TARRYTOWN- Cathy Sifre and Debbie Flynn of New Paltz, celebrated a milestone year of making wishes come true in the Hudson Valley with their 20th annual fundraiser to benefit Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley. This year’s Fall For Wishes fundraiser was the most successful yet, raising over $115,000, and in total, over the past two decades, the dynamic duo has raised more than $1.6 million.
“The dedication, heart and unwavering commitment of Cathy and Debbie over the past 20 years has been nothing short of extraordinary,” says Kristine Burton, Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley President & CEO. “Their tireless efforts, boundless compassion, and infectious enthusiasm have transformed lives, one wish at a time.”
The beautiful evening hosted at Crested Hen Farms in High Falls was attended by 125 generous supporters and made possible by event sponsors including Crested Hen Farms, Ed & Jill Burke, Devine Insurance, Kurt Fuxjager, Hill-N-Dale Abstracters, Inc., JJ & Melinda Lamarche, O’Connor & Partners, PLLC., Jim & Mary Ottaway, Mary Etta Schneider, Seakill Custom Home Builders and Viking Industries, Inc.
“The community has been so generous,” says Sifre. “None of this would have been possible without their support. Our circle of supporters has grown each year, and we look forward to continuing to share the power of a wish with many more for years to come.”
Cathy & Debbie are best friends and sisters-in-law who volunteer their time together as wish granters, working hands-on with wish kids to help make their wish come true and currently serve on the chapter’s Board of Directors. The dynamic duo began volunteering for Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley 22 years ago, moved by what their niece told them about her experiences volunteering with the organization in New York City. “She would tell us these emotional and inspiring stories,” says Flynn. “We decided to get involved and see how we could help make an impact in our own community.”
To celebrate the event’s 20th Anniversary, Cathy and Debbie arranged a special surprise for their guests. Wish kid Justice of Stone Ridge who was waiting for his wish to have a Bernedoodle puppy to come true attended the event with his parents to share his story. Jayne, Justice’s mom shared that he had survived cancer as a young boy and went on to develop a heart condition needing a heart transplant at 17. After Jayne spoke, Cathy and Debbie announced, “Justice, your wish is granted.” Make-A-Wish staff made their way through the crowd and presented him with his new best friend, a puppy named Lancelot.
“We get to experience the joy a wish brings all the time and we just had to find a way to share that with our guests. It was a special way to celebrate the event and everyone who has made it possible all these years,” says Sifre. “When a wish comes true, it creates hope, strength, joy and transformation in a child and a community.”
Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley, headquartered in Tarrytown, works with families in the eight New York counties of Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester. The chapter has fulfilled more than 3,200 wishes since its inception in 1986. In 2024, the organization expects to grant 125 wishes in the community, each with an average cash cost of $7,500 to $10,000 to fulfill.
