Thirteen-year-old Rubicela’s wish for a shopping spree was granted recently at Rogue Valley Mall in Medford. 

This White City teen, who prefers to be called Rubi, enjoys watching movies, playing on the computer and listening to Spanish music.  She chose this wish because she wanted to buy new school clothes and, like most teens, enjoys shopping at the mall.

The fun-filled day began at 11:30 a.m. when a surprise limousine from A Taste of Honey Limo picked up Rubi and her family at their home to escort them throughout the wish.  Rubi’s first stop was lunch at her favorite restaurant, El Arriero in Medford, where she was greeted by Make-A-Wish volunteers with balloons and flowers to help celebrate her special day. 

After lunch, Rubi traveled to Rogue Valley Mall, where she shopped for three and a half hours at stores like JC Penney, Macy’s, Footlocker, Champ Sports, Finish Line and DEB.  Rubi received a warm welcome at JC Penney, where a special sign and balloons greeted her and she was presented a gift bag. Macy’s provided Rubi with her own personal shopper, and Champs Sports gave Rubi a 20% discount on the items she purchased. Thanks to their generosity, even her brother, Hubert, was excited to buy a new pair of shoes for himself.

With a long day of shopping behind her, Rubi was picked up by her limo and escorted home to enjoy her new purchases.  As she unloaded all of her items, Rubi happily exclaimed, “Wow, that’s a lot of bags!”

Sign up now for the March campaign!

The 12th annual Make a Million for Make-A-Wish® campaign, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, is just around the corner. Help us raise one million quarters ($250,000) statewide!

Start fundraising now and take your donations to any U.S. Bank in Oregon and Clark County, Washington, during the campaign: March 1 - 31, 2007. 

With a variety of fundraising supplies and ideas available from the Make-A-Wish office, participating can be fun and easy!  Visit the official Make a Million Web page to register, order materials, and get helpful hints for your school or business.  Check out the regional pages to find out what’s happening in your area throughout the month with the support of our local media partners. 

With your help, we can continue to grant more wishes to children in our local communities.

If you have any questions, contact Tara Wilson at or 503-292-2280, ext. 22. 

KidFest

Looking for fun and affordable family activities that keep you out of the Oregon rain while supporting wishes at the same time? Why not visit KidFest, the Northwest’s Largest Family Expo! 

This annual community event takes place on March 10 and 11, and is an amazing weekend focusing on active and healthy family lifestyle and raising kids successfully. It features non-stop entertainment, hundreds of interactive exhibits for babies, kids, teens and parents, family fun zones, and activities!  Whether you are looking for clothing, toys, ways to get your kids active or general resources about parenting, KidFest provides the perfect setting for families to discover the best the Northwest has to offer.

Admission prices are as follows:

• Adults: $7.00
• Seniors: $5.00
• Kids 3-18: $2.00
• Children 2 & Under: FREE

$1 per adult admission will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Oregon, along with proceeds from select exhibits and activities. Support the Foundation by bringing your family down to the Oregon Convention Center for a day of fun!

For more information, call 360-514-0767, email or visit the KidFest Web site at www.pintsizedproductions.com.