Make-A-Wish’s “Waiting for Wishes” Fundraiser in SEGA Exceeds Goals

The “Waiting for Wishes” campaign challenged 11 community leaders to raise money over 2 months, concluding with a fundraising dinner in November.

Transwestern Real Estate Services’ East Region President and Make-A-Wish^® Georgia Board Chair Bruce Ford employed creative and impromptu auctioneer skills to help exceed fundraising expectations for the nonprofit’s “Waiting for Wishes” giving campaign. In its second year, the annual event raised $56,000, a 60% increase compared to last year.

At the event, which was held Nov. 12, 2020, at The Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, participants decorated their tables and acted as food servers to earn tips from dinner guests. The leader with the most tips received the honor of having a wish granted in their company’s name.

Though a live auction was not part of the program, Ford “pulled an audible,” according to Make-A-Wish Georgia’s Southeast Development Director Meghan Lowe, by auctioning a stuffed tiger from a table themed after the hit streaming show Tiger King.

“Bruce went from chair of the board to guest to live auctioneer and had everyone laughing and having a blast,” said Lowe. “The hotel was so impressed by his auctioneer skills that it generously offered to let Bruce auction a weekend stay. We’re so grateful to our board, Savannah’s community leaders, and our donors for continuing to show up to support wishes.”

Transwestern selected Make-A-Wish as its national philanthropy partner in 2018. Ford served on the Georgia chapter’s board for three years before being elected its chairman in September.

“Watching our company and the community band together for this great cause has been a true gift,” said Ford. “I’m thankful to Savannah’s business leaders for overwhelmingly supporting the ‘Waiting for Wishes’ campaign. To host an event like this and exceed fundraising expectations during a pandemic is a testament to the city’s commitment to making wishes come true for children who need it most.”