Paula Mitchell joins Make-A-Wish® Arizona as CFO/COO

PHOENIX (June 12, 2013) – Make-A-Wish® Arizona, the state chapter of the international wish granting organization, welcomes Paula K. Mitchell as the new Chief Financial Officer and Operations Officer.

Mitchell’s history as a financial executive with hands-on experience in human resources and operations was the perfect fit for Make-A-Wish Arizona, which has helped to grant more than 4,700 wishes of Arizona children with life-threatening medical conditions since starting in 1980. The Arizona chapter is the founding chapter of Make-A-Wish, the international wish granting organization which has granted more than 225,000 wishes worldwide.

“We have made amazing strides in the past few years, granting a record number of wishes for Arizona wish kids and we know Paula can help us continue that growth,” said Elizabeth Reich, Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish Arizona. “In her past roles, she has experience in corporate development, financial planning, human resources administration and strategic planning –all of which make her perfect for our chapter.”

Mitchell comes to Make-A-Wish Arizona after 10 years as a financial consultant for both private and public companies, such as EADS-North America, ATK, in Mesa, Ariz., and AAR in Huntsville, Ala. She was also a Chief Financial Officer for the NIVISYS Industries in Tempe, which created night and thermal vision products for dismounted soldiers.

“I’m excited to join this team and to continue the vision of Make-A-Wish Arizona as we work together with our corporate and individual donors to make every eligible child’s wish come true,” said Mitchell.

Paula Mitchell replaces former CFO/COO Laura Mitchell, who left Make-A-Wish Arizona to become the  Executive Director of The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation, a long-time supporter of Make-A-Wish Arizona.
About Make-A-Wish® Arizona
Make-A-Wish® Arizona is the founding chapter of Make-A-Wish®, the world’s largest wish granting organization which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. With the help of generous donors, Make-A-Wish Arizona grants more than 300 wishes annually. For more information, visit www.wishaz.org to discover how you can share the power of a wish®.

“I couldn’t believe how hard that the fish was fighting, it took about 20 minutes to pull it in but when the guys (from the charter services) saw it, they said it was one of the biggest ones they have ever helped to catch.”

Bailey is talking about the 44-lbs Giant Trevally fish, which is half his weight and the culmination of his wish to go deep sea fishing in Hawaii.

Starting his day on the water at a very early hour, Bailey and his family helped the crew stick up the lines, catch the bait fish and then pulled in not one, but two record-breaking fishes – the 44-lbs Giant Trevally and a 9-lb Pacific Needle fish.
“The Pacific Needle fish was a little bit easier because we didn’t catch it with the hook in the mouth, but with a hook on its back,” said Bailey. “It only took a couple of minutes to pull it in.”

Bailey, who was diagnosed at the age of 8 with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, understands fighting for your life. His diagnosis weakens his immune system, affecting all of his vessels and organs. It also requires him to keep moving so his joints don’t stiffen, but also can give him bouts of terrible pain. It’s difficult for an active boy 6th grader like Bailey, who swims 30 minutes a day (at least) and takes Tae Kwan
Do.

His wish to go to Hawaii to do some deep sea fishing was a way to show himself that he could do something physical and fun, and bring his family, including mom Tina, dad Jeff and brother Mason, 8, along as well. In addition to their day at sea, the family was able to see the Pearl Harbor Memorial and eat some incredible fish – something mom Tina enjoyed a lot more than Bailey.

“The fishing was great but the best part was being with my family the entire week and having fun doing things that we all enjoyed,” said Bailey.

Bailey did come home with a souvenir as well – his 44-lb catch is mounted and hangs on a wall in the house.

“I’ve never been to Hawaii so it was great to be there, to go fishing and to have fun with my family,” he said.

“My entire life, I have loved horses and, for my 10th birthday, my mom gave me riding lessons,” said Ellie.

According to Ellie, those riding lessons were amazing and as she became more comfortable in the saddle, she started to think of herself as a true horsewoman. That is why her diagnosis of a brain tumor a mere eight months later was both shocking and heart-wrenching.

“I was getting really bad headaches but, at first, doctors thought it was just sinus headaches because I always get sinus infections,” said Ellie. “Then, in October, I woke up in agonizing pain and was vomiting and my mom knew that something was wrong. So my mom took me to see my doctor, who ordered an MRI.”

That MRI showed a tumor that required immediate surgery, which then meant months off her beloved horses. Yet, she never stopped thinking of riding and when the opportunity to have a wish was presented to her by Make-A-Wish Arizona, Ellie knew what her wish would be.

“I wished for a horse,” she said.

In the coming months, her wish granters worked with local stables, horse breeders and horse owners to find just the right horse, with just the right temperament and stability for an 11-year-old new rider.

This May, Ellie met the beautiful quarterhorse Johnny and it was love at first sight!

“He was everything I ever wanted, he was the right color, he was the same age as me (11) and he was the right gender,” she said. “He’s the most beautiful, most obedient horse I have ever ridden.”

“My wish was such an amazing experience!” she continues. “I was completely blown away and my wish granters got me everything I wanted and more!”

Walk for Wishes and make an impact on the life of a child with a life-threatening medical condition.

At Make-A-Wish Arizona, we see the effects a granted wish has on a child, their family and friends, and their community. That is why we present the 10th Annual Walk for Wishes!

