Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia

Light Up A Child's Life 2009, Pittsburgh

For the last few years, Chad McCall has kicked off the Light Up A Child's Life campaign at One Oxford Centre in Downtown Pittsburgh. This is the fifth year for the Christopher's Challenge golf outing, which raised $10,200 in May 2009. It is held in memory of Chad’s son Christopher, whose wish was to go to Disney World in August 2004, when Christopher was 4-years old. Chad is pictured here with Make-A-Wish President and CEO Judi Stone. President and CEO Judi Stone interviews 11-year-old Deondre, whose wish for a shopping spree was fulfilled this past year. The attorneys and staff at Robert Peirce & Associates law offices have been long time supporters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The employees collect donations to dress down every Friday and the firm matches their gift, dollar for dollar. Rob Peirce presented Judi Stone with a $5,556.22 donation. This is the 16th LUACL appearance for the Associates of Standard Bank. This year, they presented the Foundation with a $17,000 donation. Zimmer Kunz, PLLC Employees, Scott Lehner & Debbie Somerhalder, presented a generous donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This is the second year they have made a campaign appearance.
North Hills Senior High School's Hands for Service Club has been making wishes come true for local kids since 1994. Their advisor, Mrs. Bonnie Ziff, is a volunteer and a wish mom. In addition to being a sponsor for this year’s broadcast, the employees of Sheraton Station Square participate in fundraisers for the Foundation and host many out-of-town wish families if their wish request brings them to Pittsburgh. Andrew Sliben, Director of Sales & Marketing, is pictured here with a colleague and Make-A-Wish President and CEO Judi Stone. A special thank you to Mike Rykaceski and Otis Spunkmeyer for a donation of Danish, muffins and cookies for our volunteers at the campaign. Mike is pictured here with Judi Stone and WISH 99.7 personalities Ron Antill and Sara Lockard. Judi Stone interviews Make-A-Wish volunteer Sandy Cindrich. Sandy has been a volunteer since 2007 and comes into our downtown Pittsburgh office weekly to assist the program service department in making wishes happen. President and CEO Judi Stone interviews Kelly Lamanna, host committee chair for Grapevine, a wine tasting event, held in the spring. Kelly’s sister Julie received her Disney World wish in 1986. Kelly’s family has been involved with the Foundation ever since. This past year, Grapevine netted $31,600 due to Kelly’s assistance.
The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) is a professional association of more than 19,000 CPAs and the second-oldest CPA organization in the United States. New to the broadcast this year, the organization held their first benefit this year that included basket auctions, a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. They presented $3,400 - the average cost of one wish -- to the Foundation. This was the 10th year of Erica Zappala’s Women’s golf Invitational held at Quicksilver in June. It raised $16,525! Since 2000, this tournament has raised $161,545. Three-year-old Carter told all about his Disney World wish on WISH 99.7 FM. Shanna Anderson is the Marketing Director of the Oxford Development Company, a proud Light Up A Child's Life campaign sponsor. The Foundation received Oxford's $1,000 donation earlier in the year. Make-A-Wish Vice President of Communications Ann Hohn interviews Rick Grendys and Thomas Lobaugh from Westinghouse Nuclear Services at Monroeville Mall. WISH 99.7 personality Dan Dunlap listens in to the interview.
C. Harper Auto Group has been a very generous supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for more than 17 years. Personnel Director and Dealer Representative Lori Bodnar (left) presented a donation on behalf of Casey Harper and his employees at the campaign. WISH 99.7 personality Cris Winter and Make-A-Wish Vice President of Program Services Kate Buckley are also pictured. Accredo Health Group representative and wish dad Joe Carter presented a check for $2,045 to Make-A-Wish Vice President of Program Services Kate Buckley. The employees at Accredo Health Group held a gift basket auction at their Christmas party and chose the Make-A-Wish Foundation to receive the proceeds. This was the group's first LUACL appearance. Joe's daughter, Norah, was granted her wish for a trip to Hawaii this past year. Drew Rotz presented a donation from Associates in Rehabilitation, Inc. This is the 7th Light Up A Child's Life appearance for this case management company located in Greentree. Money is raised through collections from employees, including a generous donation from their boss, David Miller. Make-A-Wish mascot Stella! joined Drew, Kate Buckley and Cris Winter. President and CEO Judi Stone interviews long-time volunteers Cheryl and Bruce Hartle. Volunteer Kim Carradine with President and CEO Judi Stone. Kim has been a volunteer since 2003. She works with volunteers assigning wishes, dresses as Stella!, holds fund raisers, speaks on behalf of the Foundation and volunteers at special events.
