The holiday season is all about wishes. It’s a magical time of year, particularly for children, and it’s also a time to think about those less fortunate than ourselves. Make-A-Wish Canada combines those two sentiments year-round to grant more than 1,000 wishes annually that positively affect the lives of children with critical illnesses. The fulfillment of their dreams can play a vital role in a child’s treatment journey by boosting morale and providing them with an adventure to fight for on the horizon. Since its founding, Make-A-Wish has granted over 35,000 wishes in Canada alone, but the organization’s critical work is far from over. At a cost of approximately $10,000 per wish fulfilled, the organization relies on the generosity of donors throughout the year to fill its wish chest.
With benevolence at the heart of our corporate culture, Alithya has long supported the invaluable work of Make-A-Wish. Since joining Alithya in 2016, I have had the privilege to be involved in numerous fundraising activities for Make-A-Wish, and today I am proud to be a member of the organization’s Board of Directors. In addition to contributing on an administrative level, I have embraced the opportunity to be front and center along with my colleagues, including our CEO, Paul Raymond, to participate in team building activities that have made a significant contribution to fundraising campaigns supporting Make-A-Wish. In 2019, Alithya mounted 20 cycling teams in Quebec to raise $100,000 for the cause. After a pandemic disruption in 2020, we took to the road again in September 2021 with five teams during the Make-A-Wish® Ride for Wishes one-week virtual cycling challenge. As a nice complement to our efforts, our colleagues from the newly acquired company R3D Consulting sweetened the pot by raising funds through an auction of supplies and furniture left over from their former offices. Those combined activities helped Alithya raise another $50,000, or roughly the cost of changing the lives of five courageous kids.
With the holiday season upon us, ‘tis the ‘Season of Wishes’, and Alithya is stepping up again as an official sponsor of the Make-A-Wish 24 Days of Wishes campaign. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of an urgent need for funding the wishes of more than 150 children currently on a waiting list. At the core of the campaign, a digital mural, in the form of a 24-day Advent calendar, will be displayed on the wall of Montreal’s Berri-UQAM Metro station. Each day, from December 1-24, the name of one deserving child, and the wish that lights up their dreams, will be unveiled. On December 8th, a child sponsored by Alithya will be unveiled.
In addition to Alithya’s visibility during targeted events and fundraising campaigns, the commitment and dedication of our people has a contagious effect that endures throughout the year. Beyond this season of giving, we would like to remind you that donations can be made to Make-A-Wish 365 days a year through the organization’s online platform.
