Wishes DO Come True

Last week, Jackie (Miss Westchester Teen 2012) and I were invited to participate in a very special event. I'm sure most of you have heard of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Their mission is to grant the wishes of children suffering from life threatening illnesses. Their wishes all vary -- some want to take a trip to Disney World, others want to know what it would be like to be a chef for the day. No wish is too big or too small -- the foundation does all they can to make each wish come true. I never realized that Make-A-Wish was hard at work here in the Westchester County, but it turns out that we have a fabulous Hudson Valley chapter of Make-A-Wish that grants the wishes of our neighbors here in Westchester.

Last Thursday, a benefit concert took place at Vintage Restaurant in White Plains to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley chapter. Mike Barr and Peter DiGiovanni were on hand to provide guests with a fabulous musical experience. A buffet of delicious Italian food was prepared. And Jackie and I? We made our rounds through Vintage selling raffle tickets to the wonderful guests.

Yes, beauty queens eat...and the food was delicious!

One of the most moving parts of the evening was getting to meet a Yonkers family whose lives had been impacted by the Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley Chapter. When Donovan was ten years old, he wished to be a silver ranger. Most people might say "easy wish, just give the boy a costume, right?" Wrong. The Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley took it a step further. Acting as the Silver Ranger, Donovan starred in his own action movie. And it even got better -- a few months after production, Donvovan was whisked to the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill via limousine for a special viewing of his films where his friends, family, and supports lined a red carpet and cheered for their new star. Donovan is now a freshman in high school who aspires to be a graphic designer. I have every confidence that this determined young man will achieve his dream!

Jackie and I with Donovan

The night was a huge success, and Jackie & I were delighted to be there to support such a wonderful cause here in Westchester. Thank you, Make-A-Wish, for giving us the chance to be a part of your big night!

Taking the stage...just kidding! (If they let me sing, we would have had to pay the guests for the trauma!)

To read Donovan's story, click HERE.

To learn more about Make-A-Wish of the Hudson Valley, click HERE.