Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida’s WishMaker’s Ball - A Night of DANCE and WISHES

May 26, 2010 - PRLog -- The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Southern Florida held its 4th Annual WishMaker’s Ball on May 15, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. The evening featured local celebrity dancers reenacting famous dance scenes from classic films in a “Dancing with the Stars” style.

Starting off the evening with a welcoming greeting was Patrick Nolan of Fox 4 TV, followed by a professional dance exhibition performance by Lyndsay Ridenour and Brad MacDonald of Fred Astaire Dance Studio Fort Myers and junior dancer, Chloe Hart, dinner and then an introduction of the dancers and judges for the evening. The lineup of competing dancers included: Angela Schivinski; Greater Fort Myers Chamber; David Shestokas, Shestokas, Raines & Malavia; Pam Beckman, Bon Soiree; Steve Luongo, John Entwistle Foundation; Kendra Sutton, WINK-TV; and Amy Sedlacek, Fox 4 with Judith Yevick, Make-A-Wish Foundation. Pam Beckman won the judges’ choice for first place, with Steve Luongo at second, and the team of Amy Sedlacek and Judith Yevick earning third for their performance of a ‘Chicago’ dance number. Kendra Sutton won the People’s Choice Award for raising the most donations in combination with receiving the most audience votes for her performance.

Ball attendees heard the wish story of Sullivan “Sully” Hess, a 16-year-old wish child suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which is causing him to lose his sight. He shared with listeners the story of his recent wish trip to Maui with his family, a way to “have incredible memories embedded” in his mind. Following Sully’s account of his Hawaiian adventure was a live auction, featuring items such as a one week stay at the Manhattan Club in New York City, a station tour and prime rib dinner with the Cape Coral Fire Department, and specialty jewelry hand-picked by jeweler Mike Joyce.

“The WishMaker’s Ball this year was a great success. The evening even outshined last year’s event, both in the enthusiasm of the people at the Ball and in the generosity of local businesses and community leaders,” said Connie Martin, Ball Chairperson and Senior Special Events Coordinator for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida. “Everyone involved had a wonderful time, but more importantly, they are so eager to support the mission of the Foundation—granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.”

With 175 in attendance at the Ball, proceeds of more than $40,000 were raised which will grant eight wishes to local children. Many other wishes are still available for sponsorship. For more information, please call 239-992-9474 or email cmartin@sflawish.org.

ABOUT THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida grants wishes to children 2 ½ to 18 years old with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Twenty-six years of magic and more than 7,000 wishes later, the Foundation continues its mission to share the power of a wish® with ailing children. To find out more about volunteering, fundraising, or becoming a wish sponsor for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, please call 239-992-9474 or visit the website at www.sfla.wish.org.

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The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Southern Florida grants wishes to children 2 ½ to 18 years old with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.