YAMAHA & MAKE-A-WISH, COAST TO COAST

James Boland and the Make-A-Wish volunteers who gave him the gift of music

FAIRFIELD, CT (August 16, 2002)—Two youngsters with life-threatening illnesses received Yamaha pianos in February, courtesy of Make-A-Wish Foundation® volunteers and Yamaha retailers on both coasts.

James Boland's mother, Heather, recalls him dancing and bopping to music before he learned to walk; Disney musicals and singing lessons increased his desire for a piano. The 6-year old received his Yamaha Eterna acoustic piano, complete with music books, colorful balloons, and a certificate for music lessons from Fry's Westport-Fairfield Piano, CT.

"Being there for the delivery was the best part of the whole experience," says Fry's Westport-Fairfield Piano Marketing Manager Dennis Fry. "This was our first Make-A-Wish," he says. "Most kids request a Disney World trip – an excellent choice, but James' wish will continue throughout his progress. In our industry, we sell pianos everyday, yet sometimes we overlook the joy and power of music."

"The Make-A-Wish Foundation mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy," says Debbie Horne, development coordinator for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut. "Musical wishes bring happiness, inspiration, and work wonders as a reprieve from hospital stays and medical treatments. We're very grateful to Yamaha and Westport-Fairfield Piano for making James' musical wish come true."

Rich, Heather and James Boland

Laura Betancourt was only three, says her father, José, "but she would watch opera on television for two hours at a time. She goes to sleep listening to classical music." When her new Yamaha M450 oak console piano arrived from Keyboard Concepts in Van Nuys, CA, Laura, now 10, giggled and delighted family, friends, and caseworkers with an impromptu "concert."

"The piano really made a change in her life," says José, who moved his family from Colombia to LA in 1999 for Laura's medical treatments. "She's still very excited."

Georgina Diaz, director of program services, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, says, "Laura's wish is a great example of how wishes affect not only the wish child, but all who participate in the wish experience. Thanks to generous corporate partners such as Keyboard Concepts and Yamaha, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted over 97,000 wishes like Laura's worldwide since 1980." To learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation visit its website at www.wish.org.