The Make-A-Wish North Texas foundation has held a Wish Night fundraiser every year for the past 18 years. In that time, this signature black-tie gala has raised $12.48 million to grant more than 1,675 wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. In 2014, Wish Night raised $1.48 million to help continue the Make-A-Wish® mission and 2015 hopes to be another record-breaking year. Wish Night, however, is more than just a wonderful evening and fundraising event; it is an evening celebrating the magic of a wish come true and the heroes that help make it happen!
Alford Media Services has had the great pleasure to work with Make-A-Wish North Texas, donating equipment and services for every Wish Night, for the past 18 years and this year as well. However, the Alford relationship with Make-A-Wish goes back even farther.
“My involvement with Make-A-Wish dates back to 1991. As an avid sports talk listener, I played in the Norm Hitzges/Make-A-Wish Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament. No, I was not the celebrity, but I got to play with “future” Texas Rangers Perfect Game Pitcher, Kenny Rogers. When I learned of what Make-A-Wish did for children with life threatening medical conditions, my heart was touched as I recalled my own brush with death as a teenager some twenty years earlier. As a seventeen-year-old, I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma cancer. Through radical surgery my life was spared, but my family and I could have used a wish-maker in the months my life was in the balance.
After playing in the Make-A-Wish tournament and supporting this worthy cause for a few years, I was inspired to lend my support and the support of Alford Media to their newly launched gala fundraising event – Wish Night. Many other Dallas AV Vendors and freelancers joined me and Alford Media in gifting our resources and services to Wish Night, and over the past two decades the event and our passion to support Make-A-Wish has grown exponentially. If you’d like to work with us on this event next year, please let us know. If you have a few dollars to gift, Make-A-Wish would make sure a child’s life is changed forever because of your generosity.”
– Steve Alford
President
Alford Media Services, Inc.
This year Make-A-Wish North Texas announced that the organization would once again ask local Texans to embark on an important top-secret mission … to make wishes come true at its 19th Annual Wish Night, aptly themed Operation: Wish, on May 16, 2015. Alford Media provided the lighting, audio, and video services including a custom-designed, 10-screen display.
To see so many people gathered together in a common effort for this fundraiser was truly inspiring. The touching stories from wish kids and their families showed how the Make-A-Wish foundation can impact and change lives.
“Wishes are more than just a nice thing. And they are far more than gifts, or singular events in time. Wishes impact everyone involved – wish kids, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals and communities. The impact varies. For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments. Parents might finally feel like they can be optimistic. And still others might realize all they have to offer the world through volunteer work or philanthropy.
Whatever the odds, whatever the obstacles … wishes find a way to make the world better.” – Make-A-Wish Mission
Some people from Alford Media shared about their experience with Wish Night and it’s impact on them.
“Alford has worked with Make-A-Wish for many years. Over the years they have trusted us to make the right decisions for the show and also allowed us to experiment with cool gear. On a personal level I have gone from a wish child, to volunteer, stagehand, camera grip, Master Electrician, to more recently Lighting Designer. I have also been a part of their confession/experience videos last year.”
– Chris Hollis
Master Electrician & Lighting Designer
Alford Media Services, Inc.
“I cannot imagine anything harder on a parent than dealing with a child’s life threatening illness and I know how hard it is for me as a stranger to see a child in pain or need. So to have the opportunity for our company to help bring even a small amount of happiness and hope to those suffering not only makes me proud of every person at Alford it also makes all the long days and nights this business demands have a greater purpose.”
– Tom Alford
Executive Vice President & General Manager
Alford Media Services, Inc.
“Every year, approximately 27,000 children are diagnosed with a medical condition that makes them eligible for a wish experience. In Fiscal Year 2012, we granted the wishes of nearly 14,000 kids.
That’s a record-breaking feat. It’s unprecedented in Make-A-Wish history. But it’s not nearly enough. We have an audacious vision to grant the wish of every eligible child, every year. And right now, we’re just over halfway there. We need your help to move ever closer to realizing that vision.
…Wish parents tell us that their family bonds are strengthened and repaired. And medical professionals tell us that they believe wishes can influence a child’s physical health condition. That is why wishes are important. That is why this vision is so important.” – David Williams
President and Chief Executive Officer
Make-A-Wish America
To find out how you can help Make-A-Wish make wishes come true click HERE
If you would like to volunteer or donate for next year’s Wish Night please contact us at info@alfordmedia.com
