Wishes for children battling critical illnesses need caring community partners. Make-A-Wish and Gregory Pest Solutions are proud to announce the W.I.S.H. Society. Through the Society, outstanding women in our community will be recognized as Women Inspiring Strength and Hope.

The inaugural season of W.I.S.H. Society honors eleven local women recognized for their professional and philanthropic achievements. Each honoree accepted the challenge to raise a minimum of $7,500, which is the average cost of a fully funded wish in S.C. to a child who has been diagnosed with a critical illness.

For the next several months, each honoree will raise funds and awareness to help further Make-A-Wish’s goal of granting a wish to every eligible child.

“A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their illness,” said Misty Farmer, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish South Carolina. “For many of them, it marks a turning point in their fight against their illnesses. For the doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, the wish experience works in concert with medicine to make their patients feel better, emotionally and even physically. A wish improves children’s state of mind; replacing fear with happiness and helping them feel like normal kids again.”

Presenting sponsor Gregory Pest Solutions is proud to partner with Make-A-Wish for the freshman season of the Society. Beginning in 2009, Gregory Pest Solutions has been a steadfast supporter of wish granting. Led by owner Phil Gregory, who is on the Board of Directors at Make-A-Wish and serves as chair of the Development Committee, the company has helped grant many wishes in the local community.

Exemplifying Gregory Pest Solutions’ dedication to giving back, Sara Gregory, co-owner, and Sherry Marlar, director of human resources, have both joined the inaugural season as honorees.

“Our fundraising for Make-A-Wish has become ingrained in our company’s culture. It is important to give back and support an organization that does so much good in our community and for the families involved,” say Phil and Sara Gregory.

"Gregory Pest Solutions is excited and honored to present the W.I.S.H. Society to the Upstate community. From Gregory’s beginning in 1972, we have always been proud to be a part of this community and passionate about giving back,” said Courtney Powell, marketing coordinator of Gregory Pest Solutions. “We understand how impactful the power of a wish can be and we are very proud of our company’s participation in giving back to the communities we serve. We can’t wait to see how the ladies transform lives through wishes."

To celebrate the Society’s success and benevolence there will be a public luncheon on December 2, 2019, at the prestigious Poinsett Club. Here the program will culminate in the naming of the W.I.S.H. Society’s Woman of the Year and will pay special recognition to each woman for working tirelessly to give back to her community.

To learn more about the honorees or to support an honoree, visit scwishsociety.org. For more information about Make-A-Wish, visit sc.wish.org.