Giving Back for Good

I believe it is important for each of us to give back to our community. I support a number of wonderful charities locally, throughout the state, across the nation and around the world.

While there are a great many well-deserving charities, there are two that are  particularly near and dear to my heart: The Make-A-Wish Foundation and  Riley Children’s Foundation.

My younger son, Stephen, was only 15  years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. The Make-A-Wish  Foundation made it possible for him to have his wish come true—a weekend of golf at the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course in Monterey, California.  Make-A-Wish also made it possible for him to spend the day with Tiger Woods when Tiger was in Indianapolis for a charity golf clinic.  Stephen also got to meet the Indiana Pacers and get autographs on his bald head while he was undergoing chemotherapy.

Because Make-A-Wish did so  much for Stephen before he died at the age of 18, and because I have  witnessed first-hand the magic of a wish—both before and after it has been granted—I try to support Make-A-Wish as much as I can so other kids  with life-threatening medical conditions can experience the joy of a  wish.

Click here to learn more about Make-A-Wish.

Stephen got great medical treatment at Riley Children’s Hospital in  Indianapolis, Indiana. Unfortunately, Stephen’s cancer was too much for  even the best and the brightest in the medical community. No parent  should have to hear the words “Your child has cancer,” and no child  should ever have their life cut short because of that dreaded disease.  That is why I support the Riley Children’s Foundation, the fundraising  arm of Riley Children’s Hospital, so we can promote medical research and treatment and, some day soon I hope, find a cure.

Click here to learn more about the Riley Children’s Foundation.