Bangkok--9 May--Verve
This year, a special group of celebrity wish granters came together to craft a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to raise awareness about World Wish Day? and the Make-A-Wish? mission. Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, among other celebrities, have lent their voices to the World Wish Day campaign. In supporting this important cause, Miley Cyrus granted the wishes of 8 children from Australia, Canada, Spain and the US with a private meet and greet.
Make-A-Wish will celebrate the third annual World Wish Day, on 29 April 2012 with thousands of people across 48 countries the Foundation serves around the globe. Other celebrities that participated in the special World Wish Day PSA include Cake Boss’ Buddy Valastro, renowned international photographer Nigel Barker, WWE Superstar John Cena, actress Tiffani Thiessen, and comedian Jon Stewart.
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Make-A-Wish has granted over 290,000 wishes since 1980.
World Wish Day is organized by Make-A-Wish to commemorate the anniversary of the wish that inspired the creation of what is now the world’s leading wish-granting organization. Seven-year-old Chris Greicius’ wish to be a police officer was granted in Phoenix, Arizona by volunteers on 29 April 1980.
To celebrate Chris’ wish and the work of the Foundation, Make-A-Wish affiliates, chapters and supporters from all over the world will be joining in the celebration through wish-granting events in their communities and online at worldwishday.org.
Several Make-A-Wish International sponsors are helping us celebrate World Wish Day this year, including Mattel, Disney Stores Worldwide, CNN International. Hard Rock International and Ringo Starr's Lotus Foundation, Brooks Brothers, TIME EMEA, Asia and South Pacific and FORTUNE Europe, Asia and South Pacific Magazines, NYSE Euronext, The Atlantic and Arnold Worldwide.
Mattel has been a World Wish Day supporter since 2011 and continues to be one of our strongest corporate supporters for the 2012 campaign through a generous cash donation and social media campaign. The world's largest toy manufacturer also makes a difference in the global Make-A-Wish community throughout the year via product donations, helping to grant wishes and the work of employee volunteers through its charitable arm, the Mattel Children's Foundation.
Jim Fielding, Board Chair, Make-A-Wish International and President, Disney Stores Worldwide explains, “Everyone has the opportunity to Join the World? in celebrating wishes around the globe this World Wish Day. A wish improves the life of the wish child and everyone touched by that wish. World Wish Day allows people from all over the world to come together to help make more wishes come true. This year, we ask individuals across the globe to Join the World by taking part in World Wish Day in their communities and by visiting worldwishday.org.”
Other World Wish Day highlights include:
WWE Superstar John Cena, granted wishes to children across Europe throughout April, including wish children Aaron (7) from Ireland, and Mark (7) & Alex (7) from the United Kingdom
Cake Boss’ Buddy Valastro will grant the wishes of 11 children, including Roberto (16) and Alice (13) of Italy, and Fabio (15) of Portugal in New Jersey on 23 April
India: granting 110 wishes across India, including Aniket’s (10) wish to be a police officer
Panama: granting 16 wishes throughout Panama, including Adonis’ (6) wish to have his very own Power WheelsTM toy; A World Wish Day party for 50 wish families will be held at Cinemark, Multicentro where toys donated by Mattel Centroam?rica will bring even more joy to the celebration
Spain: On 24 April, singer Miguel Draco Tena will perform songs from his first album, El ?xito definitivo at a live show at Hard Rock Caf? Madrid benefiting Make-A-Wish Spain
Singapore: 28 restaurants will donate 50% of proceeds from their selected Wish Dish during the month of April; Samuel (4) had his wish to have an elephant themed party granted
World Wish Day coincides with the official registration of Make-A-Wish Foundation Thailand. Khun Nahaporn Bodiratnagkura, Chairman of Make-A-Wish Thailand said “ we are very pleased with the official registration and are ready to move ahead to fulfill the dream of Thai children with a life threatening medical condition. We have been working hard to set up an excellent team of volunteers in different fields if expertise to run the foundation successfully. We have the kind support from our brand ambassadors Khun Woody Militachinda and Tata Young and welcomed the participations from sponsors such as Peninsula Hotel, Conrad Hotels, Four Seasons Hotel, Dapper, Mattel and Bangkok Airways”
Year to date we managed to grand 15 wishes such as ‘ I want to be a Barbie’, ‘I want to meet a Panda Bear’ , ‘ I want to fly in a helicopter’, ‘I want to see a shark’ and ‘I want to meet Ultraman’. “ Our aim for the rest of this year is to grant at least 10 new wishes, says Khun Nahaporn.”
For more information about Make-A-Wish International please contact:
Sioban Kerr — Director, Brand Marketing and Communications
Email:
[email protected]
Tel +1 602.230.9900
For more information about Make-A-Wish? Foundation Thailand contact Khun Annabelle Daokaew
E-mail:
[email protected]
Website: www.worldwish.org
For further information, please contact:
Verve
Prasit Kritsadaariyachon
Tel: 02 204 8216
Email:
[email protected]