Hope's story

Hope's Story

This is the tale of a unique wish kid and her dream of making other sick kids wishes come true during her most difficult hour. It's a story about a community and indeed a nation that paused from it's everyday routine life to take notice of a special person. Tens of thousands spared a moment from their busy lives to share their hard earned money and valuable time with this terrific young lady and made her wish a reality for everyone to share.
It all started in early December 2003, when the wish-granting team of Lynne Allen and Kelli Breaux, met with an amazing twelve year-old girl named Hope Stout. When they asked Hope to make a wish, she responded by asking, “How many children are waiting to have their wishes granted?” The wish team told her that 155 children were waiting. She immediately told them to make that her wish, explaining that she wanted to grant the wish of every child we had on our waiting list. She also wanted to do it by January 16th, 2004 at a Hollywood style celebration. After some rather frantic conversations with the main office, they came to the realization that we needed to raise $1,000,000 in thirty days, in order to grant Hope’s wish.

Although not quite sure how to do it, the wish team formed a committee and started planning for an event they called the “Celebration of Hope”. They had tremendous help from Hope’s parents, Stuart & Shelby Stout. They also had the help of their dear friends Tom Reeder and Bruce Mullan. Tom & Bruce got their company, Swisher, involved.

On December 18th, Swisher donated $35,000 to Hope’s wish. On December 19th, a story written by Elizabeth Leeland broke in the Charlotte Observer. By 9:00am that day, Keith Larson of WBT-1110AM in Charlotte picked up on the story and started challenging the community to raise the money. He first spoke to our media spokesperson, Chuck Coira. Chuck suggested that Keith call and talk to Hope’s dad, Stuart. Stuart suggested to Keith that he talk to Hope on his radio show. So he did, and what resulted was one of the most incredible interviews you have ever heard. For days, Keith devoted his entire show to talking about Hope’s wish, and even suggested that we could possibly raise the money before Christmas Eve.

While the $1,000,000 didn’t happen before Christmas Eve, the phones and fax machine at our office rang continuously. Our website was getting over 300 hits a day (as compared to the then usual 20-30). Orders for Hope charms were overwhelming us. The mail coninued to pour in with heartfelt donations (including a money order for $1.00). We were conducting interviews with any radio or TV station that would grant one. The momentum was building and money was being raised like never before. An anonymous donor walked in and contributed $100,000 on the spot.

By January 4th, Make-A-Wish had received $500,000 of the $1,000,000 goal. Kevin Donnalley of the Carolina Panthers had previously met Hope over the summer and started getting the team involved in raising money. Two sets of playoff tickets were donated by John & Mark Richardson of the Carolina Panthers to help raise money. Hope was interviewed with Kevin on national TV. The Charlotte Observer’s Don Hudson wrote wonderful article about Hope’s story.

The community also became engaged in the effort and the goal was soon within reach. The city of Charlotte, Charlotte’s Center City Partners, and Bank of America helped raise money by organizing a Carolina Panther’s rally for Hope. Held in downtown Charlotte, the main street was choked closed by the more then 15,000 people who showed up to support the Super Bowl bound Panthers and Hope! Upwards of $50,000 was raised at the 3 hour Pep rally, getting us even closer to the goal. Individuals, schools, organizations, and corporations all helped us raise money for Hope’s wish.

On January 16th, 2004, thirty days from when Hope first expressed her wish, we held the 1st Annual “Celebration of Hope”. Hope couldn’t attend the event in person having lost her battle with cancer (but passing knowing her wish was going to come true) just a few days before, but her spirit was strongly felt. Almost 1,000 people from every walk of life filled the ballroom of the Westin Hotel in uptown Charlotte to celebrate Hope’s life and grant her wish.

By the end of the evening, thanks to an excellent live auction featuring some fantastic items, the offical announcement was made that that evening Make-A-Wish had received over $1.1 million in donations on Hopes behalf! Hope’s wish was granted! It was granted because a little girl with a strong faith in God, showed all of us that caring for others is more important than caring about yourself. She said, “I have 100% faith in God that we can do this.” And God and SHE did it!



Visit Hope's website by clicking here.

To show your support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Cental & Western North Carolina and the Celebration of Hope you can purchase a Hope Charm designed specifically in memory of Hope with all proceeds benefiting our chapter.



Celebration of Hope Charms
Hope charms are still available at $10.00 apiece, call our office toll free (1-877-677-9474) or fax us an order form at (704) 339-0335.


Download Hope Charm order form (word doc).


List of Pending Wishes to Be Granted From the Celebration of Hope

26 Disney World trips
3 Disney Cruises
2 Celebrity Wishes - Atlanta Braves, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen
2 Shopping Sprees
Tour of Washington D.C.
Legoland
Caribbean Cruise
Alaskan Cruise
Car "Fix Up"
Bob The Builder Birthday Party
Fly Fishing Trip to Canada
Horse Ranch in Wyoming
Bedroom Redecoration
Yellowstone National Park
Be a Firefighter in New York City
See the Knicks and Saturday Night Live in New York City
Be a Real Ballerina



Sponsors, Patrons, & Friends | Read More of Hopes' Story and view photo gallery >>>

Visit our national Make-A-Wish Foundation ® site
at http://www.wish.org

The information in this site, "The Make-A-Wish Foundation®" and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® logo are under copyright by the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. Copyright laws prohibit unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or repackaging of any copyrighted material without the express written permission from the Make-A-Wish Foundation® and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Central & Western North Carolina.
Site Questions, contact webmaster@ncwish.org.
Click here to learn more about this site and view our site map.



Home About Us FundraisingNASCAR Scrapbook Wishes Volunteer How We Began The National Board Members Committee Members Contact Us Event Calendar Staff Celebration of Hope Contribute Special Events Sponsors & Partners Kids for Wish Kids Better Business Report Our Chapter & NASCAR Our NASCAR Contact NASCAR Wish Stories NASCAR Race Schedule FAQs Referring A Child The Process Wish Stories Wishes Granted 2002-2003 General Information Current Opportunities Sign Our Guestbook View Our Guestbook Application Members Only