Working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas® to stage their annual benefit dinner and auction is a very profitable endeavor for Alford Media Services. While they do not make money from doing the show, Alford Media Services profits tremendously from helping the Make-A-Wish assist children by volunteering their time and equipment to this great cause. Their payment comes in the smiles on the faces of Wish Kids that have their dreams granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and their generous benefactors.

Not only was the 2001 event the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s biggest benefit to date, it was the most technically elaborate show they have ever put on. A complete James Thomas Engineering 20.5” truss system rigged with Suspension Solutions hardware and CM Lodestar chain hoists supported the lighting system. The motorized truss was loaded with a complement of conventional fixtures and High End Systems Studio Color and Studio Spot moving lights to illuminate the stage. Power to the High End Systems automated fixtures came from an Entertainment Power Systems distribution rack. Dura-Flex DMX-512 cables from the North Creek, New York based Creative Stage Lighting was used to complete the control network for all of the moving lights, control consoles, dimmer racks and, color changers in the system.

Fiery pyrotechnics and moving lights combined to open the show while the audio engineers mixed a complete surround sound environment, further heightening the experience of the partygoers. According to Rich Tate of Alford Media Services, “Plenty of preparation went into making sure the show went off without a hitch. We set-up three rear-projection screens for video and Imag projection. The key was to light the podiums, wash the stage with color and layer it with patterns for texture while being careful not to wash out the projection screens. To add visual punch, the conventional lighting fixtures were outfitted with gobos and color changers, helping to further transform the elaborate custom built set featuring sliding doors and a mock jet fighter. Throw in a wide variety of pyrotechnics and laser effects and you’ve got quite an audio-visual experience. “It was truly stunning.” Futuristic lobby decorations, alien dancers, out-of-this-world staging and set pieces further carried the science fiction theme and promoted “A Galaxy of Wishes”.

This year’s black-tie event was held in the Landmark Ballroom at The Hyatt Regency Dallas. Over two thousand supporters attended the futuristic-themed “A Galaxy of Wishes” gala dinner and auction to raise money so they can continue to make wishes come true. The night was a fantastic success with everything from trips to cars to horses being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Thankfully, many more wishes will be granted this coming year.

As you can imagine, staging a show of this magnitude is a huge undertaking, but in the spirit of the event itself, the generosity of a multitude of volunteers made it possible. How Alford Media Services initially got involved is very interesting. Several years ago Alford Audio Engineer, Kevin Feeley, heard through the grapevine that The Make-A-Wish Foundation needed some audio equipment and engineering for their upcoming fundraiser. Knowing Alford Media often provided discounted equipment or in-kind services to nonprofit groups, Kevin asked Steve and Tom Alford if they would donate the gear if he volunteered to engineer. Without any hesitation, Kevin was told to do whatever was necessary and thus began the close and rewarding relationship between the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas® and Alford Media Services.

Well, five years later, Kevin has taken that philanthropic spirit to a whole new level. As the show has grown, so has the volunteer support from a huge number of individuals and organizations. With the blessing of the Alford’s, Kevin has not only enlisted the help of every Alford employee, but he’s reached out to other companies for volunteers and support. This year over thirty different groups joined Alford and volunteered their support to the show. Working closely with the Make-A-Wish organizers, all of the companies involved came together in the spirit of the event and pooled their resources to realize the foundations’ vision. Everything from the audio-visual support, lighting, staging, teleprompters, pyrotechnics, lasers, labor, rigging, trucking, graphics, video, and even crew meals were donated by individuals and companies willing to give their time and resources to support The Make-A-Wish Foundation and the children they benefit so much.

Alford employees take the lead with Kevin each year and enlist volunteers to insure that no details are overlooked and to help guarantee a fantastic Make-A-Wish event. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy and this year’s gala was no exception. Wish Night fell during NAB, one of the busiest weeks in the AV industry. Even during this busy time of year we all try to find time to work on Wish Night. With so many technicians on other jobs the volunteer effort spread though Alford’s entire organization and everyone gets involved. Show and crew positions were filled with salesmen and managers. The early morning load-out even included the company’s CFO and GM. Whether it was pushing cases, running cable, setting up equipment or manning cameras, light boards, or tape decks, employees, family members, colleagues and peers take took pride in donating their time and effort to help make wishes come true.

A goal of $ 500,000 in donations had been set and thanks to everyone’s participation and support the Make-A-Wish Foundation will be able to grant over a hundred wishes this year. Putting on a show of this scope and scale without the generosity and support of the volunteer companies would cost more than money. It would cost wishes. With the financial strain of staging the event alleviated, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is able to funnel the money raised at the auctions directly into the fulfillment of wishes and dreams.

Once the gala concluded and all of the road cases were packed and the trucks loaded, everyone was satisfied knowing they had come together for a good thing. Kevin often says, “If all of our efforts even help one kid get their wish, then it was more than worth it.” The smiles on the faces of the Wish Kid Choir while they performed during the show was confirmation enough. Wishes do come true.