Make-A-Wish® Hope Is Essential Gala

On Saturday, May 8th at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, PRESENTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ OF EASTON RAISES RECORD $706,000+! (Columbus, OH) May 19th, 2021 the Central Ohio Hope is Essential Gala presented by Mercedes-Benz of Easton raised more than $706,000 for Make-A-Wish®. The record amount is enough to make more than 70 wishes come true for local children with critical illnesses. “This past year, we all experienced what it feels like to wait for hope,” said Central Ohio Market Director of Advancement Carol Richardson. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude for all of our gala sponsors, guests, and our presenting sponsor, Mercedes-Benz of Easton, who opened their hearts and gave generously to bring hope, strength, and joy to kids going through their darkest days. It was an unforgettable evening celebrating the Make-A-Wish mission, and I think everyone who attended left feeling more hopeful about their future too.” Donor Brenda Frecka and family gave a transformative matching gift of more than $228,000. Sponsors of the event included Kimball Midwest and Jeremy Frase with Union Home Mortgage, Northstar Realty, NetJets, Parker Hannifin, the Pollard Family, Assured Partners, the Choose Kind Foundation, Deloitte, Encore, Encova, Carter Lumber, Holmes Lumber, Huntington Bank, InfraSource, nCloud Integrators, Quantum Health, Revolution Mortgage, Stifel, and the Radcliff Family. Guests enjoyed dinner and drinks, heard inspiring wish stories, and bid on live and silent auction packages, following guidance from national and international public health and government organizations, including a virtual gala option for guests unable or uncomfortable to attend in person. For more information, visit oki.wish.org.

1) Carol Richardson and Daniel Govaer 2) Praveena, Priyasha and Anand Kota. Priyasaha raised $10K for Make-A-Wish 3) Debi Pugh and Jennifer Gardner, a Make-A-Wish Advisory Board Member. 4) Matina Zenios, a Make-A-Wish Advisory Board Member, and Zenios Zenios 5) Daniel and Grace Govaer (Daniel is GM of Mercedes-Benz of Easton, the gala presenting sponsor) 6) Merline Gordon, Dorothy Pinkston, Chervone Pinkston, who was named Volunteer of the Year 7) Sarah and Bill Sullivan. 8) Tyler and Justus Kelley (Tyler is a Wish Kid alumni)

9) Brenda Frecka (inducted into the Chris Greicius Society of Joy) 10) Christopher Handy and Carrie Drouillard. 11) David and Brenda Frecka, who gave matching gift of $228,000! 12) Russ and Stephanie McCormick, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana. 13) Scott Brader, inducted into the Chris Greicius Society of Hope