{"id":294901,"date":"2019-03-05T06:10:59","date_gmt":"2019-03-04T20:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=294901"},"modified":"2019-03-05T06:10:59","modified_gmt":"2019-03-04T20:10:59","slug":"make-a-wish-fetes-previous-wish-recipients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/make-a-wish-fetes-previous-wish-recipients\/","title":{"rendered":"Make-A-Wish fetes previous \u2018wish\u2019 recipients"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Live performances rocked the Hyatt Regency Saipan ballroom during the Make-a-Wish Guam and NMI Chapter fundraising event last Friday evening. (Erwin Encinares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Make-A-Wish Foundation-Guam and the CNMI Chapter honored past \u201cwish\u201d families who already have had their wishes granted at the annual \u201cBlack Ties & Zories\u201d Wish Night last Friday, March 1, at the Hyatt Regency Saipan\u2019s ballroom.<\/p>\n

Foundation board member Kanae Quinn noted that about 185 tickets costing $100 each were sold for the event, which was also intended as a fundraiser. That makes at least $18,500 in ticket sales alone for the foundation, not including the silent auction and other monetary and in-kind donations.<\/p>\n

The fundraising event, according to Quinn, is normally a November event. However, since Super Typhoon Yutu devastated Saipan and Tinian last October, the foundation moved the event to last Friday evening.<\/p>\n

As stated in the fundraiser\u2019s name, the dress code was a mix of both formal clothes and zories. That means guests attended the event dressed in their best clothes while wearing decorated flip-flops.<\/p>\n

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Chloe Bernal, front, won the best zories award during the fundraiser. (Erwin Encinares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last Friday, the Make-A-Wish Foundation-Guam and the CNMI Chapter honored 2009 Wish recipient Juan Blanco, whose wish was to meet former U.S. president Barrack Obama.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe experience was pretty good\u2014Obama was a kind and humble man. Overall, the White House was a beautiful, big house. It was really nice,\u201d he said of the experience.<\/p>\n

Another beneficiary, Chloe Bernal, 2016 Wish recipient, was also honored at the fundraising event. She also happened to win the best zories award.<\/p>\n

In explaining the functions of the foundation, Quinn said, \u201cWe fulfill the wishes of children with critical illnesses. \u2026The wishes can be going somewhere, getting a shopping spree, having something, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said that the foundation just granted such a wish last Sunday but the family of the wish recipient chose to keep the event confidential.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen families have wishes that are granted, they can either be publicized or kept confidential,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the Guam and CNMI as a chapter, we generally do wishes once or twice a month,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n