By Amy Batista, Special Writer
MONROE — Fireworks lit up the sky over the Samuel & Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place on June 15 to celebrate the first time the organization’s annual gala was being held it the new facility.
For the first time in almost 20 years, Make-A-Wish New Jersey welcomed its guests into a new home by hosting the annual gala.
”Please know how special it is to have you all here in our castle tonight to celebrate a most powerful mission and to raise funds to grant more wishes,” said Tom Weatherall, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish New Jersey, during his welcoming remarks.
More than 400 guests attended the celebration, which included the co-founders of Make-A-Wish, Frank and Kitty Shankwitz, as well as other distinguished members from the community.
The guest list included; John Crowley, chairmen and CEO of Amicus Therapeutics Inc., a wish dad and a member of the Board of Directors of Make-A-Wish America; Jack Morris, president and CEO of Edgewood Properties who donated the land for the facility; Thomas McEvoy, co-founder and managing partner of DMC Wealth Advisors, LLC; Kathleen and Phil Ciarco, donors to Make-A-Wish New Jersey; and Ernest Feist, president of Feist Engineering, Inc.
The gala helped raise more than $500,000,which will help to fund wishes granted to New Jersey children during this year’s summer season, one of the peak wish granting times of the year, according to a Make-A-Wish New Jersey press release.
The mission of Make-A-Wish New Jersey is to bring to the life-changing impact of a wish come true to more than 400 children in the Garden State this year.
”Here is the bad news, the reality. Medical studies inform us that on any given day in New Jersey two children are diagnosed with illnesses that would qualify them for a wish,” Mr. Weatherall said. “The good news is that we are here for these families and their children.”
A video chronicling the “First Wish” was played for the audience and then Mr. Shankwitz shared with guests how his experience granting Chris Grecius’ wish in Arizona in 1980 led to the creation of the largest wish granting organization in the world.
”It all started with an idea to grant one little boy’s wish almost 33 years ago,” Mr. Shankwitz said. “To be here tonight and see how that one idea has grown because of all of you – staff, volunteers, and donors – is my ultimate wish come true.”
Throughout the evening the life-changing impact of a wish coming true was echoed by the dozens of wish families in attendance.
Nicolas, 17, who lives with Duchene muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair, described how the granting of his wish for a wheelchair-accessible sidecar for his father’s motorcycle has allowed his family to now log many miles and make memories on the open road, according to a Make-A-Wish New Jersey press release.
”Not only do I really enjoy riding in the sidecar, but I love sharing my dad’s passion for riding,” said Nicolas. “And when mom joins us, it makes it even better.We are now known in our neighborhood as the sidecar family.”
The evening also provided an opportunity to recognize distinguished members from the community who have played instrumental roles in advancing the Make-A-Wish mission, according to a Make-A-Wish New Jersey press release.
During this year’s award ceremony the New Jersey chapter honored Mr. Feist as Humanitarian of the Year and Thomas J. McEvoy, co-founder and managing partner of DMC Wealth Advisors, LLC, was recognized with the Kathleen H. Murray Award for Distinguished Board Service, according to a Make-A-Wish New Jersey press release.
”I am grateful and humbled by this wonderful honor,” said Mr. McEvoy. “My parents always emphasized service to others and always said that you’ll have everything you want in life if you help others get what they need.”
”It is an honor to be in the same room with two of the co-founders of Make-A-Wish,” said Mr. Feist. “Kitty and Frank’s story is so inspiring to me and it will continue to inspire me to do more and more for Make-A-Wish.”
During the celebration, guests bid on live and silent auction items, stars on a giant screen lit up, signifying the number of wishes that will be funded by the event’s proceeds. By the end of the evening, 50 wishes, in the form of beaming stars, shined as bright as the firework grand finale, according to a Make-A-Wish New Jersey press release.
”After tonight, as you get on with your weekend plans, you may forget what was said and what took place,” Mr. Weatherall said. “But make no mistake – the families you help in the days and weeks to come will never forget you, or the wish experience you helped fund.”

