Orange County has strong ties to local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation

TARRYTOWN — On Friday, April 27, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Hudson Valley will host its annual Wish Ball at the

Tarrytown DoubleTree Hotel. This year’s theme, “A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words” will celebrate 26 years of granting wishes. The Foundation will recognize the contributions from Friends of Aiden Berges.

Friends of Aiden Berges was established in 2005 to help raise the necessary funds for Aiden Berges, then three-years old, for a bone marrow transplant to treat a very rare blood disease. More than $100,000 was raised to support adding nearly 2,000 donors to the National Marrow Donor Program.

Aiden, an Orange County resident and wish recipient went to Disney World in January 2006. Friends of Aiden Berges has since donated over $40,000 to Make-A-Wish.

Tracy Berges, Aiden’s mom, has been an active supporter of Make-A-Wish, serving as an ambassador promoting the Foundation’s mission and volunteering her time to assist on a wish for a room makeover.

“We couldn’t make wishes come true without the continued support of the people in the communities we serve,” said Thomas J. Conklin, president and chief executive officer, Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Hudson Valley. “The contributions from Friends of Aiden Berges play a vital role in helping the Chapter carry out its mission to grant the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.”

Local connections Currently, the Foundation’s 14 members of the Board of Directors include four Orange County residents.

Anthony Cardone, III, Chair Anthony Cardone, III, along with his wife Fran, owns and operates Fran’s Hallmark Card and Gift stores in Monroe, New York. Tony has been very active in numerous community organizations including The Monroe-Woodbury Pop Warner Football League, The Monroe Parks and Recreation Commission, The Michael J. Finnegan Scholarship Fund, The Monroe Woodbury Parents Football Club, The Leukemia Society of America and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. Tony has been a Make-A-Wish volunteer since 1994, and the recipient of the Kenneth R. Wolfe Award for his outstanding support of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tony lives in Monroe with his wife and children Joanna, Anthony and Gina.

Thomas P. Sullivan, Vice-Chair Thomas P. Sullivan, is the president of Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Home in Monroe and Highland Mills. In addition, he is also the president and owner of William F. Hogan Funeral Home in Highland Falls. He is actively involved with his community and currently sits on the board of Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties and is on the board of directors of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he serves on the finance committee of his church, Sacred Heart in Monroe. Tom is the former chairman of the Orange County Fire Advisory Board and is a member of the NYS Fire Chief’s Association and the Orange County Fire Chiefs’ Association. He continues to serve as a firefighter for the Mombasha Fire Company. Tom is a past recipient of the Marion S. Murphy “Neighbors helping Neighbors” award from the United Way. Tom and his wife have two grown children and reside in Monroe.

Michael J. Kwinn Jr., Secretary

Michael J. Kwinn Jr. has returned to the faculty of the United States Military Academy at West Point as a civilian professor. In August 2009, he retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving for 25 years following his graduation from West Point. Having served in Germany, Fort Bliss, Texas, Fort Carson, Co., and Korea, Michael spent most of his later years in the Army on the faculty at West Point. Additionally, he has deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Michael holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Arizona, a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and a PhD in Management Science from the University of Texas. Michael, his wife Brigitte, also a retired LTC and a classmate from West Point, and their oldest daughter Cheryl established the Friends4Michael Foundation in honor of their son and brother, Michael III, a wish child, who passed away in 2003. Michael and Brigitte live in Monroe with their three youngest daughters and Cheryl is studying for a Master’s degree at Tufts University.

Preston Felton Preston Felton is the President and CEO of the Felton Group LLC, a full service private investigation and consulting firm. Preston served 27 years as a member of the New York State Police rising in the ranks from Trooper, thru First Deputy Superintendent, completing his career as acting Superintendent. In addition, he was a Commissioner on the Orange County Human Rights Commission from 2005-2008. He currently serves as a Director of Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, and as a Director of the New York Cops Foundation. Preston and his wife Jean reside in Middletown.

About the Gala More than 450 people are expected to attend the formal benefit which will be co-hosted by Darlene Rodriguez, co-anchor of WNBC’s Today in New York and WHUD radio personality Mike Bennett from the ‘ Mike & Kacey in the Morning’ show.

The fund raiser will feature a formal dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions.

For more information, contact Tara Thorne at tthorne@hudson.wish.org or 914-478-0327.

For more information about the Hudson Valley Chapter visit www.hudson.wish.org.