Branford, CT: On Thursday June 16, Make-A-Wish Connecticut hosted a "friendraiser" event at The Owenego Inn in Branford, to celebrate past, present and future wishes for shoreline kids battling life-threatening medical conditions. Over 70 guests attended the evening to meet local Wish Kids and hear their stories, as well as learn how they can support the Make-A-Wish mission and its plans to grant over 80 wishes throughout the summer.

The mission of Make-A-Wish is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. 2016 marks the 30th anniversary for Make-A-Wish Connecticut has granted over 2,600 wishes to local kids since 1986, and will grant over 240 in its current Fiscal Year alone. The average cost of a wish is $10,000.

The owners of the Owenego Inn, John and Pat Bloomquist, generously donated their services to making the evening memorable for guests of Make-A-Wish. As parents of a wish recipient, they quickly rose to the occasion to support the foundation and its efforts to reach more children in the shoreline community.

"We are so grateful to all who joined us to celebrate 30 years of wishes come true in Connecticut," shared Pam Keough, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Connecticut. "Our hosts at The Owenego Inn, John and Pat Bloomquist, welcomed us with open arms and gave us the opportunity to share our mission with some wonderful new friends to Make-A-Wish. It is also thanks to support of the Branford Community Foundation that we have recently granted wishes to three Branford children. Each unique wish allows a child to dream, 　provides strength to wish kids and their families, rallies communities together, and changes the lives of everyone involved.　The Branford community has shown us that they truly believe in the power of a wish."

Present for the evening were 7 Wish Kids from the shoreline communities, including Branford High School alum Jennifer Gaudio, whose wish to travel on a photo shoot with National Geographic was recently granted. Jennifer shared some of her favorite images she captured on her adventures in the Galapagos Islands and thanked Make-A-Wish on behalf of all Wish Kids.

For more information on Make-A-Wish Connecticut, visit http://ct.wish.org/

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Connecticut, Inc.:

The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Connecticut grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.  Wish-come-true experiences can do wonders by providing a much-needed break from lengthy hospital stays and medical treatments. They give back to a child what a serious medical condition can take away—the chance to simply enjoy being a kid. Wish kids choose something that will inspire happiness, and allow them to spend precious time with their families. The Connecticut chapter has made over 2,600 wishes come true since its inception in 1986. Learn more about Connecticut wishes at http://ct.wish.org/ or join Make-A-Wish on Facebook (search Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut, Inc.) and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @MakeAWishCT.