CES Raises Over $400,000 for Make-A-Wish® in Less Than 2 Years

Electrical wholesale distributor City Electric Supply (CES) encourages more than 3,000 employees from all over the nation to get involved in philanthropic events and causes they truly care about in their communities through its social impact division, CES Cares.

The company became a national partner with nonprofit organization Make-A-Wish in 2020 and recently hit a milestone. With the support of customers and employees, CES has contributed more than $400,000 to help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

“For children with critical illnesses, fear, isolation, and anxiety often become part of their day-to-day experience,” said LuAnn Bott, Vice President of Revenue Partnerships and Services, Make-A-Wish America. “Thanks to partners like City Electric Supply, we are able to provide these children with wishes that help them build the strength, joy, self-esteem, and confidence needed to fight and even help overcome their illnesses.”

CES Branches Go All In to Make Children’s Wishes Come True

When the Make-A-Wish partnership kicked off less than two years ago, CES provided lots of support from the beginning to help the branches succeed.

“CES wanted a campaign that helped everyone in the company feel like they could help with the partnership in some way,” said CES Cares Social Impact Manager Karen Gray. “The Make-A-Wish fundraiser kicked off by challenging each branch to raise $500. We gave the branches a few suggestions of ways they could raise money, and their immediate excitement blew me away.”

Dedicated CES teams went all out in their efforts. Through their individual fundraisers and initiatives, many branches across the country exceeded the original $500 goal. 

“I can’t imagine if I had a kid diagnosed with a serious health issue,” said CES Marion Outside Sales Representative Ben Wright. “Partnering with Make-A-Wish and knowing I can be a part of making a kid’s dream come true, one that they will remember forever, makes all the difference to me.”

CES Branches Think Outside the Box to Raise Funds for Make-A-Wish

“Our employees hosted all kinds of events to engage their community members and get them behind such a worthy cause,” said Gray.

Here are just a few examples of how employees go above and beyond for the cause:

• CES Fort Myers in Florida hosted a cornhole tournament that raised a thousand dollars.

• In North Carolina, a CES employee used his woodturning hobby to make a donation table in the store, also raising several hundred dollars.

• Throughout South and Central Florida, CES branches came together to host an event that raised enough money to donate a fishing boat to a cancer survivor.

“We are so proud of the branches and the clever ideas to raise money,” said Gray. “Their passion and dedication to this new initiative truly speak to their kindness as people.”

The Inspiring Results of the Make-A-Wish Fundraising Efforts

During CES Connect 2022, the largest conference and counter day event in company history, CES Cares presented Make-A-Wish with a check for $389,000. Additionally, CES Cares announced that it would grant the wish of Wish Kid Harper, sending her on her dream trip to Alaska.

After nearly two years of the successful Make-A-Wish initiative, CES branches excitedly continue to plan new fundraising events.

“Who doesn’t want to help the kids?” said CES Fort Myers Branch Manager Peter Schroeder. “Make-A-Wish is such a great organization, and it’s so easy to get people involved with what they’re doing.”