NORMAN, OKLA. – (November 23, 2009) – The Luxaire® (www.joinluxaire.com) brand of residential and light-commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment was recently the key sponsor of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma’s® second annual Wish ball. The themed “Magic Carpet Ride” event attracted 250 guests to the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Oct. 9.
In addition to dinner, the event featured a live auction that raised more than $15,000 for the local chapter. Guests were invited to bid on adult “Wish”-type experiences that included “I wish to see the Windy City,” “I wish to have a puppy,” and “I wish to play golf like a pro,” among others. Proceeds from the auction will help grant wishes to special children living with life-threatening medical conditions.
“That’s why we do this,” said Brian Michael, Luxaire brand manager. “Our relationship with the Make-A-Wish organization (www.wish.org) spans more than eight years, providing us with multiple opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children in this and other communities where we live and work.”
One of those children, Anna Rohweder, attended the ball and participated in the auction. Her mother, Jane, shared Anna’s Wish experience – a Disney cruise eight years ago after battling cancer two times – with guests at the event. Today the 16-year-old has a clean bill of health and enjoys attending Make-A-Wish events to support the organization.
Following dinner and the auction, guests danced to the music of the Dallas-based band All Funk Radio Show.
Begun in 2001, the relationship between Luxaire and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has resulted in donations exceeding $1.75 million to the largest wish-granting charity in the United States. The most recent contract between the two organizations extends the relationship into 2011 and commits $675,000 in Luxaire contributions over three years to the national program.
The Luxaire network of distributors and dealers also works with Make-A-Wish chapters to organize a variety of fundraising activities, including raffles, golf outings and events affiliated with Minor League Baseball, Central Hockey League and Arena Football League teams. Using money raised by these and other fundraising activities, Luxaire has directly sponsored the wishes of more than 80 children in dealer markets.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. It is the largest wish-granting charity in the nation, with 65 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 180,000 heartfelt wishes since 1980. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org.
Luxaire® products from Johnson Controls, Inc., include high-performance residential central air-conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and accessories and light-commercial, packaged heating and cooling systems marketed through a network of distributors and delivered to home- and building-owners through independent Luxaire heating and air conditioning dealers. For more information about Luxaire, visit www.luxairebelievesinme.com or call 877-958-9247.
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 133,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.
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Please Direct Reader Inquiries to:
Brian Michael
Luxaire Brand Manager
Johnson Controls
5005 York Drive
Norman, OK 73069