PBR Challenge is raising awareness for Make-A-Wish Foundation
Ted Harbin 

SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas – Hopkins County has been home to athletes making their dreams come true each of the past two Augusts.

Now the Texas Heritage National Bank PBR Challenge presented by Priefert Ranch Equipment and Pro-Trak Trailers is trying to help raise awareness by benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas.

“We have a special tie-in to Make-A-Wish, but this is just an outstanding organization that does so much for so many people,” said Jim D. McLain Jr. of TwoBulls Group, one of the producers of the annual PBR Challenge, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, and Saturday, Aug. 14, at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.

            Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas has a regional office in Tyler that grants wishes to 30 counties in east Texas. Fans that flock to the PBR Challenge will have the opportunity to make a contribution to Make-A-Wish and help grant wishes in Hopkins County.

            “This is a great opportunity for the Make-A-Wish Foundation to tell a lot of people in east Texas what we’re about,” said Holly Leiferman, the director of development for the foundation, who has been associated with the PBR Challenge for each of the three years it has played in Sulphur Springs. “We encourage people to join in the celebration and help us reach every eligible wish child in North Texas. If people want to donate before the event and discover how they can share the power of a wish, they can contact me at (903) 597-9474.”

The foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Each year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas grants more than 440 wishes. Since September 2009, which is the beginning of the fiscal year, the northeast regional office has granted 75 wishes and will grant 84 by the end of August 2010. 

Celebrating 30 years, the foundation is the largest wish-granting non profit charity in the world. With the help of generous donors and more than 30,000 volunteers worldwide, the foundation has granted more than 240,000 wishes around the world since it inception. Wishes granted by the foundation typically fall into one of four categories: To Be (example, a ballerina, a firefighter), To Meet (example, a favorite celebrity or athlete), To Have (example, a computer, a playhouse), or To Go (example, to a theme park, to Hawaii).

To qualify, a child must be older than 2½ years old and younger than 18 and must not have received a wish from another wish-granting organization. A child can be referred to the foundation by a parent or guardian, a medical professional or by the child.

            “It’s important to the Texas Heritage National Bank PBR Challenge presented by Priefert Ranch Equipment and Pro-Trak Trailers to be involved in something as worthwhile as the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” McLain said. “We believe in giving back to the community, and Make-A-Wish is all about giving. Why not put them together?”

Share 

Web WorldOfRodeo.com