Elmo, one of PBS-TV’s most recognizable characters, recently visited 11-year-old Mariah Brush and her friends at the Milwaukee Center for Independence.
Mariah, a patient in MCFI’s Pediatric Special Care program, has been diagnosed with a neurological condition that causes brain damage and seizures. According to her mother and Forrest Doolen from the Make-A-Wish foundation, meeting Elmo in person was Mariah’s greatest wish.
After only two months preparation, Make-A-Wish foundation and United Healthcare brought Kevin Clash, Elmo’s Muppeteer, and Elmo in from Sesame Street, N.Y., for Mariah’s wish party. Pizza was donated by Toppers Pizza and United Healthcare sponsored the wish.
“United Healthcare has had relationship with the Make-A-Wish foundation for the last three years and we’ve granted six wishes in that time,” said Ken Marsh director of account management at United Healthcare. “Mariah’s is the sixth wish we’ve granted and we are just really glad to be a part of it.”
According to Marsh, there are different ways that United Healthcare is involved with Make-A-Wish including annual fundraisers, volunteer events and a casual workplace campaign. United Healthcare’s contribution to Mariah’s wish was entirely financial, said Marsh.
“We had nothing to do with the coordinating anything with Elmo today, but it was truly great to be a part of this event.”
According to Mariah’s mother Sherina Shaw, Elmo is a character Mariah really fell in love with the last few years and seeing him in person was something she really wanted to do for her daughter.
