WISH - Women Inspiring Supporting & Helping

12/12/2025

What an absolutely WONDERFUL evening! ✨💖

Our WISH “Favorite Things” Holiday Party never fails to fill our hearts, and last night was no exception. This annual tradition is truly one of the most special gatherings of the year — a night where laughter echoes, friendships deepen, and the spirit of giving shines so brightly.

A very special THANK YOU to our gracious host and WISH sister, Robyn C**n Wheat, for welcoming us into our favorite gathering place at Village Crossing at Worman's Mill. Robin, your warmth, generosity, and hospitality made the evening feel extra magical. We are so grateful for you!

Thank you to every beautiful WISH woman who came out, brought delicious food, shared your favorite things, and filled the room with joy, kindness, and connection. Watching each person choose their gifts, cheer for one another, and enjoy the moment reminded all of us why this group is so extraordinary.

We didn’t just leave with five fun treasures… we left with full hearts, renewed inspiration, and memories that will carry us beautifully through the holiday season.

Here’s to sisterhood, gratitude, giving, and all the magic that happens when women come together to inspire, support, and lift each other up. ✨🎄❤️

Already counting down to next year's Favorite Things celebration!

12/10/2025

We were truly HONORED to attend the techfrederick Techie Awards last evening to celebrate our dear friend and WISH - Women Inspiring Supporting & Helping sister, Rebecca Swain-Eng, as she received the Community Advocate Award 🏆💙

Rebecca is a beautiful soul who gives endlessly to others and leads with heart, compassion, and purpose. Our community is better because of her, and we are so grateful for all she does.

CONGRATULATIONS, Rebecca! You are so deserving — we appreciate you more than words can say.

12/08/2025

Christmas came early — and our hearts are still smiling❤️🎁

What a beautiful, inspiring, joy-filled way to kick off the holiday season — surrounded by laughter, friendship, festive cheer, and the magic of community at our morning meeting last Thursday. From Santa and his North Pole crew bringing smiles and holiday spirit 🧑‍🎄✨ to the warmth and connection in the room, it truly felt like Christmas came early.

We were deeply inspired by the incredible story of Kujenga Inclusive Game Changer School (KIGCS) and its founder, Maggie Lusweti. Her passion, love, and dedication — honoring her late father while empowering children with special needs in Kenya — touched all of our hearts. Knowing that these amazing students are creating beautiful handicrafts to help fund their education and future made this morning even more meaningful. 💛🌍

A heartfelt thank you to Canapés Catering for so graciously hosting us and for always delivering exceptional customer service and absolutely delicious food. Your hospitality makes our WISH mornings feel extra special, and we are so grateful for your continued support. ✨

To our WISH Women — thank you for showing up with open hearts, generosity, and such festive joy. You make these gatherings special, impactful, and full of love. The energy, the smiles, the support, and the holiday spirit reminded me once again why this community is so powerful. ❤️

Grateful. Inspired. Merry-hearted.
This is the season of giving — and the morning was a perfect reminder of how much good we can do together. 🎁🎄

With love and festive cheer,
WISH - Women Inspiring Supporting & Helping ✨

12/05/2025

Our hearts are SO full today. ❤️

Thank you to every nonprofit, every WISH - Women Inspiring Supporting & Helping, and every attendee who helped make Festive Firs such an unforgettable, love-filled, magical evening!

Because of you, this event wasn’t just successful — it was meaningful, emotional, and full of the kind of community spirit that reminds us why we do what we do. 🌲💖

To our incredible nonprofits, thank you for the important work you do every single day. It was an honor to celebrate Andrea's House- Transitional Living For Women and Children, Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Frederick, Maryland Backpack Ministry, Mission of Mercy, The Frederick Rescue Mission / Faith House of Frederick, Second Chances Garage., and SHIP of Frederick County. Your missions inspire us, and we are so proud to stand beside you. 🧡💙💜🤍💛

To our amazing WISH members who poured their creativity, generosity, and love into their trees and wreaths — thank you. Your talent lit up the room and made the night truly special. ✨

To everyone who purchased a ticket, showed up, supported, clapped, donated, and shared in the joy — you made this night happen. Your presence turned Festive Firs into a warm, emotional celebration of community, compassion, and holiday magic. 🎄✨

Our hearts are grateful beyond words. Thank YOU for making Festive Firs a success…and for reminding all of us what the spirit of giving truly looks like. ❤️🌲✨

Here’s to community, kindness, and a season filled with joy!

