Making spirits bright: Wish-A-Thon hopes to grant first wish of 2013

Each year, Christmas wishes for many youngsters are granted thanks to the arduous efforts of eager parents and relatives.

But when those wishes go beyond the family's means due to struggles from a life-threatening medical condition, the Make-A-Wish Foundation steps in.

To help kick off the New Year in style, the Dodge City dealership off South Central Expressway in McKinney has partnered with the foundation to grant the first wishes of 2013. The family-owned dealership will pull out all the stops by hosting a daylong Wish-A-Thon on Jan. 2, complete with live music, local sports celebrities and other fanfare in an effort to raise $30,000 for a wishful child and his or her family.

"We are so honored to be able to sponsor this wish right here in our backyard," said Jim Proctor, general manager of Dodge City, in a release. "But we can't do it alone. I'm asking that each of us reach into our pockets and give what we can to make this holiday special for a very deserving family in need."

In addition to food, entertainment, classic cars and a video game theater, the Wish-A-Thon will feature a live taping of "The Drew Pearson Show," hosted by the legendary Dallas Cowboys player who will also be on site signing autographs and posing for photos with attendees.

Other big names slated for appearances include Ty Walker from The Ticket and athletes from the Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation traces its beginning to one boy's wish to be a police officer. To date, more than 215,000 wishes have been granted to children with life-threatening medical conditions in the United States and its territories.

Ron Sylvan, senior vice president of Make-A-Wish North Texas said the organization is very excited to be partnering with Dodge City and will grant more than 510 wishes this year to children with life-threatening medical conditions, including many from Collin County.

"The average cost of a wish is $7,400," Sylvan said. "If you do the math, it becomes very clear that the need to generate significant funds is a huge challenge. That's why we really appreciate the efforts of Jim Proctor and Dodge City in producing the Wish-A-Thon. Enough money has already been raised to grant two wishes.

"This event will not only raise much needed funds but also awareness of our mission," he said. "We ... encourage everybody to come out to this very special event to learn more about our mission and to enjoy a full day of festivities for the entire family. "

For information about the Wish-A-Thon and/or how to get involved, visit dodgecityofmckinney.net, call the dealership at 972-569-9650 or Make-A-Wish at 214-496-WISH (9474).

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