Sunday, October 27, 2013
Tempe Marketplace

Registration is free! Register today!
Tentative schedule:

• Check-in 7-8 a.m. (activities at the District Stage area)
• 5k fun run/walk begins: 8:15 a.m.
• 1m fun run/walk begins: 8:30 a.m.
• Celebration to follow on the District Stage

Register today and you can create a fundraising page that will show how you are walking to sponsor one of our incredible wish kids and their one true wish. You can help raise money to support wish kids just like these:

• Hannah, 16, I wish to meet Anthony Bourdain
• Darrius, 6, I wish to be a police officer
• Bailey, 12, I wish to go deep sea fishing in Hawaii
• Ellie, 11, I wish to have my own quarterhorse

“I want the world to be safe,” said Darrius, who suffers from sickle cell disease, a life-threatening condition that has meant the loss of his spleen and multiple hospital visits.

Phoenix PD planned a special day, from K9 unit training to a helicopter tour of the city. Darrius even rode in the pilot seat of the helicopter for the first part of his tour – something typical officers only dream of!

After coffee and donuts at Starbucks with his partner, Darrius had a chance to catch some bad guys when “Major League foes” captured his brother Jermaine to take him hostage. Darrius tracked down the bad guys and his brothers at Chase Field with the help of Baxter, the Arizona Diamondbacks mascot, and used his new handcuff skills to cart the bad guys off to jail.

Afterwards, Darrius and his more than 200 fans who joined the celebration, enjoyed Blue Bunny ice cream in celebration of their “100 years, 100 wishes” campaign.

“This gives me hope, it gives me strength so when the bad days come, I’ll have a little more strength to get through them,” said mom Andrea.

Maggie was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was only 15, but as she said to Make-A-Wish organizers in 2005, “I don’t see my cancer as a road block, but as a stepping stone to bigger and better things to come.”

Maggie was granted her wish to meet fashion designer Marc Jacobs, in 2006. After that she made it her goal to help other sick children get their wishes granted. Maggie lost her battle to cancer on December 1, 2008.

To keep Maggie’s rich legacy alive, we formed a non-profit 501(c)3 foundation, “Maggie’s Angels, Inc.” Our goal is to raise funds to help other children with life threatening medical conditions realize the magic and joy of a dream come true!!

Eat wings and make wishes come true!
Print out your Wings for Wishes Coupons to bring with you on June 5 to remind the servers why you are there!
Buffalo Wild Wings will donate 15% of food sales to Maggie’s Angels/Make-A-Wish Arizona.

LOCATION:  Buffalo Wild Wings
2985 N. Centre Court
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
DATE: Wednesday June 5
TIME: 5 PM-10 PM

Help grant the wishes of deserving Arizona children through Make-A-Wish Arizona.

Margaret was diagnosed a little after her first birthday with a life-threatening disorder that affects the brain and nervous system that has no cure. She has lived her life in a wheelchair, training and retraining her muscles to do simple things that we all take for granted.

According to her mom, Danielle, Margaret takes nothing for granted, which is why, when she was approached by Make-A-Wish Arizona, she decided to use her wish to have a shopping spree at Best Buy to benefit all the kids who are regularly in the Tucson Medical Center Children’s Clinic, like she is.

“She was worried about the kids at the center having to share when they wanted to play games,” said Danielle. “She wanted to the kids to be able to be kids, and to stop thinking of the pain they are in when they are in the hospital.”

Best Buy on Broadway opened early for Margaret, and created a special shopping spree, with iPad minis lined up and surrounded by balloons and welcome signs. In addition to the iPads, Margaret purchased iTune gift cards, video games and video game consoles that she knew the kids would like.

Then it was off to Tucson Medical Center, where she was met by the leadership and staff who hosted a party in her honor. In addition to the toys Margaret donated, her story of inspiration had led others in the community to donate so there was quite a stash of toys waiting to go into the hospital’s toy closet.

The party included a cake from Cakes for Causes, and a small presentation by Danielle, who spoke for Margaret when she said that Tucson Medical Center was a home-away-from-home for the family.

“Margaret is always thinking of others and we are so pleased that we could use her wish to help out a facility that has seen us through so much in our lives,” said Danielle.

WHEN: Every Wednesday in May
TIME: 1 -3 pm & 3 - 5 pm
WHERE: BounceU of Gilbert
PRICE: $5 per child
100% of the entry fee will be donated to Make-A-Wish!
 
We will also be selling “Wish Candles” for $1 each through the month of May.
100% of the money raised from Wish Candles sales will go to Make-A-Wish!
 
Reservations for Wish Wednesdays are strongly recommended.

Walks-in may not be accepted if the session is full.
Call for reservations at (480) 632-9663 or reserve online through the Bounce U Events Calendar

Purchase your ticket today! Space is limited. You can purchase your tickets by phone, in person, or online through our Events Calendar

Enjoy:

• Bouncing
• Face painting & Balloon twisting
• Entertainment
• Treats
• Vendors
• Raffle prizes

We will have four 1-Hour Bounce Sessions: 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm, and 7 pm

We will also be selling $1 raffle ticket for the chance to win fabulous prizes:  BounceU birthday parties, Summer passports, and many gift certificates and gift baskets from local businesses!

Thank you to the following businesses who support this great cause by providing entertainment for the event and donating raffle prizes: MBC Photography, Kiddie Fresh, Keller Williams Legacy One, and many more!
 
If you own a local business and would like to participate in this great cause, please contact us at bchaddock@bounceu.com

WHEN: Every Wednesday in May
TIME: 1 -3 pm & 3 - 5 pm
WHERE: BounceU of Gilbert
PRICE: $5 per child
100% of the entry fee will be donated to Make-A-Wish!
 
We will also be selling “Wish Candles” for $1 each through the month of May.
100% of the money raised from Wish Candles sales will go to Make-A-Wish!
 
Reservations for Wish Wednesdays are strongly recommended. Walks-in may not be accepted if the session is full.

Call for reservations at (480) 632-9663 or reserve online through the BounceU Events Calendar