Byesville Rotary learns how to give “A Special Wish”

Pictured: Joe Waske, Byesville Rotary President, Pat Vaughan, A Special Wish Foundation” representative, and Rich Dair, Speaker Host.

Reading for Jan. 25

• January Rotarian, "Rotarian Redoux," p. 33.

Pat Vaughan, representing the “A Special Wish Foundation” of Muskingum and Guernsey Counties, explained that the goal of the foundation is to provide children who have life threatening illnesses or disorders with “…at least one magical moment” in their lives. These moments are based on the child’s wish.

The Special Wish Foundation was established in 1983 and national headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio. The Zanesville Chapter, serving Muskingum and Guernsey Counties, was founded in 1994. To date, the Foundation has granted 39 wishes to children in the area. Six of the wish recipients were children living in Guernsey County.

The average cost of a child’s wish is $3015. Funding for the wishes comes solely from the generosity of individual, organizations, business, religious institutions, and local fundraisers sponsored by the Special Wish Foundations. Locally, the Special Wish Foundation is supported by volunteers who park cars for $5.00 during the Zanesville Gus Macker tournament. Parking areas are donated by Zanesville banks. A second fundraiser is an “Absentee Party.” Donors respond to the party invitation with a donation based on what they might spend going to a real event.

The most popular wish granted is a trip to Disney World. The child and his or her family will stay in a free cottage in Kissimmee. The trip is a joint effort between the local Special Wish Foundation and volunteers in Florida who keep the cottage refrigerator stocked with kid snacks. Perkins Pancake House provides free breakfasts and dinners. Bus transportation is provided to and from Disney World.

The Special Wish Foundation invites families, friends, or medical personal to refer children qualifying for the program. Referrals can be made to: A Special Wish Foundation—Zanesville Chapter, PO Box 2573, Zanesville, OH 43702-2573 or by calling 740-452-3432 or 740-685-8017.

Wishes are granted to children up to 20. Immediate family members are included in the wish whenever possible. Wishes cannot be given to a child more than once, and the Special Wish does not provide wishes to children who have had a wish fulfilled by another organization.

The club’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, January 25, 2011, at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Larry Miller, 740-439-2767