Thunder Bay’s love of chili is allowing a local fast-food restaurant to make a sick child’s wish come true.
Jim Edwards, president of the local Wendy’s restaurants, on Monday presented a cheque for $10,000 to Children’s Wish Foundation Thunder Bay. The restaurants held a fundraising campaign in May in support of the Children’s Wish 20th annual golf tournament, held at the Whitewater Golf Club on Sept. 8.
Jim Edwards, president of Wendy’s Restaurants Thunder Bay, said they wanted to give back to children who were critical ill and thought that this would help to make their lives a little better.
“I think it is a very positive thing to be involved in the community by helping a kid,” Edwards said. “Being involved in the community is one good for the business, and two it really makes me happy. It is a privilege to be able to give money to a child and support the child through their illness.”
George Badani, director of Children’s Wish Thunder Bay, said the annual golf tournament usually raises more than $30,000 a year. He said the donation made by Edwards was one of the largest ever donated by an individual corporation.
“The most common wish is going to Disney World,” Badani said. “The average cost for a wish is around $8,000. Last year a child in Thunder Bay wanted a pool in his backyard and we were able to grant that wish. These children are all special people in their own right and I think it is an outstanding thing to do for them given the challenges they have in life.”
Badani added that they hoped to grant 1,000 new wishes worldwide this year.
