A 9-year-old Franklin boy in remission from lymphoma took the top job at Toyota Material Handling North America for a day this week, turning a wish into a factory-floor celebration in Columbus.
Graham Houghland, a Northway Elementary fourth-grader, visited Toyota's Columbus operation Wednesday with his family and Make-A-Wish representatives. According to The Republic's report, Graham toured the forklift factory, watched finished vehicles zip through testing, helped oversee new robotics equipment and made a few company decisions, including putting a Cincinnati Reds jersey on office robot helper TOMO. His family plans to celebrate the trip with a visit to Universal's Volcano Bay in Florida in October.
For Brett Wood, Toyota Material Handling North America's president and CEO, the annual event is a personal favorite. Wood told The Republic that Graham should “keep smiling and let his smile change the world,” a message that fit a day focused on moving beyond a difficult illness experience and looking ahead to a more typical school year.
Toyota's CEO-For-A-Day Tradition Gives Wish Kids The Spotlight
Graham is the latest child to step into the program at Toyota's Columbus campus. Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana says Toyota is a longtime partner that hosts a wish child as CEO for the day each year, creating an experience meant to shift attention from illness to something fun while a larger wish is being prepared.
The company has made the tradition a community project, not just a single-day visit. Toyota Material Handling employees participated in two golf outings and a car show to help raise money for Graham's wish, while his parents, Joe and Karle Houghland, thanked Toyota, Riley Hospital and Make-A-Wish for supporting the family.
A Columbus Factory Visit Built Around Graham's Interests
Toyota Material Handling lists its North American headquarters in Columbus and manufactures forklifts and other material-handling equipment. That industrial setting gave Graham a rare look at the people and technology behind the machines, along with a chance to bring his own interests into the workplace before returning to Northway Elementary next week.
Along with dressing TOMO in Reds gear, Graham chose a future post for the company's social media and selected a Cincinnati Reds game for Toyota's mascot, Gusto, to attend. After a year shaped by treatment, the CEO-for-a-day experience gave Graham and his family a celebration centered on his recovery, his wish and the ordinary fourth-grade year they hope comes next.
