GALVESTON, Texas - The wishes of two Gulf Coast girls with life-threatening medical conditions have been granted thanks to the efforts of several hundred University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston correctional managed care employees who raised $13,500 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Nicole, age 15, will begin a one-week cruise with her best friend as soon as she is medically able to travel. Chloe, age 6, has just returned from her "wished-for" visit to Disney World where she lunched with Cinderella in the fairytale castle. It is the policy of the Make-a-Wish Foundation to use only first names of children.
"Part of our mission is to support the local communities where we live and work by volunteering in community projects," said John Allen, administrative director of the Galveston-based CMC program. "Caring for the vulnerable is what we do well."
Correctional managed care employees provide medical services for 175,000 Texas prison inmates in more than 100 Texas communities, including the federal prison in Beaumont, several county jails and all facilities operated by the Texas Youth Commission. The organization of more than 3,400 workers is also committed to support local communities with volunteer and charitable activities.
"This is an incredible group of caring people who are working to make a positive difference in our communities, said Trish Wooten, a CMC director who helped to coordinate the project.
In addition to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, CMC employees also volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, homeless shelters, food banks, schools, health fairs, the Ronald McDonald house and many other community-sponsored events.
Most of the funds raised to grant the "wishes" came from a benefit concert hosted by the band members of Wheel's Off, a popular Dallas rock band. Bryan Schneider, director of CMC support services, is a member of Wheels Off.