Make-A-Wish in the Media
Orange County Choppers revs up wish kids’ holiday-February 2006
Click here to view the slideshow.
The cast of the Discovery Channel hit American Chopper went whole hog to make some great memories for kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation®.
The Orange County Choppers crew – led by the Teutuls, Paul Sr., Paul Jr. and Mikey – unveiled a custom Make-A-Wish® chopper and gave presents to nearly 50 wish kids at a special holiday party hosted at their famed garage in New York's Hudson Valley. The party was a continuation of the Teutuls' tremendous generosity with the Make-A-Wish Foundation; they were honored by the Foundation with a Chris Greicius Celebrity Wish Granter of the Year Award in October for granting dozens of wishes since their first wish experience in 2004.
After returning from the Make-A-Wish 25th Anniversary Celebration in Anaheim, Calif., Orange County Choppers boss Paul Sr. decided they needed to create a Make-A-Wish bike – and they needed to have it ready in 10 days so they could roll it out at a Christmas party for kids from Make-A-Wish Foundation of Hudson Valley .
No strangers to tight deadlines, the crew rolled into action planning and fabricating. Within hours, the bike was taking shape.
“I figured the best place to get started was with the Make-A-Wish logo,” Paul Jr. said during the show.
He dreamed up a giant gas tank with a shooting star on each side. He also hatched plans for a handlebar riser featuring shooting stars. The crew liked his ideas from the start, but what kind of reaction could they expect from the notoriously gruff Paul Sr.? Would wrenches start flying?
Not this time. Paul gave his blessing and said the huge gas tank and mammoth fenders would allow spectacular use of color to grab the kids' attention. Over the next 10 days, the crew would grind, weld and bend this collection of parts into a gleaming blue two-wheeled jewel. At nearly every turn of the wrench or pass of the torch, they asked themselves how the kids would like it.
At Nub Grafix, paint guru Nub recruited a handful of pint-sized apprentices to put their handprints all over the freshly painted sapphire fenders and gas tank. By the time he finished his work, the rest of the bike was also back from the chrome shop and ready for assembly.
Since most of the bike was out for painting and a chrome treatment, the Orange County Choppers team went shopping for the wish kids. Paul Sr. was his usual efficient self — he marched through an FAO Schwarz store with an extensive shopping list based on the party guests' holiday wish lists. He checked his list and made sure every gift would fulfill a holiday wish. Mikey also worked hard by testing out toys to ensure they were worthy of a place on the list.
The crew was in high gear the next week. They had wiring to install and a bike to reassemble. Just hours before the party, Paul Sr. was supervising the final build. The bike already seemed charmed when it roared to life the first time Paul Sr. hit the ignition. He rode it to where the wish kids were waiting, giving them a first look at the Make-A-Wish bike. The sparkling chrome and blue chopper astounded them with its rumbling engine, custom paint and flashing LEDs.
There were plenty of misty eyes and hugs to go around as Paul Sr. and his staff made a few holiday dreams come true. They posed for photos, talked about the bikes and helped the ecstatic wish kids open their gifts. Make-A-Wish Foundation of Hudson Valley staff members Denise D'Amico, Kenna DiBuono and chapter President & CEO Tom Conklin also attended to help wish kids enjoy a remarkable celebration.
“To bring smiles to all these kids' faces is probably the best thing I could've gotten for Christmas this year,” Mikey told The Discovery Channel.
Make-A-Wish National Board Chairman Carl Hansson was at Orange County Choppers to see the smiles first-hand. Hansson, a motorcycle enthusiast, was amazed by the custom motorcycle.
“It's hard to imagine anybody working harder than the Teutuls to build a motorcycle,” Hansson said. “It's also hard to imagine a family with a more generous spirit. They didn't just make an incredible chopper — they delighted our wish kids and made this a special afternoon for each of them.”
Nesenger 112 Chevrolet- Suffolk Life March 2006
Kids for Wish Kids
Lindenhurst High School- The Beacon February 2006
Copiague Middle School- Amityville Record March 2006
For more information on our Kids For Wish Kids Program, click here.