March 29, 2024

Iowa Fraternal Order of Eagles donates $157,000 to Make-A-Wish Iowa

Special to the Daily News

GRINNELL — Over the past year, Iowa’s Fraternal Order of Eagles has been fundraising in local communities to help Make-A-Wish Iowa grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Each year the organization selects a charity to support in its fundraising efforts. One hundred percent of the monies raised this past year will go toward granting wishes.

“Make-A-Wish has the unique ability to add joy to a child’s life while making a real impact in their health, as well,” said Joe Roe, state worthy president of the Iowa Fraternal Order of Eagles. “My grandson’s wish was granted by Make-A-Wish Iowa. Being able to help this organization continue to grant wishes to Iowa children was our pleasure.”

Together with State Auxiliary President Judy Wheeler and State Charity Chairmen Rochelle and Roland McKay, Roe helped coordinate the effort across the state. Local Aeries organized their own fundraising events across the state. The organization presented a check for $157,794.54 to Rob Kelly, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa at the Eagles annual conference.

“The efforts the Eagles made on behalf of our wish children and their families will change lives,” Kelly said. “Their generosity enables us to continue granting wishes that provide hope, strength and joy to children living with life-threatening medical conditions throughout Iowa. We are granting a wish in Iowa every other day and contributions like this make a significant impact on our wish kids.”

A wish come true helps parents and children alike experience more happiness and less fear in their lives. Wish kids are even more willing to comply with difficult, but vital, treatment regimens and the wish experience often marks a turning point in their health battle.

Since 1987, the foundation has granted wishes to more than 2,700 Iowa children living with a life-threatening medical condition.

About Make-A-Wish Iowa

Make-A-Wish Iowa grants the wishes of children living with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The organization grants wishes to children between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 at the time of referral and the average cost of a wish is $8,600. Make-A-Wish Iowa has granted more than 2,700 wishes since it was founded in 1987.

About Fraternal 

Order of Eagles

The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope. F.O.E. membership exceeds 850,000, with more than 1,400 local Aeries in the U.S. and Canada. Women’s auxiliaries total more than 1,300, with more than 250,000 members.