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Make-a-wish In Trumbull Raises More Than $550,000 At Annual Ball

TRUMBULL, Conn. -- Make-A-Wish Connecticut in Trumbull celebrated its 30th anniversary at its annual Celebrating Wishes Ball on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Greenwich Country Club.

Committee chairs from left, Sharon Platter, Brooke Bohnsack, Gina Filippelli and Julie Rivard

Committee chairs from left, Sharon Platter, Brooke Bohnsack, Gina Filippelli and Julie Rivard

Photo Credit: contributed
Guest speaker John Crowley, Wish Dad and inspiration for the film "Extraordinary Measures."

Guest speaker John Crowley, Wish Dad and inspiration for the film "Extraordinary Measures."

Photo Credit: contributed
Honored Wish recipients Quinn Ostergren and Connor O’Neill

Honored Wish recipients Quinn Ostergren and Connor O’Neill

Photo Credit: contributed
Michael Kay and Jodi Applegate

Michael Kay and Jodi Applegate

Photo Credit: contributed

The annual dinner, dance and auction raised more than $550,000 this year, which will go toward granting the wishes of Connecticut children with life-threatening medical conditions.

It was a night full of inspiration, fun and helping more wishes come true, according to a release from Make-A-Wish Connecticut.

In its 30 years of existence, Make-A-Wish Connecticut has granted more than 2,700 wishes for local children, the release said.

John Crowley, a Wish Dad, former National Board Chair and the inspiration for the film "Extraordinary Measures," was the special guest of the event and began the evening’s program with a moving speech about his family’s journey and the impact of a Wish.

Following his speech, Pam Keough, president and chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish Connecticut thanked everyone for coming and helping the event be so successful.

Event emcees Michael Kay of the YES Network and his wife, Jodi Applegate, introduced nearly a dozen Wish Kids to the 400 guests in attendance. The “Wish Ambassadors” had their wishes granted over the past year and joined guests to share their unique stories throughout the evening.

Two particular Wish Kids were honored at the celebration this year: 6-year-old Quinn, who wished to go to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, and 10-year-old Connor, who wished to go on a Mediterranean cruise. They shared their stories of how their wishes gave them hope, strength and joy to continue to fight their conditions.

The  honorary event committee is comprised of Applegate, Kay, and other YES network celebrities, David Cone, Jack Curry, John Flaherty, Bob Lorenz and Meredith Marakovits.

The event’s co-chairs, Brooke and Nicholas Bohnsack, Gina and John Filippelli, Sharon and David Platter and Julie and John Rivard, served as leaders of a team of volunteers that resulted in a night of wishes come true, the release said.

The event was sponsored by Cindy and Rob Citrone, Patricia and Ron Napoli, YES Network, Nestle Waters, WWE, ENCOMPASS, 2(X)ist, Serendipity, HY’s Limousine and Holland & Night.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.  

Click here to learn more.

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