Alumni Bios
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Shawna
Wish: To Meet Britney Spears In November of 2001, I received my wish to meet Britney Spears. It was one of the best days of my life. My day started with a limo ride down to the concert. Going to her sound check party, and having my wish be filmed by HBO. My wish didn’t just include meeting her; I was able to attend her concert and the following day I spent touring New York City in a limo and having dinner at the Hard Rock Café. Many people ask me if I would meet her again, and I say absolutely! Britney was really nice and down to earth. A few weeks after my wish, HBO showed a clip of my wish on Britney’s TV special “Live in Las Vegas.” So, not only did I receive the wish, but my family and friends were able to share the special moment with me. Since my wish I have graduated from high school, I work part time as a receptionist, and was the manager/co-host of a radio show, Teen Talk on WTBQ. Because of the success of Teen Talk, the owner of WTBQ was asked if I would like to create my own show. In January of 2009, “Spotlight” debuted with me as the host. I joined the Make-A-Wish Alumni Committee to give back, and to make a difference in other children’s life. One of the most memorable moments from being on the Alumni Committee was being part of a wish. A couple other alumni and I were security guards for another child’s wish which was to star in his own movie. Seeing the smile on his face when he arrived at his movie premiere and seeing all his family, friends, classmates and Make-A-Wish volunteers and staff was just indescribable. |
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Johnathan
Wish: To Visit Disney World with my family I have become a member of the Make-A-Wish Alumni Committee because of the impact that the Make-A-Wish Foundation had on my life. Because of the foundation, I was able to visit Disney World with my family. I feel this trip was a total blessing, enough to make me smile and strive to be healed. It made me stronger and more confident, giving me the power to share my story. I now enjoy drawing, reading, writing, singing and performing. I would love to be able to give back by helping those whose illness has become a problem and turn it into a blessing. |
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Angela
Wish: To Visit Paris In April, 2006 my wish was granted to go to Paris with my family. It was the best experience of my life. I was able to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower and to see all the places I have dreamed of seeing. I also want to be a fashion designer so that was also a big reason why I liked the trip so much. It was amazing. I was able to see a part of the world I had always wanted to see and it was with my family. I thank Make-A-Wish very much for the nicest thing they could have ever done and it makes me want to be a part of Make-A-wish and help other kids. I now attend Marist College. As you can guess, I am majoring in Fashion Design. I am very busy at school as a member of the Dance Club, Fashion Inc., Campus ministry, the Advertising Club, and as an active volunteer in the American Cancer Society. |
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Brian
Wish: To Meet Ozzy Osbourne My wish was to meet Ozzy Osbourne. He is the reason that I first picked up the guitar and got involved with making music. When the annual summer tour, Ozzfest, came in 2003, I was sent tickets and told that I would get to go backstage and meet Ozzy in person. Naturally, I was excited to meet such an influential character in my life and also because this would be my first concert ever. On August 18, 2003, I was picked up at my house by limo and driven to the PNC Bank Arts Center to see the day long festival. I was overwhelmed with joy as I got to see some of my favorite bands take the stage. Just as the third band was taking the stage, I was called to come backstage, where I walked straight into Ozzy’s room. Words can’t express how it feels to come face to face with such a legendary figure in your life. We sat down and talked for a bit, took pictures, and got some autographs. Afterwards, I went back to my seat and saw the rest of the concert, which of course ended with a performance by Ozzy himself. This will forever be remembered as one of the greatest days of my life. I am attending SUNY Binghamton as a studio art major and work for food services at school and at home. I play bass, keyboard and guitar in two different bands at school. I continue to paint and record in my spare time. My wish was a huge part of my recovery process and battle with depression after my third heart surgery. Since then, Make-A-Wish has become an important part of my life and I’ve been able to get through high school and put my hardships behind me. I have become an active member of the Alumni Committee in the hopes of being able to help spread the word about Make-A-Wish and to assist in Make-A-Wish functions and help future wish children. |
