VIP Tires & Service Corp. raised $45,216 for Make-A-Wish during its eighth annual Season of Wishes Initiative, double the amount raised last year.
Every Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts VIP store participated in the fund raiser, which encourages customer and employee donations to the organization during November and December.
For the third year in a row, VIP President and CEO John Quirk personally matched the total raised by the company’s 56 stores. On Jan. 26, 2016, Quirk presented a $45,216 check to Make-A-Wish President Nancy Koglmeier at the company’s Lewiston headquarters.
To date, VIP has raised nearly $300,000 for Make-A-Wish.
“We are so grateful to everyone at VIP Tires & Service who contributed to this annual campaign that makes such a big difference in the lives of local wish kids,” says President Nancy Koglmeier. “The long-term commitment of their customers, staff, and leadership is inspiring.”
Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children diagnosed with life threatening medical conditions all across the country. In Maine and New Hampshire, Make-A-Wish fulfills an average of one gift to a seriously ill child every five days. Each wish costs an average of just over $7,000 and this money is raised through fundraising efforts, such as the one undertaken by VIP. Wishes range from trips to theme parks, meeting a favorite athlete or celebrity, attending a major sporting event or concert, receiving a computer, tree house, or shopping spree.
According to Make-A-Wish, Landonn, a boy from Maine who suffers from a severe seizure disorder, got his wish to meet the cast of his favorite show, Alaska: The Last Frontier thanks to the donation made by VIP last year. Landonn traveled to Alaska with his family and got to watch the filming of an episode.
“Make-A-Wish is an organization that is near and dear to my heart and each holiday season we look forward to our Season of Wishes fundraising Initiative,” says Quirk.
“I am grateful for our customers and staff members who make this campaign a priority each year and for their help this past season in doubling what we raised last year. I look forward to seeing how these funds will bring joy to the families and children who need it the most.”
Quirk continued: “I want to congratulate all the stores that participated, particularly our Old Town store, which raised $1,888 and was the top fundraising store in Maine; our Littleton store, which raised $1,214 and was our top fundraising store in New Hampshire; and our Watertown store which raised $566 and was our top fundraising store in Massachusetts.”
The top three fundraising store teams in Maine were: Old Town ($1,888); Brunswick ($1,640); and South Portland ($1,308). In New Hampshire, they were: Littleton ($1,214); Portsmouth ($803); and Londonderry ($609).
