Thank you Women and Wishes for all you have done for us and our family during our challenging times. You have made our lives have more hope and faith.

Hannah & Jacob

On behalf of my entire household, I would love to thank Women and Wishes for their assistance during our hardship. The work that your team is doing is crucial in our economic times. We are a middle class family. We recently had 2 pay cuts due to budget cuts in my husband's profession. With 2 new children and a house to run , needless to say, it has been so very difficult. The salary that we do bring in is too much for Government assistance, but not enough to cover our expenses. We are fortunate to have found your organization. We wish you Global growth and endless Finances to do the work you do for people.

"Lorraine" (name withheld)

It was a Blessing to meet this organization. I am a mother of 4 minor children and victim of domestic abuse. I have no financial support from the father. I had enough courage to get out and didn't know where to turn to but knew deep in my heart that this is not the way to live with children. My good friend suggested that I give Women and Wishes a call. I put a call into them and immediately received a call back. In a few days one of the Board Members sat down with me to discuss my situation. It was so nice to know that there are a group of women who really care and want to help. Women and Wishes helped me out with my electric bill and looking into medical insurance for me. I am trully Blessed to have met this organization and wonderful women that God put in my life.

Grace Granda.

Women and Wishes has done such great things for so many people including my 2 sisters and myself. I'm 26 years old and I got custody of my 2 sisters (10 and 12) about 2 1/2 years ago. Providing for them financially has been extremely stressfull, among other things. So I provide them with just the basics and anything else such as cable, internet, eating out, ect, has been put on hold.

When the kids starting coming home with computer cd roms instead of text books and needing to do tons of research, I knew I needed internet. We were going to the library to do it but I work 2 jobs so I don't have enough time for them to stay as long as they need. A friend of mine told me about someone she had met threw Women and Wishes and we got in contact. They were amazing women and cared so much about my sisters and myself, which I found to be so heart warming.

I told them my wish was to get internet for my sisters... and we got our wish! Thank you so much Women and Wishes for granting our wish :) God bless

Stacy N.

Space Mountain, the wild and crazy roller coaster at Disney World could best describe my life over the past five years. Yes, we all LIVE, LOVE AND LEARN along the journey of life, but nothing and I mean not one single thing can prepare a mother and young children for a bitter divorce. Moreover, continual malicious and frivolous ongoing litigation has sent my family into financial despair. Providing our basic necessities has become a challenge to say the very least. Yet, I am determined to prevail and seek a sense of normalcy and solace.

I met Kelly a few weeks ago and she was absolutely beautiful, gracious and listened attentively to assess our immediate needs. My family is very grateful for the food and adorable children clothing provided by Women and Wishes.

Now, my wish is to have this amazing non-profit organization flourish and continue to serve the needs of other women. Also, I wish to "GIVE BACK" to our thriving community [one day in the near future].

Peace, Blessings and Good Health.

Truly Sincere from The Heart,

Lisa

I would like to thank Women and Wishes for their wonderful contributions to a dear friend of mine. I found out about this fantastic organization when I attended a luncheon honoring one of your members. When I read their brochure, I was just astonished to find that all the criteria they were addressing perfectly fit my friend in need.

After contacting representatives of the organization, they took the time to meet with my friend on several occasions, and helped her with some of her problems. They assisted with summer camp for her daughter, a therapist to help her through her very difficult times and some financial tips. It is so thrilling to know that there is a group of women out there who are deeply concerned with the welfare of fellow women who are having a difficult time. Middle class women do not have the financial resources of the wealthy to help them through difficult financial times nor the opportunites that lower income women have available to them.
Thank you Women and Wishes for taking care of your fellow sisters. You are a blessing!!!

Linda B.

When you talk to women about Women & Wishes, frequently you'll hear such phrases as 'life-changing', 'major change', 'unexpected life change' and 'upheaval'. That has been 2008 for me; the Perfect Storm, financially, emotionally and personally.