12/01/2025

🎄✨ Festive Firs Is Happening — Thanks to YOU! ✨🎄
We are beyond grateful to all our WISH friends who purchased tickets and helped make Festive Firs possible! Because of your support, this magical evening is officially ON! ❤️

Join us on Thursday, December 4th, 5:30–9:00 PM at Delaplaine Arts Center for:
🎶 Live music
🍸 Festive drinks & light fare
🌲 Stunning decorated trees & wreaths
🎁 Our famous LIVE Christmas Tree Auction

This year, we are proudly celebrating nine incredible local nonprofits:
🧡 Andrea’s House
💙 Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County
🎒 ELC Backpack Ministry
💜 Heartly House
🤍 Mission of Mercy
💛 Rescue Mission / Faith House
🚗 Second Chances Garage
🧡 SHIP (Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership)

A special thank-you to our generous WISH members donating trees:
✨ Emmaline Briley & Nelson Coleman – Jewelry Tree 💎
✨ Robyn Wheat – Village Crossing
✨ Pamela Grandstaff & Jen Nugent – WLR Automotive Group
✨ MaryLou Fisher & Kim Holoway – Century 21 Redwood & Prime Lending
✨ Amy Steinhoff – Steinhoff Properties
✨ Deanna Shaver & Tonya Martin

And to our wreath donors:
✨ Sandy Heil
✨ Seniors at Village Crossing

🎟 Tickets are still available! Don’t miss this unforgettable night 👉 Grab Your Tickets Here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1762292517359?aff=oddtdtcreator

Let’s celebrate the season, support amazing local nonprofits, and enjoy a magical evening together! ✨❤️🌲

Join us at our Annual WISH Festive Firs Holiday Tree Auction for a jolly evening of bidding on beautifully decorated trees!

11/30/2025

🎄✨ We Need Your Help — Festive Firs Is at Risk! ✨🎄

Our beloved WISH Festive Firs FUNdraiser on Dec 4th is in danger of being canceled due to low ticket sales. This event supports NINE amazing local nonprofits, and we don’t want to lose this special night.

If you’ve ever loved the magic of WISH events — the live music, festive drinks, beautifully decorated trees, and the energy of our LIVE auction — please consider buying a ticket today.

🎟 Tickets are $40
📅 Thursday, Dec 4 | 5:30–9:00 PM
📍 Delaplaine Arts Center
👉 Your ticket truly makes the difference! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1762292517359?aff=oddtdtcreator

Nonprofits we’re supporting:
Andrea’s House • Boys & Girls Club • ELC Backpack Ministry • Heartly House • Mission of Mercy • Rescue Mission/Faith House • Second Chances Garage • SHIP

Let’s come together and keep this beautiful tradition alive for our community. ❤️

Join us at our Annual WISH Festive Firs Holiday Tree Auction for a jolly evening of bidding on beautifully decorated trees!

11/25/2025

🎄✨ WISH Festive Firs is Back! ✨🎄
Join us Thursday, Dec 4th, 5:30–9 PM at Delaplaine Arts Center for a night of holiday cheer, giving back, and fun! 🌟
🎶 Live music
🍷 Light fare & festive drinks

🎁 LIVE Christmas Tree Auction with stunning trees, wreaths, and more! Our amazing emcee & auctioneer Andi Overton will bring the holiday energy!

This year we proudly celebrate 9 incredible local nonprofits:
🧡 Andrea’s House
💙 Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County
🎒 ELC Backpack Ministry
💜 Heartly House
🤍 Mission of Mercy
💛 Rescue Mission / Faith House
🚗 Second Chances Garage
🧡 SHIP (Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership)

A HUGE THANK YOU to WISH members donating beautifully decorated trees:
Emmaline Briley & Nelson Coleman • Robyn Wheat • Pamela Grandstaff & Jen Nugent • MaryLou Fisher & Kim Holoway • Amy Steinhoff

✨ 100% of auction proceeds go directly to the nonprofits and WISH.

🎟 Tickets: $40
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1762292517359?aff=oddtdtcreator
Grab yours and leave with a festive heart… and maybe a holiday treasure! ❤️

11/21/2025

What a truly beautiful and heartfelt FriendsGiving we shared last night. 🧡✨ Our hearts are so full. From the incredible dishes everyone brought, to the generous donations, to the meaningful conversations that filled the room — it was a night that reminded us just how special our WISH - Women Inspiring Supporting & Helping community really is.

