Grant a wish campaign

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SOMETIMES it is the little things that count and you could be putting a smile on a child’s face just by buying them a present they want via the “Grant A Wish On Children’s Day 2009” campaign organised by Rainbow of Life Forces (ROLF).

Starting this month, ROLF will be publishing the wishlist containing about 350 wishes from children who could be orphans, mentally or physically disabled or suffering from life-threatening diseases.

There are also some on the list who do not fall under the category of children 18 years and below but are intellectually disabled or have learning disabilities.

Caring lot: The various local and foreign entertainment industry personalities who have pledged their support for the ‘Grant A Wish On Children’s Day 2009’ campaign.

“Although there are about 500 children and people with disabilities at the homes and centres, only 350 were given a chance to have their wish granted because they are deemed to be needy,” ROLF founder and CreatiVision managing director Adelyn Lim said.

She added that some children could have disabilities but come from rich families and such cases were not included in the wishlist but everyone would take part in the Children Day’s celebration.

The wishlist at a glance is typical of that of any child and many have asked for toys, clothes, shoes, MP3 players and accessories but some, particularly the adults with learning disabilities, have asked for money to join employment training programmes to gain skills necessary to make a living.

“The word ‘new’ was added to all the wishes because I do not want people to start giving their unwanted items.

“It is not the price we are looking at but rather the thought behind it and that it was bought especially for the children,” Lim said.

Both public and corporate donors are welcome to match their gifts with that of any wish on the list and will have to fill in the “Grant-A-Wish Form” to be faxed or e-mailed back to ROLF by Oct 15.

The application will be verified to confirm the match and donors can grant wishes in their names or in honour or memory of family members and friends.

The eight homes and centres that will benefit from this campaign are Kirtarsh Care Centre for Disabled Children in Rawang, Women and Health Organisation (WAKE) in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor Klang Disabled Children’s Care Association, Taman Megah Disabled and Handicap Children’s Home in Petaling Jaya, Kajang Special Children Association, Penang Cheshire Home, Perak State Welfare Home for Disabled Children and Happiness Centre for the Mentally Disabled Children in Malacca.

Different dates have been set for the gifts handover event and celebration for each home or centre is from Oct 24 to Nov 8.

Lim said people wishing to donate funds to the NGOs should make arrangements with the NGOs as ROLF is not accepting money for its campaign this time around.

ROLF is the corporate social responsibility effort by CreatiVision that began in 2007 and started its Blue Ribbon Campaign to bring attention to children with cancer.

“The first campaign raised half a million ringgit via The ROLF Cup - All Star Charity Soccer last year and the collection was distributed to nine legitimate foundations,” Lim said.