Sandy Aderson, former Make-A-Wish board chair (left), announced a generous $15,000 donation from the 16th Annual Luttner Financial Group Make-A-Wish Golf Benefit, which was held in September at Nevillewood Club. Make-A-Wish President and CEO is also pictured. Santa joins students from Donaldson Elementary and McKee Student Council as they eagerly await to announce their donation on the radio. Eisenhower Elementary School has been helping to make wishes come true for our local wish kids since 1991. Every year. teacher Janis Kapadia helps the students host a math-a-thon and read-a-thon to raise funds for our Make-A-Wish kids. Independence Middle School in Bethel Park has been holding very successful fundraisers, including dances, carnivals and coin collections. This past year, they raised $5,000. The students of Independence Middle School and their advisor Betsy Ranick (far right) are very committed to making wishes come true. Marshall Elementary students took turns talking about how they are raising money to help make wishes come true.
Lisa Bakeysza & Pokey Weiss from Steel City Harley-Davidson held a motorcycle run over the summer and a casino event during Thanksgiving weekend to raise funds for the Foundation. They are pictured with Make-A-Wish Vice President of Program Services Kate Buckley and WISH 99.7 personality Cris Winter. Wish kid Randy was interviewed about his Hawaii wish. Riverside Kindergarten Center, Primary Center, Middle School, and High School have been making wishes come true since 1993. This past year, the students raised $10,000 and are striving to do even more this year. Jennifer Milozewski and other teachers represented the school to kick-off this year’s fundraisers, which go to the end of the school year. Patti Witt and her colleagues at Primary Physicians Research donated $2 to wear jeans on Fridays and decided to donate the money to Make-A-Wish this holiday season. This was their first LUACL appearance. Girls from Seville Elementary presented the Foundation with funds to fulfill one wish.
President and CEO Judi Stone interviews long-time Make-A-Wish supporter Alice Platt from Saks Fifth Avenue. Even though Alice retired this year, she would come in every week to sell cookies, candy (and her sister’s 150 dozen homemade pierogies!) to the employees. She presented $3,816 to the Foundation. Charleroi Area High School has been participating in our Kids For Wish Kids program since 1995, and presented a generous donation at Fifth Avenue Place during the campaign. Jody Cheplic organized Charleroi’s efforts along with a large group of students. President and CEO Judi Stone interviews Make-A-Wish volunteer Chuck Redslob. Chuck has been a volunteer since 1996. He is an airport greeter, public speaker, wish granter and is in the process of planning our 2010 Women’s Golf Invitational scheduled for June 21 at Montour Country Club. Program service staff members Deb Nichols and Leigh Ann Lubarsky talk about interesting wishes. Wish mom Lori Dangel volunteers with First Niagara Bank at Fifth Avenue Place.
Standing in front of the Christmas tree are Make-A-Wish President and CEO Judi Stone, Coldwell Banker President George Hackett, and Make-A-Wish Vice President and Director of Development Barb Becker. For the last two years, employees from the 14 Coldwell Banker offices have conducted a variety of fundraisers, and to date, have raised $134,000 through their group effort. These activities include a Steelers Terrible Tote raffle, Penguins jersey raffle, a bowl-a-thon, golf outing, fashion show, shopping extravaganza and a holiday house tour. Volunteers from Heinz Helps made their annual appearance at the campaign. Wish kid Jay had his wish when he was 11 years old in 1991 when he met his favorite baseball player at the World Series. Jay is now a successful young adult and works at FedEx. Linda Heininger from Keystone Closing Services discusses how Keystone and Coldwell Banker have raised funds for wishes. Lynne Mandel has been a volunteer for the Foundation since 1991! Lynne, who is pictured here with President and CEO Judi Stone, attends events and grants wishes.
