Seventeen-year-old Melissa enjoyed breathtaking star treatment from the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Sacramento and Northeastern California and UAW-GM. Her wish – to go to a Hollywood awards ceremony – started simply, but took on a life of its own.

Wish granters picked the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards because General Motors (GM), a sponsor of the event, wanted to extend its generosity by sponsoring Melissa's wish as well. GM provided tickets to the SAG Awards for Melissa, her parents, and a school friend. The automotive sponsor also picked up the tab for round-trip airfare for the family, hotel accommodations, a rental car, evening attire for Melissa's dad, mom, and buddy, a purple gown for Melissa, and spa treatment for the ladies. At the spa, Melissa received her first pedicure and a lovely hairdo.

But Melissa's adventure took an amazing turn. Actor Bradley Whitford, who plays Josh Lyman on "The West Wing," had planned to attend the SAG Awards alone due to his wife's illness. He heard about Melissa's wish and asked if he could escort her. Of course, she agreed. Whitford picked up Melissa and her family at their hotel – the Park Hyatt Hotel on the Avenue of the Stars – in a limo. Inside the luxurious vehicle, he gave the teen a note and a necklace from his wife, actress Jane Kaczmarek of "Malcolm in the Middle."

At the awards ceremony, Bradley and Melissa walked the red carpet and chatted with "Entertainment Tonight." When it came time to take their seats, Melissa's parents and friend sat at the General Motors table, but Mr. Whitford had other plans for his fan. He brought the starstruck teen to the front of the hall to join his "West Wing" castmates. When the group won the award for best dramatic series, Melissa joined her new friends on stage – with national television cameras rolling. Actor Martin Sheen, who had already been honored for best actor, put his extra trophy in her hands.

Later, the family attended after-show parties. As if her memories up to that point weren't dazzling enough, Bradley added more luster when he gave Melissa his award statue. What a souvenir!

Afterwards, Melissa had the opportunity to relive her night. Newspapers and television shows featured the young starlet and her story. Her photo even appeared in People magazine. What a memorable wish!