editorial Dept.

Taylor was admitted to the PICU a day before her 6th birthday. She had fluid in her lungs, abdomen, and heart. It took 12 days to figure out what exactly was going on, but we eventually were given the diagnosis: Coxsackie Type B Virus. Taylor’s lungs had to be tapped twice to release the fluid. She had to undergo many tests that were painful for a six-year-old, not to mention an adult. Taylor remained in the PICU for 24 days; her spirit never diminished. She is on the road to a hopeful full recovery, but the process is slow. Taylor suffers from periomyocarditis, and is hopeful it will all go away. She recieved Hero of the Month in December from Hurley in Flint, Michigan, and she was so excited! We can’t thank the Kids Wish Network enough for what they have done!

Alicia
Editorial Dept.

This was the third year that we donated the toys to be given out to deserving children at 14 stops throughout the Appalachian Mountain region – all the way from Shelby, KY to Kingsport, TN. This year, Tam (our Associate Financial Director), myself and Karen (the President of our Board of Directors) went along on the Santa Train to help out.

Photo: Ed Rode Photography, edrode.com

The first thing I can tell you is that I have never experienced anything like it before, and we’ve done plenty of events. I’ve volunteered at our Holiday of Hope parties, helped out at fundraisers and attended our Kids Wish Network On Tour events, but this was a totally new experience – one I am very proud to have been a part of. You could literally see the need in the eyes of deserving children at each and every stop and you wouldn’t believe the instant brightness of their smiles as they caught a brand new toy from Santa at the back of the train or were handed a bag of toys from a volunteer. It was awe-inspiring.

On the Santa Train, we were able to experience every aspect of being a part of this amazing effort. We helped organize the bags, we gave out toys at different stops and we even had the chance to throw toys from the caboose alongside country music duo Thompson Square and Santa Claus!

Speaking of Thompson Square, I don’t think I could have met a nicer couple of people. They were so down-to-Earth and friendly that you wouldn’t have believed that they performed at the Country Music Awards just a few nights earlier! Their fans made their presence known and Thompson Square couldn’t have been nicer.

There was so much joy throughout the Appalachian Mountains this past Saturday that you could feel the holiday spirit rushing out to the train. The smiles of the kids and their families as they received their toys and food warmed every single heart. One experience I had sums it all up: there was one little girl who was waiting behind the caboose with her arm outstretched to catch a toy thrown by Santa Claus. When she caught a stuffed animal, she immediately gave it a tight hug and started immediately kissing it like it was her newest, closest friend. Her absolute joy was contagious and everyone who saw her could not help but smile and say, “Aww!”

My time on this year’s Santa Train was something I will never forget. I met so many wonderful people and helped bring the giving spirit of the holidays to so many people who were in desperate need. I am so glad to have been a part of something so amazing and I am proud that we at Kids Wish Network were able to provide the toys for this event. We can’t wait to do it again next year and I know I can’t wait to hop back on that train!

Anna
Executive Director

Happy Veteran's Day

It makes us even prouder to be able to provide toys and gifts for the U.S. Army’s Operation Toy Drop as well as Operation: Care and Comfort and Operation Military Kids, whose goal is to provide the children of service men and women with toys to help them temporarily relieve their loneliness, feelings of uncertainty and even the pain of the loss of a parent.

We are honored to be able to help our brave military and words simply cannot express how grateful we all are for the sacrifices you have made in defense of our great country.