I love being able to highlight our local El Paso charities, and this week, I'd like you to meet Vanessa. Vanessa is 17 years old and recently graduated from Coronado High School. Her friends say she is sweet and funny, but also fearless and not afraid to speak her mind. She is also battles hematologic disorder, a rare form of anemia.

Vanessa loves sightseeing and taking pictures and one of her dreams is to travel around the world, so visiting Paris seemed like a good place to start. She contacted Make-A-Wish's El Paso Regional Office and the wish granting process began for Vanessa to travel to Paris.

Vanessa's dream trip to Paris was put on hold when she was accepted to her dream school, St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. Instead of a trip to France, Make-A-Wish will instead be helping Vanessa with tuition expenses.

Mithoff Burton Partners surprised Vanessa with a Parisian-theme party on July 8, complete with hanging air hot balloons and a miniature Eiffel Tower as the centerpiece for the table. Vanessa was also welcomed to the El Paso Chapter of St. Mary’s Alumni Association and the news of the matching gift for tuition.

Vanessa hopes to become a pediatric oncologist, and we at KISS-FM wish her the best on this next step in her journey!

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