When he was referred to the Foundation as a teenager, Joseph was at first reluctant to name a wish when asked by the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Metro New York. “There have to be kids who need this more than me,” he said. “Grant their wishes first.” Such selflessness made the Make-A-Wish Foundation, one of its sponsors, Jewelers For Children, and the NFL all the more determined to grant Joseph’s wish.

Finally, years later, Joseph decided that the time was right for his wish to come true. Surely, football fans of any age would agree with his assessment of attending Super Bowl XXXIX: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience I’ll never forget!”

Flying to Florida with his whole family, running a 40-yard dash against a “virtual wide receiver” at the NFL Experience, meeting Miss America, and witnessing one of the most exciting games in Super Bowl history as the Patriots and Eagles battled down to the wire – it was all part of what Joseph calls his second greatest wish. That’s because Joseph rightly considers recovery from lymphoma – he’s going on five years cancer-free now – “the best wish-come-true a guy like me could ask for.”

Everyone who meets Joseph is impressed by his courage and positive attitude. Jewelers For Children board member and jewelry manufacturer Jonathan Goldman (of Fredrick Goldman) remarked, “It’s great to see someone so young, with their whole life ahead of them, take the time to thank those who helped along the way.”

When he graduates from college, Joseph hopes to land a high school teaching job where he can also coach football. But no matter where life takes him, we’re sure Joseph will still be talking about his Super Bowl wish experience.

Joseph’s wish was made possible by the generous donations of Jewelers For Children.