Look for Make-A-Wish Volunteers at Old Navy

Faith Brower started working with Make-A-Wish Foundation after her employer set up training for anyone interested in volunteering with the organization, which grants wishes to children with terminal illnesses.

On Saturday, she will participate in the Make-A-Wish Jeans for Wishes event at on Orchard Lake in Farmington Hills. The annual fundraiser, held at 22 Old Navy stores in Michigan, has volunteers staffing information tables and taking donations from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 5 and 12.

Brower works for Learning Care Group, a Novi-based child care provider group. She and Learning Care Group's director of education, Michelle Salcedo, teamed up to work directly with wish kids and their families. For Saturday's event, Brower enlisted the help of her friend (and Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch contributor) Vera Lucksted.

"It's mainly putting our face out there," Brower said. "I think it's going to be so much fun. And how nice that it's almost in my backyard."

Michigan volunteers will be raising funds for five children:

• Twelve-year-old Brendan, of Farmington, who has spinal muscular atrophy: Atlantis Resort, Bahamas
• Four-year-old Christian, of Chesterfield, who has leukemia: Disney World
• Five-year-old Lauren, of Kentwood, who has cardiomyopathy: Disney World
• Five-year-old Ricquel, of Flint, who is in the end stages of kidney disease: Disney World
• Fourteen-year-old Emma, of Dexter, who has melanoma: A modeling experience in New York.

Last year, Jeans for Wishes raised about $25,000 in Michigan and $90,000 across Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. This year, the Old Navy regions have set a fundraising goal of $125,000.

For more information, visit the Make-A-Wish Michigan Web site.