96.9 The Kat and Make A Wish of Central and Western Carolina have teamed up for “A Summer Of Wishes FUNdraising Challenge” and we need YOUR help! This summer, bring hope to waiting wish kids and celebrate the impact of wishes that our local community have helped grant.
Meet 96.9 The Kat Wish Kid, Sam! Sam, 17, from Charlotte has an autoimmune disorder. Sam is a talented young man with a passion for country music. Despite suffering from an autoimmune disorder that can make it difficult to bend his joints, he writes his own songs, plays the guitar, and sings for hours every day. When he found out that he was eligible for a wish, Sam knew instantly that he wanted to do something with music. He decided that his wish was to record his music in a professional studio. In Tennessee, Sam and his parents were chauffeured to the prestigious Ocean Way Nashville Studio, where multi - Grammy winning and number 1 charting engineer Joe Baldridge produced the session. Together with studio artists on guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums, they recorded two of Sam’s original songs. But Sam’s wish wasn’t just about recording music. He also got a behind-the-scenes look into the music industry, learning about music education and business from the pros firsthand. The team at Ocean Way Nashville Studio was blown away by Sam’s talent and passion, and this wish fulfilled his lifelong dream while giving him invaluable insights into his craft. Despite his autoimmune disorder, Sam’s love for music has allowed him to continue pursuing his passion, and his wish to record in a professional studio provided him the opportunity to take his music to the next level.
“It was perfect. We were sad to leave Nashville and are still basking in the glow of such a wonderful time.” - Shannon, wish parent
Because of the generosity of you and countless others in Charlotte and the Carolinas, Sam has had his wish granted which changed his life forever. Now, let’s strive to bring more wishes to life because a wish is something that creates hope, not only for the wish kid, but also for his or her family – at a time when they need it most. Make A Wish of Central and Western Carolina is currently on track to granting more wishes this year than last, but for many reasons, the cost of an average wish has grown to approximately $7,500. Join us today to grant a life-changing summer to 23 wish kids in waiting. Wishes need you! You can change their lives now!