Washing for wishes

A charity event, earlier this month, gave back to the community in more than one way by giving participants something in return for their donations.

On July 18, Krown Rust Control locations across Canada participated in the Krown Wash for a Wish Car Wash in support of and in partnership with the Children’s Wish Foundation. During the event, which included Halifax for the first time in its two year history, participants paid $10 and volunteers would hand wash their car in exchange for this contribution. The idea developed from an innovative by Krown to help a community focused charity.

“We were looking something that would get the money in the hands of the people that would actually need it,” says Krown’s President Freeman Young. “We like the idea of being able to help people in individual communities, so if we raised money in Halifax the money is used in that area for those people.”

Volunteer Jane Walton, whose son Sam was a Wish Child, says that she likes how events like the car wash are mutually beneficial.

“Instead of going and selling cookies and raising money that way, Children’s Wish works with corporations or groups and thinks of ideas to bring people out so they get something out of it too,” she says.

Along with receiving the wash, participants also had the chance to be part of a world record attempt to wash the most cars in a single day. Young says this was done as a way to add to the experience and help bring in more donations.

“[We wondered] if there a way we can get some additional attention,” says Young, noting the current world record is held by a group in Australia. “One of the ways to get some additional attention is to do something that no one else has ever done in Canada.”

No matter a person’s reasons for donating or participating, Walton finds that it’s often quite humbling when people come out and support Children’s Wish. Before her son was sick, she says didn’t realized how much effort and fundraising was needed to help fund one child.

“Each of these wishes can go up to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on what the child desires,” she says. “There’s so much fundraising that’s required and there’s so many kids that want to be in the program.”

While the wishes can be costly, Walton says people are dedicated to helping the cause, even if it’s a small $10 donation or spending a day washing cars. In turn, this ensures that as many sick children as possible are able to get something they want.

“They could be with their partners, or at the park or going to a movie; they don’t have to be giving their time for people they don’t know,” she says about people who donate to or volunteer with Children’s Wish.

“It blows my mind the charity that people and companies have.”

Consequently both Walton and Young say that giving something in return, like a car wash, is the least they could do for donation.

“There are so many charities out there,” says Walton. “A car wash, especially this time of year, is something most people want, so there’s a lot of thought goes into events that will bring people out.”