Wayne High School Gives to Local Wish KidsMarch 10, 2016Wayne High School Gives to Local Wish Kids
By Susan Gnann
The Junior Cabinet at Wayne High School in Huber Heights has a lot on their plate. Besides keeping up with the rigor of high school, these students plan Junior/Senior prom each spring and organize a fundraiser and pep assembly for the Dayton Chapter of A Special Wish Foundation (ASW). Together they work to raise money and awareness of ASW with some good-natured competition between...
Wish Kids Need SuperheroesMarch 1, 2016A Special Wish Foundation (ASW) – Dayton Chapter, the only wish-granting organization located in the Dayton region is hosting the 2nd Annual Superhero Donut Run on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the Centerville High School Football Stadium. Continuing their 32-year partnership, ASW and Bill’s Donut Shop have come together once again to raise money for some of the most vulnerable children in the Dayton region to receive their Special...
Doctor Makes a Difference for Local ChildrenFebruary 14, 2016By Chuck Manker
For Dr. Mukund Dole, staff pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Dayton Children’s Hospital and a member of the board of directors of A Special Wish Foundation, Dayton Chapter, what’s most rewarding about being involved with ASW is the positive effect a granted wish has on his patients and their families.
“One of the best things we see in our program at the hospital is a child about to go on a wish or a child...
Comfort, hope, and two scoops of strawberry ice creamJanuary 28, 2016This article was published in Dayton Daily News on Jan. 29, 2016
By Susan Gnann
Kierstin Yoho, a 7-year-old Middletown girl, had a “very, very good time” on her holiday wish trip to the Orlando area. She and her family, including twin sister Katelyn, brother Austin and sister Mackenzie, stayed at Give Kids the World Village (GKTW) and visited many attractions in the area, including a stop at the Magic Kingdom to celebrate Christmas...
Distance 4 DreamsDecember 24, 2015Special Wishes Come True One Mile at a TimeThis article was published in Dayton Daily News on
The University of Dayton students who are members of Distance 4 Dreams, a student-led service organization founded in 2007 that benefits A Special Wish Foundation – Dayton Chapter, far outpace the average college student. These dedicated students understand the importance of a college education along with enhancing their experience by being...
The Professional Patient and Only Five Years OldDecember 23, 2015By Susan Gnann
Eli Leingang is just your typical 5-year-old boy. However, since being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia months before his second birthday, he has had over 4 years of cancer treatment with another year and 3 months to go. He has ultimately become a “professional patient”. Still, he is “ornery” according to his mom, Noelle Leingang, yet knows how to pull at her heartstrings while driving his older...
Trip to Hollywood bossts Kettering teen's spiritsDecember 10, 2015Trip to Hollywood bossts Kettering teen's spirits
This article was published in Dayton Daily News on December 10, 2014
While many people dream of being in front of the camera and staring in a big Hollywood blockbuster, 17-year-old Kettering resident Tim Brooks’ dream is to be behind the scenes creating the amazing visual effects that make movies so memorable. Tim was given a little taste of his dream this past summer when he and his...
Man Cave on WheelsDecember 1, 2015By Susan Gnann
“I just wanted to have a place to hang out,” said 11-year-old Matthew Fox of Vandalia. He tires easily, struggles with crowds and lots of stimuli, but is still a lover of the great outdoors. His very own camper seemed to be just the right fit and was his Special Wish granted by two local businesses, Colerain RV and Bonbright Distributors, and the Dayton Chapter of A Special Wish Foundation (ASW). Matthew has had a...
Making Dough For a Special WishNovember 25, 2015It really does take a village to raise a child. In this case, it was to help raise some money for a special child. The change after paying for a meal at the Dayton-area Panera locations really added up. Each café collected all of those small donations for a couple of months this past summer, and it was enough to fund the Special Wish of a Mercer County child named Ally Bea. Covelli Enterprises has owned the Panera Bread cafés in...
Staff Attends Wish Boot CampNovember 11, 2015This article was published in Dayton Daily News on November 11, 2015.
By Susan Gnann
A Special Wish
Most will never experience the devastating news of a child’s life-threatening disease or illness. However, being a part of making a child’s Special Wish come true is something everyone can experience. At A Special Wish Foundation — Dayton Chapter (ASW), our sole mission is to grant the wishes of local children who’ve...
Racing Earnhardt Jr. a dream come true for Kettering boyOctober 29, 2015Racing Earnhardt Jr. a dream come true for Kettering boy
This article was published in Dayton Daily News on October 29, 2014
When it is NASCAR race day, one thing for sure is that eight-year-old Gavin and his father, Kendall, will be in front of the family television rooting for #88 to take the checkered flag. When it comes to racing, Gavin and his dad agree on one thing, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is their guy!
Gavin is just like most boys his age....
Teen finally meets close Facebook friendOctober 14, 2015Teen finally meets close Facebook friend
This article was published in Dayton Daily News on 10/14/15
By Susan Gnann
After almost a year of daily calls and Skype sessions, Brandon Booth finally got to meet his best friend.
Brandon and Sarah met on a Facebook page that he manages, and a true friendship blossomed. “Seeing her at the bottom of the escalator at the airport was definitely the best part of my wish trip,” recalled...
A Room Makeover for a Special GirlOctober 7, 2015A Room Makeover for a Special Girl
Piqua, OH. – Shelby Lockhart is a typical 8-year-old girl who loves Barbie Dolls, the color pink, and Luke Bryan. What makes her special is that for Shelby, her bedroom is more than a place to sleep. It is where she spends a lot of her time as she recovers from each of her cancer treatments. She has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the blood, and is being treated at Dayton Children’s...
Volunteer of the Year AwardOctober 1, 2015Volunteer of the Year AwardPublished in Dayton Daily News on September 30, 2015
By Chuck Manker
It would be hard to say who was left more speechless – Ruth Wiles or Katie McGrath. Dave Seyer, executive director of A Special Wish Foundation – Dayton Chapter had just announced to attendees, including Ruth, at the volunteer appreciation event in the Dayton Art Institute Aug. 19 that the Ruth Wiles Volunteer of the Year award had been...
Adam's Special Wish to Walt Disney WorldSeptember 15, 2015A SPECIAL WISH FOUNDATION GRANTS A SPECIAL WISH FOR A FAMILY’S TRIP TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
DAYTON, OH – Adam, a 9-year-old Dayton, Ohio resident diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), received his Special Wish on September 12, 2015. A Special Wish Foundation was pleased to grant Adam’s Special Wish for his family to travel to Walt Disney World.
This wish was a long time in the making. After lots of treatment and...
Dayton Mall Love LocksSeptember 9, 2015Dayton Mall Love Locksappeared in the Dayton Daily News 17 September 2015
By Susan Gnann
For nearly a year now, the Dayton Mall has been supporting their very own “Love Locks” program. Most have heard about the trend in Europe where couples in love unite themselves by writing their names on a padlock and locking them to a bridge or other structure. The leadership at the Dayton Mall decided to do something similar. You may have...