TakeCare partners with Make-A-Wish to send kid to see Spongebob

A day with Spongebob Squarepants at Universal Studios.

That’s how Kenji Iguel will celebrate his fifth birthday as TakeCare/FHP donated $8,300 to subsidize his and his family’s airfare, accommodations, meals, and entrance to the theme park in Orlando, Florida next month.

TakeCare/FHP partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant the wish of Iguel, who suffers from a brain neoplasm and epilepsy.

Iguel is the second among the three brood of Manning Iguel and Jennifer Pangelinan. He currently attends school at the Oleai Head Start program.

Board members and executives of TakeCare/FHP presented the donation to Iguel’s family at the TSL Plaza conference room in Garapan Friday afternoon.

Iguel, who never lets go of his Spongebob balloon, also blew a birthday cake topped with figures of his favorite cartoon character along with his pal, Patrick Star, in celebration of his birthday on Sept. 5.

“There are no words to describe how we feel right now,” said Manning Iguel in an interview before the presentation.

Manning Iguel said their family is scheduled to leave on Sept. 4 for Orlando, where they will be staying for a week.

“This is our first time to travel to the mainland together as a family,” he told Saipan Tribune. “We’re really happy and excited.”

While his son is unable to speak due to his condition, Manning Iguel maintained that his son is delighted about their trip. “I know he will be very happy because he really likes Spongebob,” he added.

Manning Iguel expressed his appreciation to Make-A-Wish Foundation, TakeCare/FHP, and his son’s doctors.

“My wish for my son is to be healthy and to be a regular kid just like everybody. No matter what, I love him very much and I know God has a plan for us,” he added.

Agnes Perez, TakeCare marketing manager, said TakeCare/FHP has partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation through fundraising events “for so many years” and decided to do it differently this year.

“What we did differently is basically, we grant a wish and it makes it more personal,” she said.

According to Perez, TakeCare/FHP also granted the wishes of three children in Guam.

Perez disclosed that they were informed by Make-A-Wish Foundation about Kenji Iguel’s wish and decided to partner with the foundation to grant the wish.

“We want people to be aware of Make-A-Wish Foundation and what they do. Just that partnership alone is a big thing for us. It’s part of our community effort to help,” she said.

When asked for her message to the Iguel family, Perez said, “Enjoy it. Have fun. This is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go out to Universal Studios.”

Make-A-Wish Foundation Saipan board member Angela Yamashita Santos, for her part, expressed her appreciation to TakeCare/FHP for their partnership in granting Kenji Iguel’s wish.

“In these tough economic times, we’re just so grateful for them and for their partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation,” she said.

Santos said the foundation’s partnerships with private companies such as TakeCare/FHP are instrumental in helping them achieve their goal to grant wishes to children with life-threatening conditions.

“These kids, they go through a lot and they’re so young,” said Santos. “They deserve a whole lot of happiness.”