Thursday, September 20, 2007

September 20th Walk for Wishes A Great Success!

The Seventh Annual Walk for Wishes held on September 20th in seven locations was a huge success. Teams helped to raise over $50,300 which is the equivalent of eight wishes! Way to go, walkers!

Total amount of pledges collected at each walk site:

Linnehans
Team Linnehans, representing Linnehans Family of Businesses located in Ellsworth, has helped to make the Ellsworth Walk For Wishes one of the highest grossing locations. Led by Willis White, Jr., team members raised more than $12,000 this year, and $10,000 for each of the previous three years, which is among the highest fundraising amounts in the history of the Walk For Wishes. Linnehans received the Community Spirit Award from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine this year.

Union Trust
Initially inspired by long-time volunteer Ron Hamilton, the "You Can Bank On Us" team from Union Trust has contributed to the success of the Ellsworth Walk For Wishes for the past four years. Employees raised over $6,500 this year, and $5,000 each of the previous three years. Union Trust employees also volunteer behind-the-scenes at the Walk, and collect funds during "dress down days." As a company, Union Trust has supported Make-A-Wish since 2002, and received the Community Spirit Award from our chapter this year.

Viking Lumber
The Viking Lumber team in Belfast raised more than $5,000 to become Wishmakers and have a child's wish granted in their honor. Employees of Viking Lumber have participated in the Walk For Wishes for several years and have supported numerous Make-A-Wish events.

Overseas Support
Lt. Commander Chris Flaherty, a wish granting volunteer, didn't let being stationed in Japan dampen his support of the Walk. He rallied a team in Japan, while spouses back home in Maine organized a team to walk in Brunswick.

In a letter to supporters, Christopher wrote, "Of course, we very much wish that we could be with our loved ones back home, but spread to all corners of the Western Pacific at the moment, we join them in spirit ... with a 'walk' of our own in our corner of the world. This Thursday morning, when our Sailors gather for command PT (physical training) in Misawa, Japan, we shall dedicate our sunrise run to loved ones in Brunswick and to the 'heroes' associated with Make-A-Wish of Maine."

Thanks to all participants at each Walk location who gathered pledges to help make wishes
come true!

Stay tuned for next year's Walk For Wishes dates!

Event Photos
(To enlarge photo, click on any thumbnail image below)

	Four wish families gathered with volunteers Ron and Joanne Hamilton (far right) to support the Walk For Wishes in Ellsworth. Aside from helping with the Walk For Wishes in Ellsworth, Ron and Joanne have been wish granters to numerous children, including Walker (far left), Gabriel (in stroller on left), Sherri (fourth from right), and Chelsea (second from right).
	Employees from Bangor Savings in Ellsworth raised enough at the 2006 Walk For Wishes to grant Gabriel's (front) wish to have a CedarWorks playset.
	Employees of Mount Desert Hospital have supported the Walk For Wishes in Ellsworth for several years.
	At seven locations throughout the state, friends of Make-A-Wish gathered pledges and walked to support wish kids.

The following teams raised more than $500:

Team Linnehans, Ellsworth, $12,000.00
Viking Lumber, Belfast, $4,815.00
Union Trust, Ellsworth, $3,800.00
Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick, $3,737.20
Team BIW, Brunswick, $2,248.00
SVH Team, Pittsfield, $1,420.00
Waldo County General Healers, Belfast, $1,390.00
Chelsea's Wish, Ellsworth, $1,385.00
Team Irving, Pittsfield, $1,334.60
Kieve-Wavus, Brunswick, $1,080.00
MDI Hospital, Ellsworth, $1,072.00
Hodgdon JMG, Houlton, $927.00
Bangor Savings Bank, Ellsworth, $900.00
VP-10 ESG, Brunswick, $820.00
Mt. View Mustangs, Belfast, $532.00

Thanks to the following participants who raised more than $100:

Michael Alberico
Sandra Allen
Clip Anderson
Laurie Baron
Sue Batson
Tyler and Trever Begin
Lynne Belanger
Brooke Berglund
Farinaz Billings
Wayne Bradstreet
Rebecca	Bridges
Terri Brown
Jen, Marshall and Sarah Buker
Richard Bursey
Bonnie Cambell
Kellie Cirard
Joanna Clapp
Linda Clark
Vickie Colby
Florence Coombs
Susan Crocker
Sharon Crossman
Kimberly Curtis
Rebecca	Cyr
Evelyn Darres
Haley Davis
Dianne Deans
Hydee Delaite
Trudy Dewey
Anastasia Duncombe
Heidi Eastman
Katie Emerson
Tiffany Fenderson
Danielle Fitzpatrick
Hilda Flaherty
Heidi Flanagan
Dawn Flood
Deanna Fowler
Samantha Fowler
Al Geiger
Samantha, Cassidy and Devon Gifford
Amanda Gifford
Brittany Gilliam
Katie Gilliam
Linda Greene
Taylor Hamilton
Judy Hamilton
Arthur Hamilton
Al Hardie
Kathryn Hasson
Lorrain Hill
Kathy Holcomb
Beth Holt
Mary Beth Hovey
Kirsten Hughes
Irving Tanning Co.
Tyler Jones
Emily Kucharski
Virginia Leighton
Yvonne Logan
Patricia Long
Diane Lounder
Kelly Barnes Lumber
Alycia Lyndaker
Alisha Lyndaker
Becky Maxsimic
Sheri McCordic
Ella McEldowney
Brooke McFadden
Kaycie McWilliams
Mark Michaud
Amanda Mitchell
Cindy Mouland
Joanne Munsey
Marisa O'Keefe
Bonnie Oldenburg
Joelle Osborn
Cheryl Pinkham
Brandon	Preble
Amanda Renaud
Sheridan Renaud
Corleen Richard
Diane Rider
Paula Riley
Kelly Rimm
Sherri Robinson
Peter Ross
Julie Roundy
DeMaris	Ryan Maker
Luke Sawyer
Ron Scott
Hal Seeley
Jennifer Seeley
Marvis Silverman
James Simmonds
Joe Small
Mike Smart
Meaghan Stanhope
Chris Stover
Stan Swanson
Erin Thomas
Susan Thompson
Pam Vickery
Michael Wagner
Chelsea Ward
Terri Weliever
Rita White, Jr.
Willis Wilder
David Willey
Danny Willis
Viking Woods

Thanks again to everyone who gathered pledges to help make wishes come true!