Flossmoor resident A.J. Rudolph is so touched by stories of children benefitting from the Make-A-Wish Illinois that she is volunteering her time as marketing chair for the Wish Ball May 20.
The event at Navy Pier will feature actor and producer John Stamos as the celebrity entertainer, along with several talented Wish alumni.
Rudolph said guests at the event will experience an elegant evening packed with touching moments and top-rate talent as several wish experiences are highlighted. Wish children will be serving as Wish Ambassadors.
Make-A-Wish Foundation gives seriously ill children ages 3 through 17 hope and joy and helps them build strength once a wish has been placed. Celebrating and sharing those moments are the heart of Wish Ball 2017, Rudolph said.
She first started working with the organization six years ago through her former employer. Although her work obligation is over, Rudolph said she continues as the marketing chair because “the organization moved me so much, especially after hearing about how children who get wishes statistically have better improvement in their medical conditions. It gives them something to get better for!”
Rudolph said meeting the children is what keeps her working with the organization.
More than 150 life-threatening medical conditions can qualify a child for wish. Researchers who have studied the effects of granting wishes on children with cancer found significant improvements in hope, positive emotions, health-related quality of life and levels of anxiety.
Make-A-Wish Illinois, one of 65 chapters in the U.S., strives to reach every eligible child with a life-changing wish experience through the support of generous donors and more than 1,700 volunteers across the state.
For more information on the gala, to learn how you can help Make-A-Wish Illinois or to recommend a child, call 312-602-9474 or visit www.illinois.wish.org