Tomorrow, Nov. 11, is Veterans’ Day. It’s a great opportunity not only to say “thank you” to our veterans for their service to this country but to perform acts of kindness in their names.
A fine example of this is Make-A Wish Hudson Valley’s virtual “Wish Night – An Evening of Hope & Wishes,” to be held on Veterans’ Day at 8 p.m. The event will highlight inspiring wish stories and the organization’s 20-year partnership with the United States Military Academy West Point and its Army Football program, with multiple opportunities to donate.
Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley serves eight counties in New York, including Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. Since its founding in 1986, the nonprofit has granted more than 2,900 wishes for children in the community and has 200 wishes in the pipeline waiting to be granted. “Unfortunately, many wishes were halted due to travel restrictions, and we have a substantial pipeline that could use support,” Thomas Conklin, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley, said in a statement. “This Veteran’s Day event, which appropriately will showcase our long-term partnership with the West Point Military Academy Army Football program, is a great opportunity to honor their service and provide much needed resources to help us provide hope to waiting Wish kids.” Army Football has hosted a Wish child at every Army Black Knights home football game since 2000.
The event will include powerful stories from two local children who’ve had their wishes granted in the past year and will feature appearances by Tom Conklin and Denise D’Amico, vice president of program and operations, along with ESPN’s Arda Ocal and a musical performance by Wish alum Bianca Muñiz.
To view the evening’s program, chapter supporters are encouraged to RSVP at hudson.wish.org/wishnight in advance.
Happy Veterans’ Day. And to our vets, we say, We love you. We thank you. We will never forget you.
– Georgette Gouveia
