Make A Wish Extends Magic To Pacific

MEDIA RELEASE JUNE 2011 MAKE-A-WISH ® NEW ZEALAND EXTENDS MAGIC TO THE PACIFIC

On Tuesday June 28th 2011 (NZT), Make-A-Wish New Zealand will be making a very special delivery. Eight children in American Samoa will be receiving their one true wish through a day filled with hope, strength and joy, courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, who has agreed to support Make-A-Wish New Zealand, has generously funded these wishes. Make-A-Wish New Zealand staff and volunteers have met with the wish children, and will be at the wish granting ceremony on the ground in American Samoa.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has one global mission: to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

The eight wishes in American Samoa will be granted with the help of several surprise guests, along with amazing Make-A-Wish volunteers; the wishes are as follows:

The eight American Samoa wishes being granted are:

Philip, 17, spinal atrophy, to have a flat screen TV and DVD player

Varia, 17, renal failure, to have a laptop

Jossie, 11, rheumatic heart disease, to have a laptop

Solomaima, 11, heart disease, to have a wish box full of toys, including a camera

Johnny, 7, Di George Syndrome, to have a wish box full of toys, including glow-inthe- dark rubber bands

Alofa, 7, spinal atrophy, to have Transformers toys

Tala, 6, cardiac disorder, to have a Barbie princess day

Mutaaga, 4, spinal atrophy, to have a wish box with baby dolls, cuddly toys and drawing paper

Make-A-Wish New Zealand has been granting wishes to New Zealand children since 1986, and has recently extended its support to include the Pacific Islands. Since last year when wish celebrations in the Pacific began, 18 wishes have been granted in Fiji, four in Samoa, and five in Tonga. The support that made these wishes possible