Fulfilling dreams

By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LORDSTOWN -- From $2,000 to $20,000 in three years, General Motors Lordstown Metal Center employees have opened their hearts and their wallets wider than ever before, raising 10 times as much money for Make-A-Wish this year as they did in 2000 when they sponsored their first child.
Make-A-Wish is a nonprofit organization that grants once-in-a-lifetime wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.
"We started out with one child three years ago and this year we're up to four," said Sophia Gray, communications integrator at the fab plant. Wishes usually cost around $5,000, she said. "We set a goal to raise $20,000 -- we knew we could do it -- so now four more children have come into our family."
Raising the money
Fab plant employees raised the funds by raffling off a 2002 Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Youngstown Harley-Davidson in Canfield, selling T-shirts, holding bake sales and conducting a 50/50 drawing.
More than 120 other prizes, including a 36-inch color TV, kitchen appliances and gift certificates to local department stores and restaurants donated by employees and area businesses also were raffled.
Raffle tickets went on sale April 1, "and within two weeks we sold enough to buy the motorcycle," said Pat Dean, who helped organize the event. All 3,500 tickets printed were sold within six weeks.
Dean works in material handling and has worked at GM Lordstown 29 years.
"The first year, we raised $2,000. The second year, we raised $7,000. This year we raised more than $20,000," said Jerry Wix.
Wix works in material handling, has been employed at GM Lordstown 32 years, and has coordinated the Make-A-Wish "Harley Ride-In" since it began.
In conjunction with the check presentation ceremony Wednesday morning, 42 Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, all GM employees or retirees, rode their hogs through the fab plant in a show of support for Make-A-Wish. Five of the six Make-A-Wish children sponsored by the fab plant were also on hand.
Wishes granted
Christopher Mortimer, 13, of Austintown, the first child GM Lordstown Metal Center employees sponsored, had his wish for a new puppy and clubhouse granted last year.
Cole Stillerman's wish also came true last year. The 6-year-old from McDonald visited Disney World with his family.
Two of the four children whose wishes were granted this year, Alexis Krosky, 4, of Salem and Raymond Rue, 3, of Youngstown, also visited Disney.
Ricky Claar, 18, of Niles, visited his favorite dirt bike racer, Jeremy McGrath.
And Richard Sakacs, 11, of North Lima received a custom bicycle that allows him to ride along with his family. The German-made bike includes a padded seat that supports Richard's entire body, a seat for the driver and a pedal-assist motor. The bike also converts to a wheelchair.
kubik@vindy.com