Surprise Wish Celebration Hosted by CPA Students
CPA Students Raised Funds for Caleb’s Wish: To Meet Sponge Bob Square Pants
NASHVILLE –Christ Presbyterian Academy’s Middle School students surprised Fayetteville’s Caleb Gill Monday with a yellow and orange celebration of his wish to meet SpongeBob SquarePants. Cheering students held “We love you Caleb” signs as Caleb entered the gym. Fayetteville’s 7-year-old, Caleb Gill has glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor. CPA students raised more than $5,000 to sponsor Caleb’s Wish: To Go to Florida to Meet SpongeBob SquarePants.
At the celebration, a look-a-like emissary for SpongeBob cheered everyone on when the students sang the “SpongeBob SquarePants” song and told Caleb about his upcoming wish from his upcoming flight to Orlando to his special meeting with SpongeBob himself.
“When you are a child struggling through the dark, scary world of cancer the realization that you are eligible for a Make-A-Wish adventure is sometimes the only motivation you have to keep fighting,” said Elise Reinfeldt, CPA Student and Wish Recipient. Three years ago Reinfeldt‘s Make-A-Wish trip came true but she never forgot the power of a wish. She was determined that every cancer kid would have the opportunity for a dream adventure. Historically, wishes have been granted by large corporations or personal donations but Elise was confident her middle school peers could meet this challenge. And they did – raising $5,000 within less than a month.
CPA students know far too well the reality of a life-threatening illness. They have walked alongside several of their peers who have battled severe illnesses. Some won the fight and other passed. In true CPA spirit these kids put their hearts into an ultimate Pay It Forward experience.
"It is an honor for us to participate with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in granting Caleb’s wish. We have had many critically ill students at CPA, and we have watched as others have loved and cared for them well. We are pleased to be able to have the opportunity to give back in this way. It has been a joy preparing for this event. Our students were so excited and engaged in making it special. They are discovering first hand that it truly is more blessed to give than receive," said CPA Middle School Principal Rhonda Smith
About Christ Presbyterian Academy
Christ Presbyterian Academy is a K-12, college preparatory school dedicated to excellent education built on a Christian worldview. Founded in 1985, CPA is a ministry of Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Nashville, Tennessee. Serving approximately 900 students, the Academy offers an extensive program designed to meet the diverse giftings of its students.
About The Make-A-Wish Foundation ®
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 161,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception.
The Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, the youngest Make-a-Wish Chapter in the country, recently won national awards for Performance Excellence and for the 2008 Infinite Wish – a wish that involved the entire community. The Middle Tennessee chapter has granted more than 650 wishes since its founding in 2000. To refer a child with a life-threatening medical condition, call 615-259-2324 Ext 11. Individuals can make donations or donate frequent flyer miles at www.midtnwishes.org, call 615-259-2324 Ext 15, or send donations to The Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Middle Tennessee, 209 10th Avenue South, Suite 527, Nashville, TN, 37203.
