Make-A-Wish, American Equity Mortgage Grant 15-Plus Wishes
98 percent of AEM’s employees giving money, time across the country to make children’s dreams reality
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 31, 2007 – In honor of its 15th anniversary, St. Louis-based American Equity Mortgage Inc. is donating 15-plus wishes through The Make-A-Wish Foundation to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Gifts range from a sensory playground and a Welsh pony mare named “Muffin” to trips to Walt Disney World to meet Lightning McQueen and a family trip to Ireland. The company’s next wish grant – a trip to the Atlantis to swim with the dolphins – will be granted Friday, Nov. 2, 2007.
“These special children and their families are living with challenges most of us will hopefully never have to deal with in our lifetime,” said Deanna Daughhetee, president of American Equity Mortgage. “If granting these wishes makes them smile even for a moment, then we couldn’t be happier. We wanted our anniversary celebration to make a real difference in the lives of these very special children.”
Since January, the company has granted wishes in Atlanta, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Minneapolis /St. Paul, Seattle and St. Louis . There are several wishes left to grant – all in American Equity branch cities, including St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Mo., Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Tenn., Madison, Wis., Columbus, Ohio, Phoenix and Jacksonville, Fla.
“Granting wishes gives these children hope, and that is the most important thing to have when dealing with life-threatening diseases,” said Sandra Lehrer, president and CEO of The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Missouri .
The employees of American Equity Mortgage are investing their own time and money into making these wishes reality. Ninety-eight percent of the company’s 350 employees are participating with individual donations and volunteer time on behalf of Make-A-Wish. In Atlanta , four employees went to the Oak Grove Equestrian stable to be a part of 7-year-old Abby Knapp’s wish day presentation of getting a pony, Muffin. They stayed for hours talking with Abby’s family, watching her ride Muffin and taking pictures.
“Our commitment to Make-A-Wish goes beyond writing a check. It’s our opportunity to give back to the community,” added Daughhetee. “When our employees are able to personally participate, it touches even further into our organization and I’m proud of our strong employee involvement.”
American Equity Mortgage is forecasting it will donate a total of $135,000 in 2007, with employees contributing $65,000, the company matching with $65,000, and $5,000 additional raised through events, including a bowl-a-thon and a trivia night.
American Equity Mortgage Inc. was founded in 1992. Since then it has grown to become one of America’s leading mortgage bankers with offices throughout the country. AEM’s employees have helped thousands of customers get to a better place by offering hundreds of home loan programs, including money-saving debt consolidation home loans, mortgage refinancing, home equity lines of credit and home purchase loans. For more information, visit www.americanequity.com.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children ages 2 1/2 to 18 with life-threatening medical conditions. Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980 in Phoenix . It has grown from granting one boy’s wish of becoming a police officer to granting one child’s wish in the United States every 41 minutes. There are 69 chapters in the United States and more in 30 other countries. For information, visit www.wish.org.
The first Missouri wish was granted in 1983, and more than 3,400 wishes have been granted throughout Missouri and the six Kansas counties that are part of the metro Kansas City area since. More than 25,000 volunteers help Make-A-Wish serve these special children. If you’re interested in volunteering or helping in any way, visit www.mo.wish.org.
