Make-A-Wish® and Thrifty-Link Hardware
Thrifty-Link Hardware´s partnership with Make-A-Wish® has spanned over 3 years and marketing activities to support Make-A-Wish® have included the provision of advertising support through out the national Thrifty-Link Hardware catalogue, the creation of awareness at a local store level, in-store ad hoc collections, promotional activity through the Thrifty-Link Hardware Calendar, an online presence on this website and assistance with promotional events.Thrifty-Link Hardware is a proud support of Make-A-Wish® and all that they strive to achieve and plan to continually support them in their mission to bring magic and joy to children with life-threatening illnesses by granting a cherished Wish.
The Beginning
All his life, Christopher Greicius dreamed of becoming a police officer. This Wish was to become the inspiration for the largest Wish-granting organisation in the world, Make-A-Wish®. In 1980, at the age of 7, Chris was diagnosed with leukemia. Upon learning that Chris’s most cherished Wish was to be a policeman, members of the Arizona State Troopers began working to ensure his dream came true. They arranged for Chris to take a flight in a police helicopter, ride in a patrol car and presented him with his very own uniform. He was even sworn in as an honorary member of the force.
Sadly, Chris passed away shortly afterwards. But the seed had been planted.
After attending Chris’s funeral, two of the State Troopers reflected on the experience of making his dream come true. They thought that if one boy’s Wish could be granted, maybe the same could be done for other children. At that moment, the idea for Make-A-Wish® was born.Make-A-Wish® now operates in 30 countries around the world and its mission is to bring magic and joy to children with a life-threatening illness by granting a cherished Wish.
In Australia
On June 23 1985, a life insurance salesman from Ballarat heard a speech that changed his life.The speech, given by Jack Stanford, the then National President of Make-A-Wish® America, was an impassioned tale of the magic and joy experienced by children whose dreams had come true. He also spoke of the warmth and laughter, as well as sadness and heartache, experienced by those involved in the process of granting Wishes. The man from Ballarat, Les Roberts, returned to Australia inspired and determined to pursue the mission of granting Wishes to sick children.
Later that year, Make-A-Wish® Australia officially opened in Melbourne, and news of its good deeds spread rapidly. Soon, volunteer branches formed in cities and regional areas across the nation as people from all walks of life joined together to assist children in their own local communities.Since that first wish, Make-A-Wish® Australia has gone from strength to strength, granting about 500 Wishes every year. They now have 54 volunteer branches throughout the country and more than 1000 volunteers, supporting approximately 40 staff members in fulfilling their mission of bringing magic and joy to children and young people with a life-threatening illness
For more information on how you can share the power of a Wish, visit here or call 1800 032 260.