About us

It started when many of us were children; wanting things our parents said, 'No,' to, or that we knew were far too expensive to even ask, some of us experiencing difficult times, or the kindest of us thinking of someone else. When a star shot across the sky it was our chance to say our wish! And we waited for our birthdays to blow out the candles or ask for pennies to throw in the fountain. We closed our eyes and prayed with all our might our wishes are heard, and granted. When they are, a feeling of belonging and being seen overcomes the moment; we feel validated; all the work to stay 'good,' was worth it. It would not be long, after knowing wishes DO COME TRUE, another one was launched. Wishes are something every child relies on, let us awaken the child in all of us for this effort.

In 2009, at my employer, as Executive Vice President of a large call center with more than 200 employees, Mr. Joe Bella, the owner approached, 'Wish Day?' I always agreed. On these special occasions, every employee was given a slip of paper with their name labeled on the back, to write a wish for something that would make life amazing; of something they could not ever seem to be able to afford; of a far-off place when there was extra money to spend; of some little thing they always wanted. Entries were placed in a box, shaken while we reminded everyone whatever name was chosen was an instant winner. I reached my hand in, pulled out a slip of paper, opened it, and read aloud, 'A wedding dress for my daughter's wedding next month." Alex Felitz. Everyone roared with joy.

We took the box of entries into my office and shut the door. We sat together and read them one by one, tears streaming, each of us choosing another three of our favorites. Sometimes we emerged from my office with one more winner, sometimes he granted all six. 'A gravestone for my baby that passed away a year ago,' 'A bunkbed for my adopted niece whose mother was just imprisoned.' 'An apartment for my pregnant girlfriend and I so we can move out of our car,' 'A DNA test so I can find my birth mother'. And the list goes on, and on, every wish another life story that led up to this very moment when maybe, just maybe, their wish comes true.

In 2019, after the gift of a painting to my best friend; 's father of two elephants, I learned of an Autistic boy who loved the painting and cried when he saw it on Facebook. He was competing in a spelling bee that weekend- such a huge step from non-verbal autism for his first six years of life. "How Much?" is every Artist's dream. "Nothing, I will give it to Cody as a gift'. That night I created a 'nomination form,' for anyone else who wanted a free painting of their Warrior's favorite things to celebrate their bravery- six years later 414 Nomination Forms have been fulfilled- I cannot tell you the gravity of kind deeds when done for people who are without hope; it is something I pray every person reading this experiences with this effort, One Wish.

I have been on the granting side, and the wishing one, I have known the sacrifice of kindness, and the relief of it; as I hope everyone here has, too. I hope more of you are willing to grant wishes than need them- we do not know unless we try. Our goal is to offer the Anna community a means to ask for help and we find it by asking families and business owners for your help. We will authenticate every wish and guarantee the person asking for help lives in the Anna community by proof of residence and photo ID. We will also refuse any requests for cash- this effort is for 'items' and 'services' only. We also ask every wish-granter is located in Anna- but happily accept anyone's help in making wishes come true.

Once we open the 'Wish' form, we will begin to understand what kind of community we live in. Once wishes are granted, or refused, we will learn it twice. I pray I understand 'Your Hometown,' and taking care of our own and we will run out of needs for our community before we run out of money. I think you will come to see, that the price of a better quality of life does not cost a lot- but for them, it is everything that is slightly out of reach.

Thank you for trusting me with this effort and thank you for your help in making life better for our community, one wish, and one hero at a time.

With all my prayers to all of you,

Aubre' Murphy - CEO 4th Street Small-Town Marketing, Anna Art Council, Warpaint Project, Inc.

430-422-7592