Past Supporters

Each year at their holiday party, Hartt Transportation Systems, Inc selects a charity to support. This year, they selected the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine. Through a 50/50 raffle, they raised $832, which would have normally been divided between MAW and the lucky winner (Kevin Roberts/Scott Buxton). But K&S Transport, LLC graciously donated their prize money back to the kitty. Further, Hartt Transportation always matches the 50/50 raffle for the charity and since K&S donated the money back, the total amount they donated to Make-A-Wish is $1,250.00.

Emily gives her donation to Kate Vickery, Program Director

10/9/09 - Emily Taggart is in 6th grade at Scarborough Middle School. She lives in a friendly neighborhood and knows or plays with other children who live on her block. Some days, however, she can’t play with 10-year-old Alicia because she’s recovering from brain surgery. Other days, she sees an ambulance parked in 4-year-old Kyle's driveway.

Fortunately for Emily, she has never had to face some of the challenges her neighbors have had to face. She and her Mom, Hope, talk about how different their own worries are from those of families whose children have life-threatening medical conditions.

One day, however, Emily saw something different from her window. Instead of an ambulance in Kyle’s driveway, it was a trolley car! Adorned with balloons and stars, the trolley brought Kyle and his siblings to Bayley’s Campground for his Make-A-Wish sendoff party (more pictures here).  And one morning at Alicia’s house, a stretch limousine pulled up to bring her to the airport for her wish to meet Zac Efron!

“When Alicia got back from her Wish, she was so happy,” said Emily. “That made me happy to see how happy she was. I want other kids, like Kyle, to be that happy too.”

To accomplish this goal of bringing happiness to kids like Alicia and Kyle, Emily decided she would raise funds for Make-A-Wish.  From the sidewalk in her neighborhood, she sold crafts made by her and her younger brother Nate, lemonade, popsicles, scrapbooking supplies and stuffed animals.

When asked about selling her items and if it was hard to let things go, Emily said that “even though you’re losing something, someone else is gaining something good.”

For another organization, she had a goal of raising $100 by walking up and down her street, asking neighbors for money. Instead, she came home with $300!

“One of our goals as parents,” said Hope, “is that our kids learn that it’s better to give than to receive. We’ve always given back to our school, teachers and our community. One day, I came home to find that Emily and her brother had gone onto the Make-A-Wish of Maine web site, printed and taped logos and stars onto themselves. I asked what they were doing and their reply was that they were going to raise money for Make-A-Wish.”

Alicia, Emily's friend and neighbor, first learns that her wish will be granted

Emily sure has learned from her mother’s teachings. Now, she’s not only helping her community, but also helping kids throughout her entire state!

“It makes us very proud and we know there is more of this for her in the future.” 

In fact, Emily already has a plan for how she’s going to double her $110 donation to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine next year.

Nate and Emily planted a pumpkin patch this year. With it, they learned all about sowing seeds, caring for the small plants and watching them grow. Next year, she plans to sell pumpkins from this patch (along with baked goods) to raise money for Make-A-Wish.

“We’re even going to take out an ad in the newspaper,” said Emily.

Although the average cost of a wish is $6,000, the donation from Emily packs a lot of power.
“Emily is a very bright, generous and aware young lady,” said Kate Vickery, Program Director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine. “We’re honored that she has done so much work on behalf of Make-A-Wish of Maine and all the Wish kids that her family has connections to.”

All funds raised in Maine go towards granting wishes to Maine children and one of those wishes occurs about every five days.

So if it isn’t your neighbor who gets a chance to smile because of Make-A-Wish, it could be your neighbor’s neighbor. And that, we are proud to say, is the Power of a Wish®.

9/14/09 The Cambridge Cruisers have supported Make-A-Wish for years and this year the Cornfield ATV ride yielded $5,160!  Supporters include the Dexter Fire Department Auction, 50/50 raffle, anonymous donations and donations riders.

"It was truly a unique sight to see over 200 ATVs come riding through the cow barn, line up the road for about ½ a mile and then take off through the cornfield!" said Jim Christie, Make-A-Wish Development Director.