Netafim USA donates to Make-A-Wish
29 Dec, 2011 i-news
FRESNO, CA — Employees at Netafim USA exceeded their 2011 fund-raising goals and raised $10,000 to grant holiday wishes to two local children through the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Central California.
Mario, age 10 and afflicted with a genetic bone disease, and Nathan, age 12, battling a brain tumor, both had their special wishes granted. Mario will soon have an opportunity to meet professional wrestler Rey Mysterio, and Nathan recently had a chance to meet the players on the Dallas Cowboys football team.
This is the fifth year that Netafim employees have organized a series of fund raisers to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The company first sponsored a Make-a-Wish child in 2007 in honor of an employee’s daughter, Megan Shade, who succumbed to cystic fibrosis. It was the wish of her parents, Brian and Trina Shade, that all remembrances be sent to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Since then, Netafim employees have held a wide range of fund-raising activities to benefit the Foundation, including lunches, raffles, cookbook sales, bingo games, yard sales, auctions, bake sales and more. Netafim’s corporate offices also contributed to help the team reach their goal.
“The people of Netafim are the most generous, warm and caring that I’ve ever worked with,” said Cheri Berger, customer service/technical support representative at Netafim and coordinator of the Make-a-Wish events. “We spent a year organizing fund-raisers to help support Make-a-Wish.”
The company’s Make-a-Wish donations have been used to provide computer equipment for a disabled boy to help him keep up with his homework, along with funds for trips to Disney World for a child with bone cancer and another with bone marrow disease.
“The employees at Netafim also participate in many other community events, including multiple blood drives, a food drive and helped build a garden for disabled students at Rata High School,” she said. “They also participated in a Smart Irrigation Month Run/Walk this summer that raised $5,000.00 for Children’s Hospital.”
Netafim staff members recently helped a disadvantaged family of four with necessities and holiday gifts, and provided presents for 100 under-privileged children at a local elementary school.
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