Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire recently partnered with Jewelers For Children (JFC) to grant 7-year-old Noemi Bahena’s wish to have a shopping adventure. JFC provided her with jewelry for her wish to make it even more memorable.
Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire recently partnered with Jewelers For Children (JFC) to grant 7-year-old Noemi Bahena’s wish to have a shopping adventure. JFC provided her with jewelry for her wish to make it even more memorable.
Bahena, a native of Anaheim, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in July of 2013 and has endured numerous medical tests and treatments over the past few months. During her extended stay in the hospital, Bahena would spend time making jewelry for herself, nurses and others. Now, she is ready to celebrate the healing process by picking out a few special items of her own to wear.
Make-A-Wish worked with Daniel’s Jewelers in Buena Park, a partner of JFC, to ensure Bahena had what she needed to sparkle.
In 1999, JFC was founded by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of helping children in need. In the 15 years JFC has partnered with Make-A-Wish, more than $9.5 million has been raised to grant more than 1,375 wishes across the nation.
“There are few things in life, either in business or personal, as rewarding as helping a child. Daniel’s Jewelers has donated nearly a million dollars to local charities helping children, both through our affiliation with Jewelers For Children and our own contributions in the community,” said David Sherwood, CEO of Daniel’s Jewelers. “I can honestly say that when we actually get to do something tangible that makes a child smile, there’s no amount of money in the world to match that feeling. We are touched and honored to be able to play a role in making any child’s wish come true.”
Daniel’s Jewelers provided Bahena with earrings, a necklace and a bracelet.
“Noemi had been waiting for this day for a very long time,” said Irma Bahena, Noemi’s mother. “It was a beautiful and joyous experience for our entire family. It is a happy memory we will have for our entire lives.”
For more than 30 years, Make-A-Wish has impacted Orange County and the Inland Empire by granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Last year alone, 316 wishes were granted to children with the help of the local community.
For more information about Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire visit www.ocie.wish.org For more information about Jewelers for Children please visit www.jewelersforchildren.org
Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, Make-A-Wish is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, with 62 chapters in the United States and its territories.
With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish every 38 minutes and has granted more than 240,000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire, visit www.ocie.wish.organd discover how you can share the power of a wish.
