Make-A-Wish

The EAST lab is helping with the make a wish project by helping Joshua Dunton raise money for 10 wishes for the Make-A-Wish children. We are going to help him raise $35,000 for 10 wishes ($3,500 each wish) as a community service project in EAST. Carrie Tanner, Angela Gerow, and Justin Barigian are the members. We meet with Josh every once in a while and discuss the progress of the fundraiser. We also keep in contact with his mother every week to see what condition he is in. Josh has a heart problem and he still needs to go to the doctor when his heart stops, but we are praying for him everyday that he will be all right. His birthday is on the 12^th of February and we will be throwing him a party on Thursday the 13^th. We are helping him raise this money, by putting out coin boxes at schools around the mountains. We are also going to try and get coin boxes in multiple local grocery markets.

Excerpt from “Well of Wishes” magazine:

Cover Story “A wish for wishes”

Joshua’s Challenge: “Match my $111.00”

By Lori Steinman

Joshua is an 8-year-old little boy who had his wish granted by the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation in July of 1998. Joshua had wished for a trip to Disneyland and spent 4 magical days with his family.

Joshua and his family relocated back to Fresno in April of 1998 due to Joshua’s medical needs. Joshua was born with Transposition of the Ventricles. Joshua has undergone 8 heart surgeries and will be undergoing more in the future.

After being invited to a recent Make-A-Wish event, Field of Wishes, he met other wish children. That night he set a personal goal to grant 3 wishes – a goal of $10,000. He decided that night he wanted to give Make-A-Wish all of his money so that other wish children could have their wishes granted. On the morning of October 2, 2002, Joshua went to his bank and withdrew his entire savings account of $111.00, birthday monies he had been saving and donated this to Make-A-Wish. His wish fund was started. The bank employees at Educational Employees Credit Union were so impressed with Joshua’s commitment they matched his $111.00. The Fresno County Schools Office Educators Association heard about this extraordinary boy and his wish fund. They voted to give the $3,101.00 they had raised at a recent Walk-A-Thon to Joshua’s wish fund. Joshua has set out like gangbusters; he is currently at almost $5,000.00 towards his goal.

Joshua was a featured radio guest on the Charlie & Laurie, Alice 102.7, morning show on October 10, 2002. Listeners called in pledging monies towards Joshua’s goal. One listener commented, “this is the most unselfish and compassionate little boy” and pledged $111.00 to match Joshua’s birthday money.

I asked Chrissy (Joshua’s mom) how she felt about what Joshua was doing. Chrissy said: “I have been honored by God to be his mother.” He has been through so much in his 8 years of life: doctors, surgeries, hospitals. This shows he has a heart of gold. I look at people my age who are so focused on themselves and take for granted what they have. This lets people see the real Joshua, a very caring and compassionate child.

Joshua has recently been honored Student of the Week by KSEE 24 for his fundraising efforts.

I’m very privileged to be helping Joshua with his fundraising efforts and encourage you to support Joshua and his goal.