Orlando’s black-tie crowd opened their wallets wide at the 32nd Fields BMW Wishmakers Ball on May 30, with Make‑A‑Wish Central and Northern Florida pulling in $1.85 million to fund wishes for children across its service area. The Waldorf Astoria Orlando ballroom was packed for an evening that blended live and silent auctions, a cocktail reception, emotional wish reveals, and a late-night after-party. Organizers said the proceeds will stay within the chapter’s Central and Northern Florida footprint to support wishes for local children and their families.
According to WFTV, the black-tie gala drew more than 1,000 guests and featured onstage tributes to wish kids whose stories helped drive the fundraising. Chapter president and CEO Anne Cuba told attendees that “each wish granted gives a child a spark of hope, strength and joy in days to come,” the station reported.
Gala Night And Fundraising
The 32nd Fields BMW Wishmakers Ball took over the Waldorf Astoria Orlando in Bonnet Creek on May 30 with a full evening schedule. Guests sat down to a three‑course dinner, bid through silent and live auctions, and tried their luck in a VIP table drawing before wrapping the night at an after-party. Event listings detailing the timeline and venue information were posted by the Space Coast Chamber. Corporate tables and sponsor packages helped fuel bidding wars and donations throughout the night.
Wish Kids Took The Stage
The most talked-about moments of the evening belonged to the wish kids. As highlighted by WFTV, 11‑year‑old Beckett, a heart‑transplant recipient, learned that his wish for a “Home Alone”‑themed trip to New York City at Christmastime is coming true. Thirteen‑year‑old Jase, who has Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was honored after getting to meet quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
There was also a wish reveal for 12‑year‑old Nolan, who shared Jase’s hope of meeting Lawrence, and a celebration of a granted Disney Cruise wish for 6‑year‑old Charlotte. Those personal stories provided the emotional core for an otherwise glitzy night and gave donors a clear look at where their money is headed.
Why It Matters
Make‑A‑Wish Central and Northern Florida has been granting wishes since the 1990s and now serves dozens of counties across the region. Organizers stressed that keeping funds local means a single gala can translate into many wish experiences for nearby families. The chapter also recently marked a major benchmark: 13‑year‑old Andy’s trip to a Formula 1 race became the organization’s 8,000th granted wish, according to Make‑A‑Wish Central and Northern Florida. That milestone was held up as proof of how nights like the Wishmakers Ball convert donor dollars into direct support for wish kids and their families.
Local broadcast personalities Greg Warmoth, Johnny Magic, and Tom Terry helped host the program, keeping the energy high between emotional segments. Organizers thanked title sponsor Fields BMW, along with partners such as Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the VoLo Foundation, for underwriting parts of the evening. The chapter said the $1.85 million total will go toward granting upcoming wishes and supporting wish families across its Central and Northern Florida service area.
