TUSTIN, Calif., Oct. 18, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of Orange County and the Inland Empire, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, today announced the merger of the Orange County Chapter with the Inland Empire Wish Center. Combining resources to implement a more robust outreach program across the multiple counties, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire seeks to better serve the 28,158 square mile territory.
Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino County families will rely on staff and volunteers based out of the Wish House in Tustin and a regional office in Riverside. The integration enables the single chapter to increase the number of wish children it can serve each year, by eliminating administrative redundancies and amplifying outreach efforts. By combining the talents and resources within both administrations, including current staff and volunteers, plus adding new staff members, the program will be able to be more responsive.
"While there are many benefits to this merger, it introduces the significant challenge of recruiting and training enough volunteers to enable us to accomplish our expanded mission," stated Mark Pilon, CEO of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire, "but we are hopeful that through the strength of our existing volunteer and donor relationships that we will make many new connections, plus be enabled to deliver a consistent outreach program that successfully attracts new support to help our organization fulfill the gift of a wish."
The chapter's vision is to reach every eligible child within the expanded region with the opportunity of a wish and is urgently seeking bilingual volunteers, wish granting volunteers, events/communications volunteers, as well as generous donors and business sponsors to fulfill the greater demand in this newly expanded region. Together with the support of the community, we can make dreams come true.
Last year, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County granted over 100 wishes and the Inland Empire Wish Center granted over 125 wishes. The chapter anticipates needing over 300 volunteers from a variety of backgrounds and specialties to grant upwards of 250 wishes, in addition to assisting an anticipated 400 wish children who will be visiting Orange County and the Inland Empire as a destination from other Make-A-Wish chapters.
About Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of Orange County and the Inland Empire
Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) has established itself as the world's largest wish granting organization, with 74 chapters across the United States, including 28 international affiliates. As a chapter of the national foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of Orange County and the Inland Empire fulfills wishes for children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 who confront life-threatening medical conditions. Granting wishes helps these children find the hope they need to transform their life-threatening illnesses into life-affirming triumphs. Formed in 1983, the merged chapter has fulfilled the wishes of more than 2,500 children.
For more information about Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of Orange County and the Inland Empire, visit the company's Web site at: www.wishocie.org. Phone: (714) 573-WISH (9474). E-mail: orangeco@wishocie.org.