Brent Goodrich Make-A-Wish Foundation (602) 279-9474, ext. 5210 bgoodrich@wish.org Kelly Faville Cone Inc. (978) 405-3199 (978) 621-6667 (mobile) kfaville@coneinc.com Jamie Sylves Charity Folks (646) 747-5962 jsylves@charityfolks.com
Star-studded experiences, fun-filled travel packages highlight Destination JoySM presented by LAY’S® Online Charity Auction
One-of-a-Kind Auction Packages on the Block to Grant Wishes
PHOENIX (May 16, 2007) – Bidding has opened for the Make-A-Wish Foundation®’s Destination JoySM presented by LAY’S® online charity auction. Charity Folks will host the auction, filled with experiences rarely available to the public, through June 14 at www.wish.org/auction to raise money to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. The auction features items donated by high-profile entertainers and athletes, plus one-of-akind travel packages, including car rentals courtesy of Avis. Bidders can win items such as: A personalized outgoing phone message from actress Reese Witherspoon A ride-along with NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. A trip for four on the WWE® corporate jet to attend Wrestlemania® 24 Golf with rock ‘n’ roll legend Alice Cooper A “Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me!” experience at Disneyland® Resort A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train for five days with Navy SEALs “We’re grateful for all the generous donations to the Destination Joy online auction,” said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “In the next four years, an estimated 100,000 children in the United States will be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. The auction will help us grant their wishes and spread the word about our joyful mission.” “I am delighted to partner with NASCAR to donate an exclusive package for the Destination Joy online auction – to meet with me and then watch this year’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in Indianapolis,” said Jimmie Johnson, 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion and Make-A-Wish Foundation National Advisory Council member. “Helping grant a child’s wish has been a truly life-changing, joyful experience for me. You do not have to be a celebrity to make wishes come true. I want people to realize that we all have the power to grant a wish – whether it’s participating in the online auction or donating your time, talent or professional skills to help make the wishes of these courageous children come true.” – MORE –
Destination JoySM Auction, p. 2 – Avis Rent A Car is supporting Destination JoySM presented by LAY’S® as the Official Rental Car of the online auction. Destination JoySM presented by LAY’S® is the first national campaign for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the world’s largest wish-granting organization. The campaign will inspire and empower people to share their much-needed time, talents and resources to grant wishes. People can visit the Make-A-Wish® Web site at www.wish.org to discover ways to help grant wishes to seriously ill children, such as donating frequent flier miles, hotel loyalty points or professional skills and services. The new “Ways to Help” section also enables visitors to explore volunteer opportunities and wish-granting needs at Make-A-Wish chapters nationwide. For more information about the Destination JoySM presented by LAY’S® online auction and volunteer and donor opportunities, go to www.wish.org/auction or contact your local MakeA-Wish chapter. About the Make-A-Wish Foundation The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 69 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 148,000 wishes in the United States since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®. About LAY’S The LAY’S brand, a registered trademark used by Frito-Lay North America, is America’s favorite brand of potato chip. LAY’S potato chips are cooked in sunflower oil and have 50% less saturated fat than regular potato chips, and with all the great LAY’S brand taste. As with Frito-Lay’s entire portfolio of snack chips, LAY’S continues to have 0 grams of trans fat. Frito-Lay North America is the convenience foods division of PepsiCo, Inc., which is headquartered in Purchase, New York. About Destination JoySM presented by LAY’S® Destination JoySM presented by LAY’S® is the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s campaign to inspire and empower Americans to share their much-needed time, talents and resources to grant the wishes of the 100,000 children who will be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition over the next four years. Helping to show we all have the power to grant a wish are presenting sponsor LAY’S and supporters Cold Stone Creamery, Amtrak, IndyCar® Series, SHOP•COM, 3M and The Kaplan Thaler Group. # # #