Hyatt donates $12K to Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s mission to grant the wishes of children with grave or life-threatening conditions was recently boosted with a donation of $12,000 from the Hyatt Regency Saipan.

Hyatt general manager Nick Nishikawa and executives presented the check to Make-A-Wish Foundation Guam/CNMI executive director Vicente P. Camacho Monday afternoon.

The donation will primarily go toward granting wishes to children in the Northern Marianas, followed by additional wishes in Guam.

One child from Saipan, Chance Takahashi, has already benefited from Hyatt’s donation. His wish was “to go on a shopping spree.”

Camacho said they were able to grant Takahashi’s wish on Feb. 6, 2014, in San Diego, Calif., where he is currently being treated for rheumatic heart disease. The expense of Takahashi’s wish is estimated at $3,500.

Another shopping spree wish will be granted to Argentine Perez on Feb. 22, 2014. Perez will be traveling to Manila to shop at the famous Mall of Asia and the cost of the wish is estimated at $3,500.

The remaining $5,000 from the Hyatt donation will go toward a future wish yet to be decided but it will be granted before August 2014.

Nishikawa said, “Our hotel’s passion is to make a difference in the lives of those we touch, especially within the local community. We are proud to do just that through Make-A-Wish Foundation.”

Hyatt is a major supporter of granting wishes. Aside from monetary contributions, it hosts a “simple yet memorable dinner” every year to bring joy to Make-A-Wish beneficiaries in the CNMI.

Hyatt’s donation is derived from proceeds of its annual golf tournament.

Make-A-Wish Foundation has an office in Guam but handles any wish or referral from the CNMI. There are currently a handful of five volunteers and two board members of Make-A-Wish on Saipan.

Its mission is “granting wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.” Eligible for participation are children between the ages of 2 ½ to 18.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Guam/CNMI serves the islands of Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands and is one of 65 chapters of Make-A-Wish Foundation throughout the U.S and its territories.

For more information, call Guam: (670) 649-9474, Northern Marianas (670) 483-9474 or email info@guam.wish.org or visit them on Facebook.[I] (Jayson Camacho)[/I]