Since 1980, Make-A-Wish® has been giving sparks of strength and hope to children with critical illnesses. Through the support of volunteers, donors, and partners like City Electric Supply (CES), a wish is granted somewhere in the United States and its territories every 33 minutes.
At CES Connect 2026, our largest company event, we got to witness one of those 33 minutes.
Meet Everett
Everett is a six-year-old kid from Tennessee who was born with a rare condition that has caused damage to his kidneys. A big fan of Legos, he wished to see his favorite toy on a much larger scale than anything he’d seen before: LEGOLAND® in Orlando, Florida.
Ask him why, and he’ll tell you plainly: “Because I’m so into Legos.”
Ask him what he’s most excited about, and it’s the LEGO roller coasters.
And when he found out his wish was being granted, Everett’s response was simple and honest: “Sounds pretty fun to me!”
What his medical condition means
Everett’s medical condition caused him to have undeveloped abdominal muscles at birth. A common side effect of this condition is damage to the kidneys.
Everett’s parents, Margaret and Matthew, knew before Everett was born that he would need a kidney transplant at some point in his life. What they couldn’t have known was that he’d need two.
The first came on Everett’s third birthday. His dad, Matthew, donated a kidney, which unfortunately didn’t last a week. Everett lived on dialysis for nearly two years. Then, in April of last year, he received a kidney through a paired exchange — with Margaret donating hers to someone else in need.
That donation was successful, and Everett’s been thriving since.
“Everett has always had a lot of energy — or so we thought,” Margaret said. “For the first time in his life he has a fully functioning kidney, and it has been completely transformative. He has so much energy and an enthusiastic view of life.”
The wish granting
On stage at CES Connect 2026, Everett was presented with various LEGO sets that he proudly displayed.
Beth Torres, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee, put the moment in context for the room:
“There are 222 children in Middle Tennessee — and thousands more across North America — waiting to be healthy enough to travel or experience their wish and waiting for the funding that we know we need. Thank you for making it possible for us to grant these wishes.”
Everett and his parents visited LEGOLAND in June and, by all accounts, had a blast. “It’s a great way to celebrate his health while he’s healthy, because we know it may not always be that way,” shared Margaret.
Matthew agreed, with hope for a lasting impact on Everett’s life. “This is an opportunity for him to make some incredible memories that hopefully will replace some terrible ones from the things he’s been through.”
More than $2.5 million and counting
CES Social Impact Manager Karen Gray also presented Make-A-Wish with a check representing the total that CES teams have raised across North America to date: more than $2.5 million. Every dollar of that came from branches, teams, and individuals in the community who wanted to help a kid they’d never met have a good day.
“Thanks to the dedication and generosity of CES leaders, team members, and the communities they serve, more children with critical illnesses can experience the hope and joy of a wish when they need it most,” said Jared Perry, Chief Revenue Officer at Make-A-Wish America. “Raising more than $2.5 million is a remarkable milestone, and we’re grateful for CES’ commitment to making life-changing wishes like Everett’s possible.”
“I’d like to thank Make-A-Wish for our wonderful partnership,” said Gray. “We’re honored to be associated with such a great charity, and it wouldn’t be possible without CES leadership and all the team members out here in the audience.”
Want to help grant the next wish? Donate to Make-A-Wish with CES Cares.
Learn more about becoming a living organ donor at organdonor.gov.