A wish come true

By LAURIE STUART
Posted 6/16/21

YULAN, NY — Izzy likes to hang out with her friends. And now, thanks to the community and the Make a Wish Foundation, she’s got a purple and teal treehouse to do it in.

“Izzy has …

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A wish come true

Posted

YULAN, NY — Izzy likes to hang out with her friends. And now, thanks to the community and the Make a Wish Foundation, she’s got a purple and teal treehouse to do it in.

“Izzy has more energy when she’s with her friends,” her father Daniel said at the Sunday afternoon, June 13 wish-reveal party. “And now, I’m so thankful she got such a great place to be with them.” The treehouse, complete with electricity, has a main room with a small couch and desk and a staircase that leads to a sleeping loft above.

Indeed, the buzz in the backyard, filled with friends and neighbors, dignitaries and the contractors who made the two-story house possible, were all scheming on how they, too, could easily live in the tiny house on Washington Lake Road. Scott Smith, a neighbor who led the team of volunteers from Carpenter’s Local 279 Union who built the structure, said he will be building two more small structures just like it. In his opening remarks, Smith noted that his team could not have begun without the foundational work of Norm Sutherland and NGS Contracting.

Izzy, center, waits with her parents, Terri and Daniel, to cut the ribbon and tour her new treehouse.
Izzy, center, waits with her parents, Terri and Daniel, to cut the ribbon and tour her new treehouse.

Sen. Mike Martucci, legislative chair Rob Doherty and Highland supervisor Jeff Haas all congratulated Izzy on her new digs. “This is all for you, Izzy,” Martucci said in his remarks. Later, he echoed the unspoken sentiment of the crowd in saying, “This is such a good day.”

Tom Conklin, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley congratulated the local effort. “The support from the people of Sullivan County has been instrumental in bringing this treehouse project to life. We are grateful for the generosity and support of those who donated their time and resources so that we can provide for more children, like Izzy, and make their wishes come true. While leadership and donors remain critical to our success, this is also a great example of how equally impactful it is when the everyday citizen can contribute their expertise, time, and skillset on wishes.”

Make a Wish Hudson Valley is working on 85 wishes this year, slightly down from the 125 that the local chapter maintained before the pandemic.

Izzy, age 11, is the daughter of Terri and Daniel Giglio.

Make a Wish, treehouse

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