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Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

Make A Wish focuses on bringing smiles to ill kids

The Central California chapter has granted 88 wishes this year, a record for the group.

When Juan Flores Jr. came into Best Buy as a customer on Nov. 2, all the store's employees welcomed him at once.

It put an ear-to-ear grin on the 4-year-old's face, and little Juan can use that happiness right about now. The Atwater child suffers from acute lymphocytic leukemia -- but that didn't stop him from having an unforgettable day at Best Buy.

Flores was the recipient of a Make A Wish Foundation's gift of a shopping spree at Best Buy. The crew-cut boy with the huge grin chose a big screen television and video games to play.

"It was absolutely amazing to see that kid," said Jordan Rose, Best Buy's store manager. "Despite what he's going through, he had a great time, and he instilled a lot of energy and joy in us."

Flores' shopping spree was one of 88 wishes the Make a Wish Foundation of Central California, based in Fresno, made this year. Lori Steinman, program services manager for the foundation, said that was a record for her group.

"We grant wishes to children between 2½ years and 18 years, and they have to be qualified for Make a Wish by their physician," Steinman said.

The organization is volunteer-driven, Steinman said, and the money that is raised in Central California stays in Central California.

"A lot of people think we get funded by our national office, but we support ourselves," she said.

The Fresno office is run with a staff of three full-time and one part-time employee, and a lot of volunteers.

"Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization," Steinman said. Especially needed are bilingual volunteers who speak both Spanish and English, she said.

Children who are chosen by Make A Wish aren't screened for financial need, Steinman said.

"These illnesses hit these families hard, and it makes no difference how much money they have or who they know -- when a child has cancer there's not a lot you can do," she said.

The most popular wishes are trips to Disneyland or Disney World, computers and, like little Juan's wish, shopping sprees.

"Most of the wishes we try to fulfill within a year, although some celebrity wishes take longer," Steinman said.

For the employees at Best Buy, little Juan's trip into the store was memorable.

"Make A Wish is a big deal for our company, and it's a huge, huge deal for me," said Rose. "These kids have so much courage -- it's great to see the sparkle in their eyes."

Reporter Carol Reiter can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or creiter@mercedsun-star.com