Ina Garten, chef and host of the Food Network show “Barefoot Contessa,” has been taking heat for twice rejecting a child’s Make-a-Wish request. The child’s wish was to meet Garten because he would watch her show from his sickbed. Various blogs, articles and other media state Garten rejected the request because of scheduling conflicts.
This infuriated readers all over the place, including me, but as I’ve mulled it over and further read about the situation, I have a slightly different opinion. I think this is a case of public relations gone wrong and poor decisions made; perhaps Ina Garten is not a heartless wench (hopefully).
I watch “Barefoot Contessa” all the time. One thing I’ve noticed about her is she is obviously very wealthy. She lives in the Hamptons, drives a nice car and is constantly cooking and purchasing gourmet foods.
That being said, many sources say she is very generous to charities and has been called a friend of the Make-a-Wish foundation.
She rejected the request of a 6-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia to meet her twice: once due to a book release tour and once due to scheduling conflicts. It’s hard for me not to think, “You mean you couldn’t take a day off from your pristine, high-class life to meet with a child dying from cancer who wants to see you?”
It’s hard for me to comprehend why someone wouldn’t stop what he or she is doing to meet with a child who simply wanted to meet him or her. All she would have to do is set aside time. She has the financial stability to travel to him.
I’ve been involved with the Make-a-Wish foundation for about six years. Make-a-Wish is an organization that partners with different organizations like school groups and community service groups.
It works to meet the financial needs and make all the arrangements to grant a terminally ill child’s wish. I’ve seen wishes granted for children to go to Disney World, London or to simply get a really nice dollhouse (it was a crazy, awesome dollhouse, I might add).
The organization grants hundreds of wishes each year, and most of them require a lot of time and money.
To grant a wish that involves a famous celebrity such as Garten would obviously have to include a lot of planning, organization, scheduling and cooperation.
I’m very passionate about Make-a-Wish, and I just don’t see how someone could turn down a wish request in the first place, but I do understand celebrities live very busy lives. As harsh as it sounds, famous people can’t meet every request they encounter.
But after being rejected by Garten, the little boy said he would wait to meet her. I feel like that’s where she (or her agent or whoever it is scheduling things for her) made a big mistake.
Eventually, the media would catch wind of her double rejection (which it did), and make her out to be a monster. Garten finally agreed to meet with him, but the Make-A-Wish foundation moved to the little boy’s second wish request, which was to swim with dolphins. There is a rule against granting extra wishes, but in light of the circ*mstances, I’m not sure how it will turn out.
Anyway, the damage is done. Anyone who reads news about her will hear she rejected a terminally ill child’s wish to meet her. Twice. Regardless of how good her intentions were, it’s going to be very hard to live that down.
Mary Chase Breedlove is a sophom*ore majoring in communication. She can be contacted at [emailprotected].
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FAQs
WWE Superstar John Cena, the all-time most requested celebrity wish granter, invited wish kids to join him for his entrance prior to his marquee match.
Did Ina Garten refuse to meet a Make-A-Wish child? ›
Ina Garten, chef and host of the Food Network show “Barefoot Contessa,” has been taking heat for twice rejecting a child's Make-a-Wish request. The child's wish was to meet Garten because he would watch her show from his sickbed.
What wishes are not allowed in Make-A-Wish? ›
Each wish is reviewed individually and is as unique as each child. We cannot grant wishes for vehicles (cars, etc), homes, firearms or cash. There are age restrictions for certain wish types. There are also restrictions on travel to countries with U.S. State Department travel advisories.
What is the most common Make-A-Wish request? ›
To start you thinking, here are the four key types of wishes we are asked to grant most often:
- I wish to meet... To meet someone special or important like a hero, celebrity or influencer.
- I wish to be... To be someone or something – such as a superhero, princess or a character.
- I wish to go... ...
- I wish to have...
In the caption, they wrote: “@JohnCena has granted more wishes via @MakeAWish than any other celebrity in history. #CenaMonth.” Along with Cena, fellow WWE star Hulk Hogan and former professional racecar driver Jeff Gordon have each granted more than 200 wishes through the Make-A-Wish foundation.
Who is the oldest Make-A-Wish kid? ›
While Christopher Greicius was the inspiration for the foundation, the first official Make-a-Wish kid was seven-year-old Frank “Bopsy” Salazar. In December 1980, Bopsy's mother Octaviana Trujillo had been contacted by Chris' mother Linda Pauling, who told Ms.
At what age does Make-A-Wish stop? ›
Who is eligible for a wish? A child who has reached the age of 2½ and is under the age of 18 at the time of referral who has a critical illness is potentially eligible for a wish.
Does diabetes qualify for Make-A-Wish? ›
Some examples of conditions that qualify include, but are not limited to, various forms of cancer, duch*enne's muscular dystrophy, transplants and intractable epilepsy. Generally, children with chronic conditions such as diabetes or developmental delays do not qualify.
Can you get a Make-A-Wish without dying? ›
The child doesn't need to be terminal in order to receive a wish—many children who receive a wish survive and go on to live healthy lives. The idea behind the organization is to create an unforgettable experience for critically ill children and bring some extra laughter and joy into their lives.
How many wishes does a wish grant make per child? ›
Only one wish is granted per child. While we do not want to limit your child's imagination as he or she decides on their special wish, please keep in mind that Make-A-Wish does have standards and guidelines that must be followed.
It is important to note that 60% of the alumni indicated that they had fully recovered from their illness, with many more expecting to get a clean bill of health in the near future. The statistic helps to dispel the common misconception that children must have an end-of-life prognosis to be eligible for a wish.
How much does the average Make-A-Wish cost? ›
The Make-a-Wish Foundation grants 15,400 wishes each year for children with life-threatening or limiting illnesses, according to NPR's "All Things Considered." On average, a wish costs $10,130, which includes all expenses related to the gift or experience.
Which actor has the most Make-A-Wish? ›
Aside from Cena, nobody has granted more than 200 wishes for the organization in its 42-year history. WASHINGTON — Actor and WWE star John Cena has set a new record for most wishes granted through the non-profit organization Make-A-Wish.
Who has the 2nd most Make-A-Wish? ›
Justin Bieber is currently second in the world for granting the most wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. While John Cena may hold the number one spot, Bieber is close behind. Bieber has been involved with Make-A-Wish for almost as long as he's been active as a singer.
What is the most common wish people make? ›
Most commonly, people wish for wealth, success, self-improvement, love, health, happiness and friends.
