Guthrie Family Wish Fund

In honor of Jeffers Guthrie who was granted his Wish in 2008, our family has pledged to raise enough funds to fulfill an endowment gift to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York. By donating to this endowment, you will help us reach our goal of granting a wish in perpetuity, a wish every single year, forever. What follows is our own experience with Make-A-Wish, and I was honored to share our story at last spring's gala. As a member of the Board of Directors, I ask you to help us support Make-A-Wish, an organization we care about so very deeply.

-Sari, Kevin, Jeffers, Claire, and Jack

ps. Jeffers is now a healthy and thriving 15 year old!

A Wish Is More Than A Wish

It seems simple:
A hospital social worker presents the idea of making a wish to a child.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation works to make it happen.
A child has a wondrous moment.

Let me tell you how much more it really is.

There are many grueling stages of treatment for a child who is undergoing therapy for a life threatening illness. He or she, and that child's family, don't have a choice but to follow the doctor's orders and much of it is demoralizing and painful. Throughout all of it, no one can tell you what you want to hear most ÃƒÂ¢€" that is, if you endure all the pain you will get better.

There is one certainty. A wish. Here is what that wish means.

The only thing associated with treatment that the child gets to choose, is a wish. The best diversion from the chemo and the needles and the procedures, is to be thinking about that wish. No one is allowed to influence the wish. The child owns the process. That's the first important stage.

The journey with Make-A-Wish begins with the wish granters. People who actively participate in the experience of making a wish come true are indeed very special, and they share that caring spirit with the family. We were lucky enough to have Jennifer Goodman Linn as that person. At first, when she heard Jeffers's wish to go to the Beijing Olympics, she knew that it would be a very complicated one involving international visas, the Chinese bureaucracy, and hard to get tickets to various events. She made no promises. Many people were involved in making it happen and after months and months of planning, it became a reality.

As you know, watching any Olympics, even on TV is always thrilling, and to see it unfold in a country on the cusp of a new global role with a worldwide audience was exhilarating. But more important than watching Usain Bolt set a new world record in the 200m, or 3 Americans sweep the 400m at the Olympics, was to see the pride and joy on our son's face. That was the priceless moment.

I hope this gives you a more intimate understanding of how crucially important the Wish can be. For my son, it was the idea that he made something extraordinary happen for all of us and continues to bask in that knowledge. Beyond the surface of exotic travel, meeting a glamorous celebrity, or acquiring a prized possession - the lasting power of making a Wish and seeing it come true is medicine for the soul.

Help Me Reach My Goal

So far I've raised $63,111.11.

Honor Roll

Merck Partnership for Giving

Amount:

$4,500.00

At the request of William Bowen

Youngsuk & Sung Chi

Amount:

$1,000.00

Terrific work!

William and Mary Ellen Bowen

Amount:

$4,500.00

Geoffrey and Amy Yang Foundation

Amount:

$5,000.00

Erica Ingalls

Amount:

$250.00

In honor of our wedding! Love JM and Erica.

Jeffrey Pagano

Amount:

$1,000.00

W. Taylor Reveley

Amount:

$500.00

What a wonderful way to celebrate your first quarter century of marriage! Helen and Taylor Reveley

Tom Nagorski

Amount:

$500.00

With love to great friends and in honor of one terrific young man

Peter Guthrie

Amount:

$25.00

Gail Monaco

Amount:

$50.00

Deanna and Thomas Marcum

Amount:

$100.00

Blair and Cheryl Cohen

Amount:

$1,000.00

Academy of Excellence for Autism

Amount:

$25.00

Felicia and Robert Lipson

Amount:

$250.00

Congratulations! Wishing you much joy for the next 25!

Anonymous

Amount:

$200.00

Happy 25th and may all your wishes be granted! Love to you all. Becky and Larry

Anonymous

Amount:

$100.00

Nancy Kopans

Amount:

$100.00

In honor of a wonderful couple and their wonderful family.

Eileen Coyne-Schaffert

Amount:

$100.00

Happy to support a truly wonderful organization and a truly beautiful family! Eileen and Greg Schaffert

Maria and Kerry Kourepenos

Amount:

$250.00

Congratulations on your 25th!! It was a pleasure to celebrate with you and it is an honor to be a part of this special cause.

