Wish granting is a big undertaking and the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® appreciates the help of its corporate supporters. During 12-year-old Christopher's wish, Wal-Mart stepped up to give him the computer he asked for, but that's not all he received.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Louisiana and Wal-Mart combined efforts to give Christopher a memorable wish. The sixth grader and his family arrived at the retailer via limousine and met with employees that had raised funds to pick up the tab for Christopher's experience. Money was collected through a softball game, a car wash, cookouts in the lounge, and a raffle of a back-to-school book bag (which the winner donated back to Christopher). Wal-Mart's patrons even lent a hand by tossing dollars and cents into a wishing well and inverted umbrella located at the store's main entrance.

Wal-Mart and the Make-A-Wish Foundation were able to present the appreciative boy with the book bag, a $1,000 gift card to buy anything in the store, the computer, a computer table and chair, and a team of volunteers to set up the system in his home. Christopher was so moved that he asked for an application from the store's manager so he could start working there.

Showing it's better to give than to receive, Christopher jumped into gear and commenced his shopping spree. In the spirit of Wal-Mart's generosity, his purchases included gifts for several family members.