Pat Magnotti and family stopped by the campaign to drop off a donation of more than $3,500! Pat's grandchildren collected $700 in coins, and the family matched it for a wish. Mary Ann Papale from Highmark talks about the company's two very generous donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation this holiday season. The first from the National Accounts Group was a donation for $10,000 to this Make-A-Wish chapter and three other chapters in the U.S. Make-A-Wish Manager of Special Events Stephanie Pugliese interviews Andrew Pollick about his recent Mustaches for Kids event. This first year event was held in “Mustache” March! Andrew and his friends grew mustaches to benefit the Foundation. They celebrated their new looks at a huge party at Shootz on the South Side. They raised $3,559. This is the 21st LUACL appearance for McKamish, Inc; they were supporters even before the very first broadcast. A longtime and very generous friend to the Foundation, it has become tradition for the McKamish family and their employees to stop by on the last day of the radio broadcast and drop off donations collected during their holiday party. We are one of many organizations supported by McKamish. Since 1989, more than $525,000 has been raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year, the McKamish family presented more than $57,000 to President and CEO Judi Stone (far left) and Vice President and Director of Development Barb Becker. President and CEO Judi Stone interviews wish kid and Make-A-Wish intern Megan. Megan was granted her wish for a pool back in 1999.
Montour School District dropped by the campaign unexpectedly with a generous $1,000 donation. NAIFA Pittsburgh recently finished their 19th year of making wishes come true. They held a very successful golf tournament and raised $3,400. They have raised more than $55,000 over the past 19 years. Pictured here is Al Todd with a colleague. Candi Cybator and Ron Martin from Pitt Ohio Express came to present their annual donation. This year, they raised more than $18,000 for the Foundation and generously transport our product and wishing well from mall to mall during the radio broadcast. They have been coming to the Light Up A Child's Life campaign for 20 years. Candi, Ron and their colleagues are pictured here with Make-A-Wish President and CEO Judi Stone. Rick Berrott and Plum Borough School District raised more than $45,000 at their annual telethon. The students at Plum have been fund raising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation for 10 years and are the #1 fund raising school district for the Foundation in the country. Plum has raised more than $500,000 to date. Rick Berrott is on the far left. Make-A-Wish Development Coordinator Elizabeth Bach and WISH 99.7 personalities Sara Lockard and Ron Antill are on the far right. Mark Vizza from PNC Golf with a co-worker.
The employees of PNC Investments, under the leadership of Make-A-Wish Board Vice Chair Mike Mortensen, sponsored their 9th Annual Golf Outing and Dinner Auction on Columbus Day at Lindenwood Golf Club. Pictured here is Mike Mortensen, PNC Investments Director of Marketing Christopher Luke and Make-A-Wish President and CEO Judi Stone. Since 1991, the associates and staff of Prudential Preferred Realty have generously donated their time and talent for the wish kids, raising more than $825,000.This year, Prudential presented a donation of more than $50,000. Jim Saxon and Prudential Owner Ron Croshoure are pictured here with Make-A-Wish President and CEO Judi Stone. President and CEO Judi Stone interviews Ray Yeager from Ductmate Industries, Inc. about his company's generous $3,400 donation. Students from the Ross Elementary School Student Council presented the Foundation with a donation of more than $4,500. Make-A-Wish Vice President of Communications and Director of Operations Ann Hohn interviewed West Mifflin Middle School students Alex and Marissa about how they raised funds during their Turkey Bowl football game. The school was able to raise over $800.
Wish kid Alyssa volunteered with her mom Lori at the campaign. Alyssa's wish to go to Walt Disney World was granted in October 2008. Blairsville Westinghouse Nuclear Division Inspector and Secretary of the Emergency Brigade Debbie Keegan and fellow colleagues came to Monroeville Mall to drop off Westinghouse's annual donation. This year it was $7,508. Dr. Kastner and Associates are WISH 99.7 FM campaign sponsors. Dylan Hespenheide is a generous kid who is already raising thousands of dollars for the Foundation! Instead of gifts, he has asked his birthday party guests, for the second year in a row, to bring a donation for the Make-A-Wish Foundation instead. This year, he collected more than $2,500! He is pictured here with Make-A-Wish Vice President of Communications Ann Hohn and WISH 99.7 personality Cris Winter. Robby, 6, had his Disney World wish fulfilled earlier this year.