A very special thank-you to our gracious host, Kim Holloway, for opening her home, her heart, and her kitchen to all of us. Your warmth, love, and delicious cooking made the evening unforgettable. 🦃🍷💛

To every woman who showed up, contributed, gave, and shared a piece of themselves — thank you. Your kindness, your laughter, and your generosity are what make WISH such a powerful force of compassion and connection.

Together, we not only celebrated friendship… we extended love beyond our table with the donations for Faith House and The Frederick Rescue Mission. That spirit of giving is who we are — and it shines so brightly this time of year. 💕✨

Feeling grateful today and always for this beautiful circle of women. 🥰

Until our next gathering… 💛

11/20/2025

What an unforgettable evening! Our WISH Bingo Night on Friday, November 7th was a tremendous success—and it’s all because of YOU. We are truly honored, humbled, and deeply grateful for the amazing support from our WISH members, the dedicated volunteers from the Frederick Elks Lodge, and the loyal Bingo players who joined us with such enthusiasm. The room was full, the energy was joyful, and the night was packed with FUN!

From designer handbags to gift baskets—and of course our TWO spectacular 1CT diamonds—people left with incredible prizes and even bigger smiles. The entire night reflected the heart of WISH: community, generosity, and women lifting women.

Thank you to everyone who donated prizes and volunteered their time. Your kindness made this year’s Bingo Night one to remember.

✨ DONORS ✨
Donna Batcheller
LaTisha Boyd-Potts
Emmaline Briley & Nelson Coleman Jewelers – Grand Prize: TWO 1CT Diamonds
Mimi Galanis
Pamela Grandstaff
Robin Hayek
Rebecca McGee
Frazier Pelton
Betsy Schoonover
Jasmine Sneed
Bonnie Swanson
Demi Torre
MaryJean – Voila! Teas Frederick
Robyn Wheat & Village Crossing
Jean Wright

💛 VOLUNTEER STAFF💛
Stacy Allgood Smith
Donna Batcheller
Jasmine Sneed
Bonnie Stevens
Christi Roberts

Thank you again for making this event such a meaningful celebration of connection, generosity, and fun. We appreciate each and every one of you, and we are already looking forward to next year!

11/18/2025

🎄✨ It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year — WISH Festive Firs is Back! ✨🎄

We’re SO excited to announce our Annual WISH Festive Firs FUNdraising Event — a night overflowing with holiday cheer, community spirit, and heartfelt giving! 🌟

This year, we’re beyond thrilled to celebrate 8 incredible local nonprofits chosen by our WISH community:
🧡 Andrea’s House
💙 Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County
🎒 ELC Backpack Ministry
💜 Heartly House
🤍 Mission of Mercy
💛 Rescue Mission / Faith House
🚗 Second Chances Garage
🧡 SHIP (Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership)

We are delighted to have the AMAZING Andy Overton as our emcee and auctioneer for the evening — bringing energy, fun, and holiday cheer as each tree is auctioned off to enthusiastic attendees!

✨ And the best part? 100% of the proceeds from every tree’s auction will go directly to the nonprofit that created it. ✨

Grab your tickets for a night of LIVE music, light fare, festive drinks, and our famous LIVE Christmas Tree Auction — featuring stunning decorated trees, wreaths, and more! 🎁

📅 Thursday, December 4th
🕠 5:30 – 9:00 PM
📍 Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, MD
🎟 Tickets are $40 and limited — don’t wait!
👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1762292517359?aff=oddtdtcreator

You’ll leave with a festive heart and maybe even a beautiful new holiday treasure for your home (or a lucky friend 😉).
Let’s make this year’s Festive Firs the best one yet — full of joy, generosity, and community love! ❤️🌲

11/12/2025

🌸 What an Empowering Morning! 🌸

Our hearts are full after such an inspiring morning together on Thursday, November 6th! 💜 A huge thank you to Carleah Summers, founder of Andrea's House- Transitional Living For Women and Children, for sharing her incredible story and the life-changing work she’s doing to help women heal, rebuild, and thrive. Her message of faith, strength, and hope truly touched us all.

We’re so grateful to Canapés for hosting us in their beautiful space and providing such delicious food — thank you for your warm hospitality!

And to our amazing WISH - Women Inspiring Supporting & Helping Women — thank you for the love, support, and energy you bring to every gathering. It’s because of each of you that we’re able to connect, give back, and make a positive impact in our community. 💕

Together, we are stronger — and mornings like this remind us just how powerful connection and compassion can be. 🌷✨