Big Y Celebrates 80 Years with Make-A-Wish MA & RI Fundraiser

Last month, Big Y kicked off its 80th Birthday with a storewide fundraiser aimed at improving the lives of children benefitting from Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Franklin wish kids Caeden and Devin Parici, students at Oak Street Elementary, and their parents attended the kickoff, along with representatives of Big Y and Make-A-Wish MA & RI.
“We love to partner with the community we serve and love to partner with our customers It’s a great way to honor 80 years in business and also look forward to the future. Our company’s motto is ‘we’re better together’,” says Charles D’Amour, President and COO of Big Y Foods, Inc. The goal of the effort was to raise $150,000 throughout the 63 store locations for the organization, one D’Amour chose not only because he’s known Bob Paglia, Chairman of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island since the 1990s, but also because the organization falls in line with one of his company’s goals, which is to have a meaningful impact on children in the community Big Y serves.
“We’re thrilled with the partnership with Big Y,” says Robert Paglia, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chairman. “It’s fabulous for us. Through partnerships like this we’re able to fulfill our mission.”
Caeden and Devin both have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal type of Muscular Dystrophy in which patients, mainly boys, are lacking the protein dystrophin. This leads to muscle weakness and degeneration, starting with leg muscles, but eventually moving up to the heart and lungs.
Caeden’s Mom, Kirsten, says that his genetic condition was first detected by a first-grade teacher, who noticed that the boy used Gower’s Maneuver, a labored way of rising that indicates weak hip and thigh muscles, when he’d get up from circle time. Neurological tests confirmed the disease, and since siblings have a 50/50 chance of the same diagnosis, Devin was also tested and came back with positive test results.
Caeden’s wish to go to Disney World was granted last year. It gave the Parisi family a much needed break.
“It was a week we could just be a normal family, just enjoy each other, and the boys had smiles on their faces all week long,” she says.
Devin will be fulfilling his wish soon, and the Parisi family will go on a Disney cruise, or, as Devin calls it, “The Mickey Boat.”
The boys’ father, Mark Parisi, says the boys will be involved soon in clinical trials that will take them back and forth to Cincinnati, OH. That will take them away from some of the things they like to do, including, for Caeden, model trains and activities with Cub Scouts.