The year is still young, but the MI Charitable Foundation has already formed two new partnerships. In January, the MI Foundation officially entered into a collaboration with “Make a Wish North Texas,” part of the nationwide Make a Wish Foundation. And since Make A Wish North Texas works closely with “Wish to Play,” a Texas-based company that builds playhouses, the MI Windows and Doors has agreed to provide windows for those playhouses.
“As the MI Foundation keeps growing, we continue to seek out valued partners in regions close to our production facilities,” says Gwen Mallon, MI Charitable Foundation Specialist. “The Texas Outreach Committee initially showed interest in Make A Wish and brought it to the Executive Committee’s attention. I know the committee is incredibly excited to work with them to improve the lives of children in Texas.”
Like the other chapters in the Make A Wish network, Make A Wish North Texas helps fund exciting activities on sick children’s wish lists, like participating in a Dallas Stars scrimmage or recording an original pop song. To fund these activities, Make A Wish North Texas solicits donations and holds fundraisers. One of the more common fundraisers is a monthly art party; at these events, children from Make A Wish families produce artwork that is then auctioned off.
On Feb. 8 of this year, volunteers from the MI Foundation participated in an art party for the first time. As such, they brought along MI windows, and the children were encouraged to paint the sashes. Two of these paintings will be auctioned off at the annual MI Charitable Golf Outing held each June in Hershey, Pa. In addition, the MI Foundation has already made a $10,000 donation for a future wish.
“We’re so glad that we were able to make this connection with Make A Wish North Texas,” says David Villasenor, the MI Foundation’s co-chairperson–with Deb Jackson–for the Texas Outreach Committee. “They help fulfil the dreams of so many children, and we’re honored to be able to support them.”
Wish to Play creates modular- and custom-designed playhouses, with prices starting at $8,000. The company–whose work has been featured on the popular reality TV show “Fixer Upper” and in London’s Daily Mail newspaper–works closely with Make A Wish North Texas. A portion of all proceeds goes to fund playhouses for the children of Make A Wish.
“We are beyond excited to donate the windows for these wonderful creations,” Villasenor says. “I’m so excited to see the joy on the faces of the children who get to use these playhouses.