Kudos to Stephanie, Human Resource Manager at NPS for leading the charge and coordinating a donation to Make-A-Wish on behalf of Riley Ellenson, cancer survivor.
Make-A-Wish North Dakota celebrated all the kids who’s wishes came true in 2017 with a night at Friday’s Fargo Force game. Kid Bobble and Santa Claus himself stopped by the party to hand out gifts and meet the kids. Northern Plains Steel also attended to donate $1,000 to Make-A-Wish. The organization relies entirely on private donations and makes dreams come true for children with life threatening medical challenges. One Make-a-Wish child even got the chance to drop the ceremonial puck at the game. The North Dakota branch of Make-A-Wish granted 48 wishes last year and over 800 since 1985.
http://www.valleynewslive.com/content/news/Make-A-Wish-celebrates-2017-wish-kids-465202153.html
FARGO, ND —The Make-A-Wish Foundation is surprising a 12-year-old girl with the wish she’s been hoping for.
After months of surgeries, MRIs and checkups, Riley Ellenson, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, is getting the chance to meet her favorite Disney Princess.
“She really wanted to go to Disney to meet Moana, the princess,” said Cherie Hendrickson, a Wish Granter at Make-A-Wish Foundation. “The hurricane went through Orlando and Riley is positive she’s not going to be able to go. She’s pretty much given up hope that she’s going to be able to go to Disney World, so this is really going to surprise her.”
Riley was smiling from ear to ear when she found out about her upcoming trip.
This is a vacation her mother said will keep the entire family in high spirits.
“You need something to look forward to,” said Michelle Ellensen, Riley’s mother. “You know, sometimes you get discouraged. You think ‘I’m not changing. She’s not getting any better. It’s just the monotony of worrying and going to your doctor’s appointments and doing this and doing that. But boy with this, there’s a spring in her step, she’s excited. It’s changed her, which changes us because how she feels effects us in every way.”
Riley and her family will head to Disney World this November for her 13th birthday and Riley already has planned out exactly what she’ll do first when she arrives in Orlando.
“Boy, she wants that autograph book and she wants to get everybody to sign that thing,” Ellensen said. “All the princesses, all the characters.”
Riley, like her favorite princess Moana, is also hoping to visit the beach so she can see the ocean for the first time.
She will have a checkup on November 1st, before flying down to Florida on November 4th.
Great coverage and good for all. Especially, advertising our “good will” and branding NPS in the Fargo community.
