Design for Change and DPR Assist in Granting Local Girl's Wish to Have a Playroom

Windsor Mill, MD (October 6, 2016) – Local wish kid, 3-year-old London, celebrated the granting of her wish to have a playroom on Saturday, September 24. Diagnosed with leukemia, London’s childhood has been filled with trips to the doctor and extensive chemotherapy sessions when it should have been filled with play time and fun. When London and her family first met with their volunteer Wish Granters from Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, London eagerly engaged her new friends in a vivid game of make-believe, and it was clear playing was her favorite thing to do outside of the hospital. As London and her Wish Granters discussed ideas for her one true wish, London, and her mother, shared how nice it would be to dedicate a special space for London to play to her heart's content. With this is in mind, it was determined a special playroom would be just what the doctor ordered to bring a permanent smile back to London’s face.

On Saturday, London and her family eagerly awaited the big reveal. Kept secret during painting and decorating, London bounded down the stairs on Saturday morning to see her new playroom all set up and ready to go. Filled with bright colors and shapes, London explored her new space, including a grocery store, reading nook, a stage for performing, and even an art center complete with a chalkboard wall.

Both Kathleen Soloway from Design for Change and Tim Maffett from DPR were instrumental in bringing this wish to life, and highlight the tangible impact community partners have on the lives of local wish children.

“The love that these families show for one another and the outpouring of good will shown through donations and services creates a very special environment and can be palpably felt in every room I have had the privilege to work on,” Soloway shared. “I truly believe the joy that is so very evident in London’s new playroom comes not just through fun colors and happy design but from the love that has been shared by all who made such lovely and generous contributions to the project.”

“Make-A-Wish and Design for Change were incredible to work with during this project, and being a part of making London’s wish come true was an experience I will never forget,” said Maffett. “For DPR, it’s a great privilege to be able to lend our construction skills to members of the community in which we live and work during times of need.”

For photos from London’s wish and/or to set up an interview, please contact Kellie Wyatt at kwyatt@midatlantic.wish.org.

About Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic

Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic serves children who reside in central and southern Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and northern Virginia. Founded in 1983, the Mid-Atlantic chapter has granted more than 8,800 wishes in the Mid-Atlantic region since its inception. Wish kids face any number of life-threatening medical conditions such as cancer, pediatric AIDS, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, kidney and heart disease. This year alone, 840 local children are expected to be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. However, for every wish granted, at least two more local children are waiting. The community has the opportunity to make an impact today by helping Make-A-Wish to reach hundreds of kids whose wishes would go otherwise unanswered this year. For more information, please visit: midatlantic.wish.org.

About Design for Change

Kathleen Soloway has created a unique interior design consulting firm, called Design for Change. Like it’s name, the focus of Kathleen’s work is on creating highly personalized spaces that nurture and inspire people as they face life’s many challenges. She brings together her design talent from her experience and study at the Corcoran College of Art and Design and her understanding of people and life changes from her 30-year career as a social worker. Kathleen believes the design process should be a collaborative exploration whereby the client discovers and imagines the things they love coming together in a functional space that meets their everyday needs. She appreciates her role in helping to clarify needs, budget, and space considerations, and then meshing all the elements to create a room or a home that supports the various needs and desires of an individual or family. She particularly has loved her work with families who have been granted a wish from The Make-A-Wish Foundation. For more information, please visit www.Designforchange.net.

About DPR

DPR Construction is a forward-thinking national general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology/mission critical, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and corporate office markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with offices around the country, making it one of the largest general contractors in the nation and a great story of entrepreneurial success. It ranked on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for five consecutive years. Ranked 10th by the Washington Business Journal’s Book of Lists for general contractors, DPR completes approximately $350 million annually in the Mid-Atlantic region.