Penta Communications' Gala Benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation

Since 1987, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts has granted more than 3,600 wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. In fiscal year 2007 alone, 325 children in the Bay State received wishes.

Nationwide, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which has 69 chapters in the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico, has granted 152,000 wishes since 1980, with a new one granted every 41 minutes. The organization depends heavily on its network of 25,000 volunteers, who take on roles such as wish granters, fundraisers and special events assistants.

Corporations, both large and small, also make contributions, whether directly or by sponsoring a fundraising event.

Locally, PENTA Communications, a Westborough-based marketing firm, holds an annual black tie gala in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation's Massachusetts chapter. So far, the company has raised more than $375,000 for the charity.

Last year's gala provided funds for six wishes, including: a 7-year-old girl, who was treated for leukemia, traveled to New York City, where she met Chef Jacques Torres of the Food Network; an 18-yearold girl, undergoing treatment for aplastic anemia, went on a shopping spree at Cambridgeside Galleria; and a 3-year-old boy, who had a bone marrow transplant for leukemia, vacationed in Hawaii.

CEO Deborah Penta hopes that their seventh annual gala will make even more wishes come true.

"The cost of wishes goes up every year," she said. In 2000, the average cost was $3,000 per wish; in 2007, the average cost is $6,000. "Every single dollar counts. Every single donation counts. It gets more difficult every year."

"I really believe in children's charities as a way to give back to the community," said Penta, adding that she was impressed by the percentage of the money raised that goes directly to the children. "The Make- A-Wish Foundation really provides hope and hope is immeasurable. You can't really quantify the benefit hope has to a child who is battling a life-threatening illness."

-- Marguerite Paolino