Over two weeks this summer, Autobell Car Wash donated $1 from every sale of the company’s Rain Repellent Special wash throughout five states to Make-A-Wish® Foundation. The effort raised $15,523 for the non-profit organization, enough to grant the special wishes of two children dealing with critical illness.
Each year, through donor contributions, partnerships, and volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants more than 15,000 wishes to critically ill children. These life-changing experiences renew hope, lift spirits, and bolster strength for the kids and their families, while uniting neighbors, friends, and entire communities in making dreams come true.
Two current Autobell Car Wash team members in Charlotte know firsthand the uplifting experience that Make-A-Wish provides.
John Jay Smith was battling stage 4 cancer as a 4-year-old when Make-A-Wish fulfilled his dream of a family trip to Disney World.
“I was pretty young, but I remember that being a traumatic time for our family,” Smith described. “My Make-A-Wish experience was a wonderful and welcome reprieve from the cancer treatments, doctor visits, and accompanying anxiety. What Make-A-Wish does for children and their families is fantastic.”
Smith, 20, has been cancer-free since 2015 and is now paying it forward by volunteering with Make-A-Wish, Charlotte’s Levine Children’s Hospital, and other charitable efforts.
Autobell team member Ben Aguallo was diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), an autoimmune disorder, at age 6. He, too, received a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World when he was 7 and remembers his experience as literally a dream come true.
“It was absolutely amazing what Make-A-Wish did for me and my family,” Aguallo recalled. “I was going through a rough time and was asked what I would do if I could do anything. I chose visiting Disney World, and it was an experience that meant the world to me. Disney went all out, starting with employees dressed as superheroes arriving on ATVs to meet me. They really treated us like royalty.”
Aguallo, 20, is also involved in various volunteer efforts through Levine Children’s Hospital and sits on one of its committees.
“We’re thrilled with our customers’ participation in the Make-A-Wish fundraiser and the opportunity to provide more amazing experiences in the lives of children,” offered Carl Howard, Autobell President and COO. “It’s humbling to be an ongoing part of the Make-A-Wish mission to inspire hope and deliver joy.”