Doug and Annabel Hsieh

Amount:

$500.00

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!

Anonymous

Amount:

$500.00

Christopher Palermo

Amount:

$100.00

In honor of Sari Chang's and Kevin Guthrie's 25th Anniversary -- congratulations!!

Richard Ressner

Amount:

$1,000.00

Congratulations ... an inspiring way to celebrate. A special time .. a special cause.

Rebecca Griffiths

Amount:

$150.00

Congratulations on your anniversary, and best wishes for the next 25! Rebecca, Daleep, Jaden, Jasmine, & Theodore

Lennig and Adele Chang

Amount:

$250.00

Happy Anniversary, Sari and Kevin. It was a wonderful party celebration, and an honor to be part of it and having been toasted for our 50th. May Jeffers continue always to be in excellent health. Love, Popi and Brapum.

Lee and Laura Krug

Amount:

$500.00

It was great to celebrate with you!

Dianna Raedle

Amount:

$500.00

Congratulations!!

Peter and Shane Farrell

Amount:

$200.00

Happy to be part of the original ceremony and to share in this great ceremony and wonderful evening!

Mike and Liana Grecco

Amount:

$25.00

Happy Anniversary. Hope to see you all at Meg and Dick's for Thanksgiving! So much to be thankful for. Mike and Liana Grecco

Barbara McCrane

Amount:

$100.00

Happy Anniversary, Sari and Kevin!! Love, Barbara, Paul and Hannah

Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich

Amount:

$100.00

Jin Lee

Amount:

$200.00

Robin Kramer

Amount:

$50.00

All my love to the Guthrie Gang! xo

Sergio Carranza & Elyse Lau

Amount:

$100.00

Marilyn Clark

Amount:

$250.00

Have a wonderful 25th Anniversary Sari and Kevin. All our love, Marilyn and Jaime

Neal and Betty Wring

Amount:

$250.00

Happy Anniversary!

Michael Persky

Amount:

$100.00

Congratulations to you on your 25th!

Marilee Lin

Amount:

$100.00

Sending you our love and best wishes on this special occasion. Mar and John

Dara Schaefer

Amount:

$150.00

Congratulations, with love from Dara and David

Courtney Wong

Amount:

$25.00

Happy Anniversary! Love, Courtney

David Crane

Amount:

$500.00

Happy 25th Sari and Kevin! Love, Isabella and David

Gaby Sappington

Amount:

$50.00

Happy Anniversary!

Mary Howard

Amount:

$100.00

in honor of ALL Guthries I have been privileged to know and love

BJ Paik

Amount:

$250.00

Happy Anniversary and many more years of happiness!

Howard and Riva Levy

Amount:

$200.00

Laura Banes

Amount:

$500.00

Happy Anniversary and much love to you all...Congratulations on so many achievements! Love, Laura and John

David Pakman

Amount:

$250.00

Tracy Nixon

Amount:

$500.00

Oneka LaBennett

Amount:

$75.00

Anonymous

Amount:

$111.11

Mike & Marlies Winter

Amount:

$300.00

Happy Anniversary Sari & Kevin! We are honored to help with this worthy cause.

Christina Chung

Amount:

$100.00

Happy 25th!!!!!

Georgia Carson

Amount:

$250.00

Happy Anniversary

Laura Brown

Amount:

$200.00

Happy anniversary! Laura and Barbara.

Eugene Lowe

Amount:

$200.00

Congratulations!

Peter Ward

Amount:

$50.00

What a wonderful tribute to 25 years together...dear old friends of Dick and Megs.

Jeannie Weinberg Rose

Amount:

$2,500.00

Anonymous

Amount:

$250.00

Happy Anniversary!

Anonymous

Amount:

$200.00

Lawrence Bacow

Amount:

$250.00

What a great way to celebrate your anniversary. Congratulations!

Craig Jorasch

Amount:

$500.00

Unfortunately we are not able to make it out from California. Congrats on the 25 year milestone!

Judith Shapiro

Amount:

$100.00

To many many more happy years together.

Drake McFeely

Amount:

$500.00

Congratulations on your 25th.

Steve and Nadia DiGregorio

Amount:

$150.00

Congratulation son your 25th! Thank you for doing this!

