Sherry Gutierrez Greg Baty Brenda Yester. Credit: Stu Opperman / Impact Players.

SUNRISE, FL -- Make-A-Wish Southern Florida recently held its 5th Annual "Walk for Wishes" in Broward County, with 1,500 participants raising more than $175,000 to grant wishes for 35 local children who have life-threatening medical conditions.

Make-A-Wish of America Board Member Brenda Yester, Greg Baty, a former Miami Dolphins tight end and current member of the Southern Florida chapter's board, and Sherry Gutierrez ("Team Brenda-Baty-Errez," which included people from Carnival Cruise Lines) led the fundraising effort, generating more than $70,000 for the cause.

In its history, Walk for Wishes has now raised more than $600,000, enough to underwrite the cost of wishes for more than 120 local children.

Celebrating its 30th year of wish-granting, Make-A-Wish Southern Florida has delivered more than 9,000 wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Wish kids most often wish to be (something), wish to meet (someone), wish to go (somewhere), or wish to have (something) and the nonprofit organization makes this happen for the child and his/her entire family at no cost to them.

The Southern Florida chapter grants a wish every 16 hours, at an average cost of $5,000, and is committed to making a dream come true for every medically-eligible child in its territory, which includes 13 Florida counties and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It completes its mission without federal or state funding, raising money through corporate sponsorships, special events, foundation grants, and individual contributions.

For more information, to make a donation, volunteer or refer a child, call (888) 773-WISH or connect at www.sfla.wish.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.