My self esteem has taken quite a beating this year. In January, my teenage sons (15 & 17) and I went through the unexpected end of my long-term love relationship. He disappeared with the car and the savings. I was waitressing, because I really didn't NEED the income. Now I did. I decided to go back into office management, which I had been doing for years. I got a great paying job, which along with my tax return, allowed me to move into a place where my sons had their own rooms for the first time ever. The 'dream job' turned into a nightmare when a sexual harassment problem caused an not-so-pleasant ending. Back to the guaranteed money of the old low-paying job I was grateful to have money to feed the boys. Several months of trying to find a good job in a bad economy, the missed house payments have piled up.

I met Kelly and Marion briefly at a Make-A-Wish event that I attended as a parent speaker. Kelly gave me a business card, which I tucked into my wallet. The months have caused such stress as I have struggled more and more to prioritize my priorities. Aside from the obvious house payments, electric, car insurance, etc, Travis is graduating this spring, and Christmas is coming. My sons have been through so much in their short lives. Their father is an addict, and they lost their 15 year old sister to cancer five years ago. Disappointments have been many, but still they make good grades, stay out of trouble and are very protective of their mom. There are certain things I will not allow them to miss out on. They both deserve so much more.

One morning a few weeks ago I was sitting in my doctor's office, when they asked for my insurance card. I took it out of my wallet, and this lovely little business card fell out, literally at my feet. It was the card Kelly had given me. I picked it up and read the mission statement, and my eyes welled up. I couldn't believe what I was reading. It was my answer! When I got home, I wrote an email to Kelly and explained my situation. Within two days I was sitting across the table from Kelly and Marion at a diner, listening to the solutions and ideas they had to help my little family, and to help build my confidence again.

The immediate solutions we discussed; getting clothes for my sons, finding scholarships, help me find a good job, sending me for a makeover and a haircut, offering me friendship and reminding me that I really am not alone. Last week Women & Wishes held a masquerade party for their first anniversary. They invited my sons and me to be their guests. Sky, my youngest, plays football and had a playoff game, so we were not able to attend. The party was a success, and these incredibly generous women wrote me a check a few days later so I can get Travis' cap & gown, class ring and senior pictures! I could not have come up with the $500 to do this for my son.

I finally feel like this too shall pass, and that we will come out of this. I don't need a man, but I do need a support system. Now I have one. It is way too easy to isolate to avoid embarrassment, and sit at home trying to do it alone, but it got me nowhere but deeper in this mess. Women & Wishes isn't just there to "give you a fish" (although they will, for immediate relief). Women & Wishes is there, more importantly, to teach you how to fish. These women have been there. They are so very compassionate and non-judgmental. They have, themselves, needed resources and created a lot of contacts to share. All they ask in return for helping me is that I help them help someone else. Sometimes the stars align, the gods smile and the right people and opportunities come into our lives. I have made a decision to get very involved- I feel like I have found a place where I fit, and another place in life where I can make a difference.

Thank you, ladies. I am eternally grateful and looking forward to a long friendship with you personally and Women & Wishes!

Jeri Plat

Dear Women & Wishes,

Many thanks to you for showing up in a tangible way to help my kids and I in the form of Christmas gifts, clothing, gift cards and more importantly a much needed car repair. Your selfless Christmas Blessing is nothing short of a miracle that my family will never forget.

Kelly and Marion took the time to sit and talk with me; I was not just a case number to them. I was treated like a regular person even though my circumstances weren’t the greatest. Many thanks to Ms Joanne and all the other supporters that went out of their way to make Christmas a reality for us. Additionally, thank your for inviting Derek and I to the Boat Parade Party. It was a Blast!

My heart is overwhelmed by your generosity. I truly believe that God is watching over my family and it is no co-incidence that my wish that was submitted in June of this year is now fulfilled in December. I pray for your success in the coming year and that donors will continue to financially support your organization.

Once again thank you for making our Christmas one to remember.

Sincerely,

Denise L. Lewis