PHOENIX, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Make-A-Wish Foundation, the world's largest wish-granting charity benefiting children with life-threatening medical conditions, starts its national call-to-action campaign today with Donald Trump, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra, pro golfer Annika Sorenstam and R&B singer Omarion letting everyone know that you can help make a child's wish come true.
Destination Joy (R) presented by LAY'S(R), which runs nationwide from June 3-12, is the Foundation's annual campaign with a simple goal: to raise funds and resources so the organization can grant more wishes. The campaign features wish-granting events, celebrity appearances and fundraising events in communities across the country.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the heartfelt wishes of more than 13,000 kids a year -- one every 40 minutes. But that's only half of the 27,000 children the Foundation estimates are diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in the United States annually. That's why these celebrities are asking everyone to help.
"Because each wish experience is unique, there's no limit to the kind of resources and skills needed," said Donald Trump, one of this year's campaign spokespeople and wish-granter. "Jimmie Johnson, Omarion, Annika Sorenstam and I are all encouraging everyone to volunteer or donate. It's a fun and rewarding way to help a child."
The best part? You don't need to be famous to help, according to David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer.
"Celebrities are only a portion of our wish granters," said Williams. "Everyone can help make extraordinary experiences come true for the courageous children we serve. Each year, more than 2.5 billion miles, 7,000 hotel rooms, and countless volunteer hours are needed to grant wishes."
Johnson and Sorenstam will continue to spread this message in appearances on TV and radio stations throughout the country. Trump will kick-off a bus tour of New York City for wish kids and their families on June 5 and Omarion will make an appearance at an event in Chicago on June 6.
"The Lay's brand is about embracing life's simple pleasures, and we are pleased to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation as they bring pure enjoyment to children through the simple act of granting wishes," said Justin Lambeth, vice president, marketing, Frito-Lay North America.
Additional campaign supporters include Macy's, Midas, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Otis Spunkmeyer, SuperShuttle and 3M.
For more information about the ways to help and how to share the power of a wish(R), please visit http://www.wish.org.
About LAY'S
The LAY'S brand, a registered trademark used by Frito-Lay North America, is America's favorite brand of potato chip. The great tasting LAY'S potato chip starts with simple ingredients -- farm-grown potatoes and all natural oil. As with Frito-Lay's entire portfolio of snack chips, they have 0 grams of trans fat. Frito-Lay North America is the $11 billion convenient foods business unit of PepsiCo, which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. In addition to Frito-Lay, PepsiCo business units include Pepsi-Cola, Quaker Foods, Gatorade and Tropicana.
About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 164,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit http://www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish(R)
SOURCE Make-A-Wish Foundation
