Make-A-Wish Foundation Grants Washington Teen His Automotive Wish

As the owner of Miami-based Santa’s Enchanted Forest, Brian Shechtman operates the Christmas-themed park and manages its marketing department. In addition, Brian Shechtman affiliates his business with numerous philanthropic organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Established in 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation works to grant wishes for young people with life-threatening medical conditions. Each year, the foundation grants 14,000 wishes, which equates approximately to one wish every 38 minutes.

In early January 2014, a teenager from Washington received his wish, which was to have his Honda Civic Coupe restored and refinished. Carter Bessert, a 17-year-old, found out in November 2012 that he had full renal failure. After dialysis did not work, he underwent a kidney transplant. Learning their son qualified for the program while he was a patient at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Bessert’s family contacted the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which approved his wish. A local business owner performed more than 100 hours of work on Bessert’s car, ensuring the automobile received the highest quality of upgrades.

Oncology Services Offered at Miami Children’s Hospital’s Cancer Center

Brian Shechtman owns and operates the popular Miami area theme park Santa’s Enchanted Forest, which is currently celebrating its 31st year of spreading holiday cheer. He takes pride in the park’s community focus and welcomes groups of children each year through partnerships with local charities. Among the organizations Brian Shechtman partners with is the Miami Children’s Hospital’s Center.This organization is very special to him.

Offering state-of-the-art oncology services, the Cancer Center at Miami Children’s Hospital maintains status as South Florida’s leading provider of pediatric cancer patient care. Patients with complex blood disorders and leukemia receive quality medical care tailored to their specific psychological and physical needs. One of the most well-known offerings of the center is its Bone Marrow Transplant Program, which was established more than two decades ago. The program maintains full accreditation through the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapies and is affiliated with the National Bone Marrow Donor Program, which allows it to seek out diverse unrelated donors for patients requiring transplants.

Working for Reduced Infant Mortality in South Florida

Incorporating a theme of public service and holiday cheer, has always been important to Brian Shechtman, the owner of Santa’s Enchanted Forest amusement park, invites south Florida charities to visit. One of the groups Brian Shechtman has hosted is the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County, Inc. (HMHB).

HMHB sponsors several programs aimed at reducing infant mortality, which is rising in Broward, especially among African American families. One such program, Best for Broward Babies, seeks to make families stronger by partnering with the Broward County Human Service Department.

Another HMHB program, Cribs for Kids, seeks to reduce infant deaths due to unsafe sleeping arrangements. The organization provides cribs for parents who are unable to purchase them. In addition, the program teaches about sudden infant death syndrome, shaken baby syndrome, and other infant health concerns.

Recognizing the important role fathers play in their children’s lives, HMHB started the Community Fatherhood Initiative. The program encourages male parents to stay involved with their child from conception onward.

Brian Shechtman’s Winter Wonderland

What place comes to mind when you think of the ideal location for a winter wonderland? If you said Miami, that would be correct! Santa’s Enchanted Forest has over 100 rides, games, shows, and other attractions on offer. Owned by Brian Shechtman, Santa’s Enchanted Forest holds the truly merry distinction of being the world’s largest Christmas-themed park. Brian Shechtman works to bring the latest rides and special shows to his park and handles the marketing for it.

The park includes a huge number of rides, including some for younger and older kids. The games offered are classic carnival favorites like the ring toss and water gun races. There are also lots of nightly shows to choose from if customers need some downtime between the rides and games.

Santa’s Enchanted Forest commonly makes special accommodation for local and international charities to make visits including: Ronald McDonald House, Make-a-Wish Foundation, I Have a Dream Foundation; Miami Children’s Oncology Department, Here’s Help Foundation, The Alonzo Mourning Charities, and many others.

Santa’s Enchanted Forest is located at Tropical Park in Miami, near the freeway. Tickets and other information can be found at www.santasenchantedforest.com.

From the Desk of Brian Schectman: Visiting Theme Parks with Young Children, Part 1

Theme parks are fun for kids of all ages. However, enjoying a relatively stress-free day at a theme park with a young child requires planning, a bit of strategy, and a lot of patience.

Pack supplies for the day, and then stow everything in a backpack. Pack everything you need, but pack lightly. Prepare for your day at the park the evening before, because waiting until the last minute almost always guarantees that something important is forgotten.

For young children, include diapers, wet wipes, and a change of clothes. If it looks like rain, take ponchos or lightweight rain jackets. Dress for comfort. Ensure everybody wears sturdy, comfortable shoes and no flip flops. Include a swimsuit and a towel if the park contains a water park. Remember your cell phone, and if your phone doesn’t include a camera, pack one.

A Christmas theme park in Miami, Santa’s Enchanted Forest routinely hosts nonprofit organizations, including local children’s organizations and well-known entities such as Ronald McDonald House and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The park is owned by Brian Schectman, who established it more than 29 years ago.

From the Desk of Brian Schectman: Visiting Theme Parks with Young Children, Part 2

Consider safety when planning a day at a theme park. Dress children in brightly colored clothing so you can spot them in a crowd. Write your cell phone number inside your young child’s collar, or put an index card or a business card in a jacket pocket. If your child tends to wander, don’t hesitate to use a bungee. Take a lightweight stroller for young children.

Print a park schedule and a map the evening before, and then plan your day. Prioritize the events and rides you want to enjoy first. Allow plenty of time for rests, because an occasional break could prevent crankiness and tantrums. Don’t nag your child to partake in rides if he isn’t interested, and don’t disobey park rules regarding size and age limitations. Keep things low key, because a visit to a theme park is often exhausting for a young child. Relax, enjoy, and make it a memorable day.

As owner of Santa’s Enchanted Forest, Brian Schectman scouts the best rides for his park by visiting fairs and festivals across the country. The park, located at Miami’s Tropical Park, is the largest Christmas theme park in the world.