SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – A local charity received over $10,000 from the Taste of Syracuse event in June.
Make-A-Wish of Central New York split a check worth over $20,000 with the McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center this week. Events Manager Debbie Simon said she was both excited and surprised.
“We were so excited. We expected maybe half of that from them from what they had told us, but it will go a long way of helping us grant wishes,” said Simon.
Simon said the average cost of a wish is expensive, but the money could provide nearly a whole wish for one child.
“The average cost of a wish is $12,000, so when you have 190 to do, that’s a lot of money,” Simon added. “So the money the money we received today, its almost granting a whole wish.”
According to Simon, the costs of each wish can vary depending upon what the child wants. Gifts can range from building pools to planning vacations. Each child is also picked up in a limousine to be taken to their event.
“If they’re traveling, it goes through travel and then they get money to spend while they’re on vacation or renting a car,” Simon explained. “The children get everything that goes with the trip.”
Simon said there is still much work to be done for the local charity, as there are 190 other events planned for Make-A-Wish similar to the Taste of Syracuse.
Despite the varying costs for each wish, no matter how big or small, Simon said she believes the smile on the child’s face is worth it all.