Kenneth Frazier

Amount:

$2,500.00

herbert winokur

Amount:

$1,500.00

to help a great cause and honor a great family

Henry Bienen

Amount:

$100.00

Tommy Wong

Amount:

$150.00

congratulation to Kevin and Sari. Happy 25 anniversary.From Tommy & Jenny

Stephen Stigler

Amount:

$100.00

Michael Vatis

Amount:

$100.00

Sorry we can't make the party. Congratulations!!!

David Wong

Amount:

$50.00

Janet & Don Wong

Amount:

$200.00

Congratulations! What a fabulous way to celebrate!

Anonymous

Amount:

$250.00

Thankful for Jeffers health and grateful to give in honor of Kevin and Sari's marriage.

Jeffrey Sine

Amount:

$500.00

Congratulations from Jeff and Samira Sine

Jimmy Lynn

Amount:

$1,000.00

Happy 25th anniversary. Love you all.

JM Guthrie

Amount:

$100.00

Happy Anniversary, we are happy to be part of this special gift. JM and Erica

Hal Stern

Amount:

$100.00

Charlotte Byers

Amount:

$200.00

So happy to contribute! XO

Lewis Bernard

Amount:

$2,500.00

Congratulations upon your 25th and still so young. Lewis

Paul Brest

Amount:

$250.00

what a great way to celebrate an anniversary. Best from Paul and Iris

Thomas Loughlin

Amount:

$150.00

Good luck with your goal. And Happy Anniversary.

Anonymous

Amount:

$250.00

Happy Anniversary xoxoxo

Anonymous

Amount:

$525.00

We are honored to help you reach this goal and celebrate with you both.

Betty Chen

Amount:

$250.00

We are so happy to celebrate with you, your family, and your friends. Love, B+P

Walker Stevenson

Amount:

$100.00

Congratulations from Jenny and Walker!

Gabrielle DiBianco

Amount:

$100.00

the morans

Amount:

$100.00

Deirdre Davis

Amount:

$100.00

What a wonderful way to honor your marriage, your family, and Jeffers. Congratulations!!

Eleanor and Charlie Pollnow

Amount:

$250.00

Cheers to Jeffers, and to your 25th!

Claire Bienen

Amount:

$500.00

Happy Anniversary! A terrific way to support a great organization.

Maggie and Farid Maluf

Amount:

$100.00

Congratulations, Sari and Kevin! Maggie & Farid Maluf

Mike & Amanda Jacobs

Amount:

$150.00

Heather Evans

Amount:

$250.00

What a wonderful way to mark your milestone! xoxo Heather

Minard and Jane Hamilton

Amount:

$250.00

So many great accomplishments! Happy Anniversary! Jane and Minard

Alexandra Nicholson

Amount:

$500.00

We are so happy to celebrate/support our wonderful friends and their son we love so much! xo

Jennifer and Jamie Forese

Amount:

$5,000.00

It is our pleasure to support you guys in a great cause. Sorry we can't join you on your special night.

Anonymous

Amount:

$150.00

Life's challenge is not what it is, but what one does with it -- and you all are valued champions! With all love, M & M

Jean and Peter Kim

Amount:

$1,000.00

Happy Anniversary! We hope to see more of you guys on (and off) the slope.

Monique and Bob King

Amount:

$5,000.00

charles moore

Amount:

$100.00

It's an honor to contribute in the name of Jeffers Guthrie's recovery.

Anonymous

Amount:

$1,000.00

What a great thing to do to celebrate your marriage and family!

susan scherr

Amount:

$1,000.00

We know first hand what a great organization Make-A- Wish is and are thrilled to support it in honor of your 25th anniversary.

Mary Ellen & William Bowen

Amount:

$1,000.00

A great family supporting a great cause!!

Matt & Sharon Kaplan

Amount:

$150.00

What a wonderful goal. We hope this helps! Happy Anniversary!

Deirdre McDonald

Amount:

$500.00

Nothing could make me happier than supporting you in this effort. Happy anniversary. xD

Kate O'Connell

Amount:

$250.00

Happy Anniversary Sari & Kevin! Sharing the joy!

Francesca Olivieri

Amount:

$100.00

Mary Wythes

Amount:

$500.00

Love you both! xoxo

Wilson Ervin

Amount:

$1,000.00

Great idea and good luck!

Kathy and Steve Yang

Amount:

$500.00

We love you all.