CSA Continues Partnership with Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic to Fulfill Dreams for Children of Military Families

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., June 10, 2024—CSA announces its 2024 community partner, Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic, a non-profit organization that grants transformative wishes for children facing critical illnesses. First collaborating in 2023, CSA will continue its philanthropic efforts in supporting Operation Dream Maker. This special fund provides wishes to children with critical illnesses whose parents or guardians serve or have served in the military. Through this partnership, CSA aims to provide unique experiences that positively impact the lives of these children.  

"CSA's pillars of community outreach—supporting veterans, nurturing future generations, and providing mental health assistance—continue to drive CSA’s giving efforts as the partnership with Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic continues," said Amy Bleken, CEO of CSA. "In addition to the uncertainty and fear of facing a childhood illness, military families have the added stress of their service, including deployments and frequent moves. More than 52% of our employees are veterans, and Operation Dream Maker allows us to collectively unite to give back to our communities."  

Bleken has advocated and supported Operation Dream Maker since 2021. In 2023, Bleken elevated the partnership by creating an employee-giving campaign to foster a sense of collective responsibility among the employee base. The success of the campaign is now used as a model for Operation Dream Maker to engage other companies.  

"Partnering with CSA through Operation Dream Maker has been incredibly impactful for the children and families we serve," said Lesli Creedon, CEO of Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. "The support from CSA not only helps us grant more wishes but also brings hope and joy to children facing critical illnesses. Their commitment to our mission and their focus on military families make a significant difference in the lives of these brave children. We are grateful for their continued partnership and the positive impact it has on our community."

On average, the Operation Dream Maker fund grants 20 wishes annually to children whose parents or guardians serve or have served in the military. In 2023, CSA donated $50,000 to Operation Dream Maker and contributed thousands more to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic.

To learn more about the program and follow the wishes of CSA's 2024 Wish Kids, visit Operation Dream Maker. https://www.csaassociates.com/community/operation-dream-maker

About Make-A-Wish^® Mid-Atlantic
Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and volunteers, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1983, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic has granted more than 11,000 wishes in the local community, contributing to the more than 360,000 wishes granted throughout the U.S. and its territories. With 58 chapters nationwide, Make-A-Wish is the most trusted nonprofit operating locally across 50 states. For more information about Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, visit Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic, Inc..

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About Operation Dream Maker
Operation Dream Maker gives hope and joy to the children of our nation’s heroes. This special fund provides wishes to kids with critical illnesses whose parents and guardians serve, or have served, in the military. In addition to the uncertainty and fear of facing a childhood illness, the families of our military members have the added stress of their service - including deployments and frequent moves. The fund is used to grant wishes annually to kids whose parents or guardians are serving or have served in the military. In addition, the Operation Dream Maker fund recognizes the inspirational power of military leaders by supporting the military-related wishes of all families.

Wishes provide a unique moment of joy and bring families together during challenging times. Ninety-six percent of parents say the wish experience strengthened their family.  Wishes also have profound impacts on the medical outcomes for the child - 89% of surveyed nurses, doctors, social workers and child life specialists believe wishes can positively influence physical health.  

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Media Contact

Emilie Vicchio, Emilie.vicchio@csaassociates.com