Overview The Wish Gala is the annual fundraising dinner of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire, and its two largest sponsorships each come with a wish adoption, tying the sponsor to a local child's wish. The 2026 gala took Art of Wishes as its theme, was set for Pendry Newport Beach on October 17 and honored Carie and Anthony Ferry. The chapter has granted more than 8,400 wishes since 1988 across Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. On site The evening opens with a cocktail reception at 5:30, then moves to dinner, live entertainment, an auction and dancing. Auction lots come from donors through the gala's own donation form, and bidding runs on a mobile platform. The 2026 packet carried the art theme into its sponsor levels, from Studio of Wishes up through Brushstroke of Joy, Canvas of Hope and Palette of Dreams to Gallery of Wishes. Track record The money pays for wishes. Make-A-Wish's own research, cited in the gala packet, found that 72% of medical providers say a wish increases treatment compliance, 89% of wish kids said they felt more joyful, confident and hopeful, and 96% of parents saw their child's emotional well-being improve. Brand presence The top level buys two wish adoptions, two tables of ten, naming rights on an activation at the gala, and the sponsor's logo on the invitation and the website; the next buys one adoption and a table. Below them the gala underwrites itself piece by piece, with a sponsor for the cocktail reception, the bar, valet, florals, mobile bidding, entertainment, printing, photography, videography, a portrait station and a jewelry sponsorship.