Pasadena, CA – December 14, 2021– As a leading provider of COVID-19 testing solutions, Innova Medical Group understands the importance of community. This holiday season, Innova and its leadership help make wishes come true for children in communities where we operate by supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a US$100,000 donation from Innova and a US$50,000 personal donation from the company’s President and CEO, Daniel Elliott.
Make-A-Wish, a national fundraising organization, specializes in granting wishing for critically ill children, with ages ranging from 4 to 18 years old. The “Wish Kids” as they are sometimes called, are referred through various medical channels and go through a resolute screening process to determine eligibility. Once a wish is chosen, the organization sets off to creatively fulfil the wish, often including the child’s family as a part of the wish fulfilment process.
“Innova’s mission is to improve human condition globally,” said Mr. Elliott. “We are delighted to be able to support the Make-A-Wish foundation and make a difference in helping grant wishes that help children cope with and recover from critical illness.”
“As a relatively new employee, I’m very proud and grateful of the commitment Innova makes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” said Lourdes Ahn, Vice President, Human Resources for Innova Medical Group, also Vice Chair of the Board for the Orange County & the Inland Empire chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “We know that the power of actually making a wish come true can greatly aid in giving a child the strength and courage to endure their medical treatments. That courage spreads to the parents of these children, allowing them to feel much more optimistic.”
Innova made the donation as the second largest sponsor to the foundation’s fundraising celebration, “Make-A-Wish® Galaxy of Wishes, Presented by Disneyland” taking place on December 7th. The fundraiser brought together Southern California area supporters, wish families, corporations, and celebrities to help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Employees of the Innova Medical Group were invited to the event.
Held at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim, the private event was hosted by Kevin Fraizer, host of Entertainment Tonight with 2000 guests in attendance. Honorees included Richard & Demi Weitz, co-creators of RWQuarantunes/William Morris Endeavor and Dean & Susie Spanos with the Los Angeles Chargers. Honorees were presented their award by “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill.
There are currently more than 1,500 local children waiting for their wishes, which have been proven to fuel recovery from critical illness. Funds raised at Galaxy of Wishes will help Make-A-Wish continue to provide life-changing wishes.
ABOUT INNOVA MEDICAL GROUP, INC:
Innova Medical Group, Inc. delivers better global health outcomes with its deep expertise in testing and unique offerings in diagnostic medical devices and services that help tackle some of the world’s most challenging healthcare problems. Innova specializes in innovative screening, testing and diagnostics for cancer, heart disease, arterial calcification, stroke, and virus detection focused on infectious diseases.
ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH ORANGE COUNTY & THE INLAND EMPIRE
Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. This year marks the 41st anniversary of the wish that inspired the founding of the organization in 1980, paving the way for the creation of the Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire chapter in 1983. Since the chapter’s founding, more than 7,400 wishes have been granted for children in the local community. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 34,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire and 59 other chapters throughout the U.S. have granted more than 500,000 wishes nationwide. For more information about Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire and the 41st anniversary, visit: ocie.wish.org.
