Houston News
Famous chef making wishes come true for kids scammed by foundation
11:07 PM CDT on Friday, October 10, 2008
HOUSTON—The day after 11 News aired a story of broken promises ,8-year-old Gabriella and her mother Holly say they are happy the word is getting out about the Texas Wishing Well Foundation.
Holly Andrew says the charity raised thousands of dollars and promised to send her daughter to New York.
But her wish, and another dream trip for a Houston-area boy named Tanner, never got off the ground because the foundation disappeared.
Even its Web site is gone.
“I don’t know where they are. I don’t know where the money is. All I know is that we’re not going on our trip,” Andrew said.
Both families told 11 News they first learned about the charity in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store.
“So apparently, every time they needed a paycheck they would just flip out a picture of a handicapped child and stick it on a poster and they’ve got a paycheck. And it just makes me sick,”Andrew said.
While investigating, 11 News found out several addresses for the Texas Wishing Well Foundation and its employees. One was in Meyer Park, another one at a townhome, but no one was there.
But some good news came out of this heartbreaking story.
Tanner McGuire, 8, is allergic to food and weighs less than 40 pounds. And believe it or not, he desperately wants to meet famous Chef Bobby Flay from the Food Network and CBS.
Flay called 11 News Friday afternoon and said he was moved by the story. He says he will make sure both Tanner and Gabriella’s dreams come true.
“It relieves the hurt somewhat when people care and we don’t feel so alone,” Tanner’s mom, Nicole McGuire, said.
Gabriella is happy too, but says she would like to see those that took her donation money punished.
“Well yes, because I don’t want anyone else to go through this. My mom has said the same thing too,” she said.
After the first story aired dozens of 11 News viewers have offered to help.
And tonight these two broken promises have been put back together.
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