Make-A-Wish gala promoted on Action News to fund local wishes

On Jan. 6 Cortney Snapp, senior director of regional development for Make-A-Wish Central California, joined Action News to spotlight the organization's upcoming Gala of Wishes, a fundraising event scheduled for Jan. 24 at Pardini's in northwest Fresno. The appearance highlighted the immediate need for community support to fund wishes for children facing critical illnesses across Fresno County and the broader Central Valley.

Make-A-Wish used the television segment to frame the stakes: every 20 minutes a child is diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, and the nonprofit aims to provide moments of joy and normalcy during prolonged medical hardship. The gala, backed by ABC30 as a proud sponsor, will feature Action News anchor Margot Kim as emcee and is intended to raise operating and program funds that directly underwrite wish experiences for local children and families.

Local fundraising events like the Gala of Wishes play a dual role in Fresno. They generate donations that pay for travel, experiences, and logistics tied to individual wishes, and they create public engagement opportunities that expand the volunteer and donor base for ongoing support. For families navigating expensive medical care, those community-funded wishes can translate into temporary relief from treatment routines, family memories, and psychological benefits that clinical services alone may not provide.

The Action News segment urged viewers to secure seats and support the gala through Make-A-Wish's event link, noting that ticket purchases and direct gifts at the event channel dollars back into the Central California wish program. Organizers also use galas to recruit volunteers and corporate partners whose sustained involvement increases the number of children whose wishes can be granted each year.

For Fresno voters and civic stakeholders, the gala underscores how private fundraising supplements public health and social services in the region. Whether county budgets, hospital foundations, or nonprofit coalitions, community-level funding and civic participation shape the scope of services available to medically fragile children. Events that combine visibility, media partnerships, and local institutions such as Pardini's help translate charitable intent into measurable outcomes.

The takeaway? If you want to convert sympathy into action, consider attending, donating, or volunteering with Make-A-Wish Central California. A few hours at a gala or a modest donation can change the arc of a child's year; our two cents? Turn concern into a concrete commitment and help make a wish possible for a family in Fresno County.