Tom Figore from the Penn Hills Duquesne Light company came to present a repeat $6,500 donation. This is the 14th Light Up A Child's Life appearance for the company. Since 1992, the employees have conducted a variety of office fundraisers: Steelers jersey raffle, 50/50s, soda and candy sales. Duquesne Light matches dollar for dollar the amount raised by the employees. Make-A-Wish Vice President of Communications and Director of Operations Ann Hohn interviewed Toni Nelson of the Elliott Company. For 17 years, the employees of Elliott Company have conducted February campaign drives, dances, raffles and secret Santa letters. Their most successful fundraiser to date has been the Dream Golf Raffle. Maureen and Gary have been volunteers for the Foundation since 2002 –granting wishes, attending events and speaking on behalf of the Foundation. Their son, Matt, is a wish kid who had his wish fulfilled in 1991 to go to the Indy 500. He is now 26 years old and doing well. The Green Mango located in Monroeville held a Benefit Buffet – charging $12.95 per person – and gave the Foundation 100% of the proceeds. The total came to $2,000. A special thank you to owners Kathy Saengian, Mark Robinson, and Lang Robinson. The Robinsons are pictured here with Sara Lockard and Ron Antill from WISH 99.7. Wish kid Gregory, 5, went to Disney World this past April.
Wish kid Jasmine, now 9 years old, had her wish for a Walt Disney World trip fulfilled in 2008. She is pictured here with Make-A-Wish mascot Stella! and Vice President of Communications Ann Hohn. JoAnn and Steve Merzlak came to Monroeville Mall to talk about the Walk for Strength, which is now in its ninth year. The walk, which has raised more than $106,000 since it was started, is held in memory of the Merzlaks' son, Michael, whose wish was to slim his mom at Nickelodeon Studios. Julie, 9 years old, visited Disney World in March 2008, and is pictured here with mascot Stella!. Julie's mom Diane is a Make-A-Wish volunteer who assists at events and speaks about her experience. Wish kid Layla was granted her Disney World wish in 2008. She came by to drop off a donation. She was also one of four winners of our holiday card contest this year. Marc Edwards from Edward Marc Chocolatier was interviewed about his company's
Kari Carbone and other organizers and participants in the Matthew Pustelak Memorial Golf Outing came to talk about their first-year event. The golf outing, held at Seven Springs Golf course in Elizabeth, PA in June, raised $6,800. Wish kid Megan, age 5, visited Disney World in February 2008. She has become a Make-A-Wish star, participating in many regional events. Micaila is a wish kid who wanted to give back. This is Micaila’s third year of making wishes come true. She makes bracelets to benefit the Foundation. Her Disney World wish was granted in 2002. The Mid-East Horseman's Association, led by Dr. Zakowski (left), has been holding horse shows to benefit the Foundation since 2006. This year, $1,750 was raised. Funds are raised from various activities held during the weekend of the event, and it's all topped off with an Elvis impersonator show! Lori Pokusa and Carrie Pugliano (sides) are sisters representing the Monroeville Fire Halls 4 & 6. They hold bingos throughout the year, and since 2000, they have raised more than $90,000.
This is the fifth year that Moss Side Middle School has participated in the Kids For Wish Kids program. Moss Side Middle School is part of Gateway School District in Monroeville. The students completed a variety of activities to help make wishes come true. Their teacher is Jason Alexander (back). Make-A-Wish Vice President of Communications and Director of Operations Ann Hohn interviews Nina, 7, who went on her Disney cruise wish in 2008. Rebecca, 11, went on a spectacular Caribbean cruise for her wish this year. Mike Dean, husband of Make-A-Wish volunteer Becky, and a colleague from RobRoy Industries talk about their fund raising efforts. This year, they presented a $17,000 donation. For six years now, the employees have been conducting year round fundraisers, and the company matches their gifts dollar for dollar. In lieu of holiday gifts, RobRoy asks their customers and clients to send donations to the Foundation on their behalf. The Rudolph Family and Rudolph Auto Supply sponsored their 10th Annual Golf Outing this past August at Pittsburgh North Club in Bakerstown, PA. In addition, this year they held a “Wish Bowl’ bowling event in April at Mars Lanes in Mars, PA. This first time event raised nearly $1,000. To date, the wonderfully generous Rudolph Family contributed $50,000, in loving memory of wish kid Matthew. Pictured are Rudolph Joyce Rudolph, daughter Cindy and granddaughter Taylor.
Steve Sopko and SCI Greensburg Shots for Tots have raised more than $80,000 throughout the years through a foul shot & 3 point basketball shoot and a Four Points Sheraton tree display. Wilson Elementary School has been participating in our Kids For Wish Kids program since 1999. They presented more than $2,000 to the Foundation. Zachary's wish to be a NASCAR broadcaster came true this past year. WISH 99.7 morning show hosts Sara Lockard and Ron Antill are also pictured.

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