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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/1...f9715072154.txt

Local events aiding Little Wish Foundation

By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, October 9, 2011 5:08 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — Skate-a-bike-a-scoot-a-skate-a-thon organizer Robin Surber says October now can be considered “Little Wish Month.”

In addition to today’s event from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the skate park, the Michigan City charity organization is the benefactor of another local event Saturday, Oct. 15.

All registration money from the corn hole toss tournament and hog roast set for that day at Coolspring Township Volunteer Fire Department will benefit the Little Wish Foundation as well.

Therese Niemiec, president of the Michigan City based Little Wish Foundation, said the funds collected this year will help grant wishes to 50 young patients at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

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Last year, during the inaugural hog roast, five wishes were granted to Memorial Hospital patients in South Bend.

“We feel like we have made a lot of progress,” Niemiec said.

The day-long Little Wish celebration will begin with the corn hole tournament, which starts at 1 p.m. after the noon registration. The winner of the tournament receives $250, with the first- and second-runner-ups receiving $100 and $50, respectively.

The $20 registration fee supports the Little Wish Foundation.

The hog roast – the day’s main event – is from 4 to 10:30 p.m. and features a roasted hog donated by local farmer Joe Beltes. Sims Meat Processing, La Porte, is the roasters. Two bands, EZ and Teaser, will perform throughout the event.

Niemiec said the foundation has “a commitment” to grant at least 10 wishes a month to Riley kids.

“We will need this to be a success to keep our commitment,” she said.

Registration fees are $10 for adults, $5 for children six through 10 and free for children five and younger. A free kids room will be available to children up to 10 years old.

More information can be found at www.littlewishfoundation.org or by contacting Niemiec at (219) 928-1815.

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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/1...0c135737363.txt

Niemiec among kids making a difference in Ind.

Published: Sunday, November 6, 2011 5:07 PM CST
Congratulations to Elizabeth Niemiec of Michigan City, who was among four young Hoosier philanthropists honored Friday for their work during the 2011 Power of Children Awards at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on Friday.

Niemiec received a $2,000 grant to further her work with the Little Wish Foundation, which grants small wishes to children who are battling cancer. Niemiec decided to start the foundation after her fifth grade teacher’s son, Max, lost his battle with a rare kidney cancer. Max’s wish was to have a dog, and Elizabeth saw the impact of “a wish granted” for a child who is battling cancer. She wanted to grant similar wishes to more children and decided to create the Little Wish Foundation. Since it was formed, the foundation has raised more than $37,000 to grant wishes for local children, including providing iPods, laptops, Blu-ray DVD players and gaming systems. The foundation is working with South Bend Children’s Memorial Hospital to expand the program to hospitals nationwide.