Finley’s Angels Mobilize for Make-A-Wish

Their friends and teachers at J. Taylor Finley Middle might recognize them as eighth graders, but Maggie Giles, Erica Vazquez and Gaia D’Anna are really angels. The three young women have a soft spot in their hearts for children battling serious illness. When they see work that needs to be done, they roll up their sleeves and do it.

The Finley trio spent the holiday season raising money to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Suffolk County, which “grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy,” according to the organization’s website.

This marks the second year the three classmates have mobilized. “The idea started last year when the girls were in seventh grade,” said Julie LaBella, Finley’s PTA president. “Erica was watching Cake Boss a little over a year ago and saw a Make-A-Wish kid have her wish granted by cooking on the show. She was inspired by the story and got her two friends in on the fundraiser.”

The young ladies were able to raise $350 last winter. They set their goal even higher this year. With help from their parents, Finley Principal John Amato and Sharon Holly, a family and consumer science teacher at the school, the trio was able to triple the amount raised.

The Finley “angels” have been selling holiday cards at the school for several weeks. The cards feature original artwork from Ms. Giles’ father, Patrick. “The cards have been popular with the kids, the teachers and the parents,” Mrs. LaBella said. “Their original goal was $700, but they’ve had to bump it up. Right now they have a little over $1,000 and the number is still growing.”

Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky was touched by what the girls are trying to accomplish and impressed by the cards, too, so he bought a bunch of them. The cards proved to be so popular, a second printing was required.

“This is an account of three incredible young people who are destined to make a difference,” Mr. Polansky said. “It is refreshing and energizing to speak with them about the initiative, to learn how much it means to them and how readily they will place the needs of others before their own.”

Since its founding in 1983, Suffolk Make-A-Wish has granted several thousand wishes to local children, including well over 100 wishes in just the past year alone. It’s an organization that relies on an extensive network of volunteers and people like the Finley trio who open their hearts and wallets to make the dreams of youngsters with serious illnesses come true.

Last Friday, a Finley student who had been a “Make-A-Wish kid” asked Ms. Holly to speak on his behalf about how he was able to go to Disneyland through the organization. After hearing his story, Finley seventh and eighth graders applauded for the young man and an outpouring of cards written out by students wishing him the best followed. Later he told Ms. Holly that Friday was the “best day” of his life.

Mses. Giles, Vazquez and D’Anna are a determined group of young people. When they set their minds on something they go all-out to see it through to a successful conclusion.

“They are an amazing group of girls,” Mrs. LaBella said. “It’s so refreshing to see young kids put so much effort into such a wonderful cause.”