Sixteen-year-old Monica loves playing volleyball, riding around in new cars, talking on the phone with her friends, and shopping. She also dreamt of walking down the red carpet at the GRAMMY® Awards. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Minnesota and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America – with sponsorship from Jewelers for Children – teamed up to put Monica on that hallowed piece of crimson fabric when they sent the very excited teen to California.

With older sister Krystal, mom Kathy, and dad Mark, Monica flew to the Golden State for a five-day adventure. They checked into their hotel in Santa Monica, which Monica noted had a restaurant on top. Describing their first steps outside the hotel, Monica wrote, “We walk out the door, and there’s palm trees and nice cars everywhere you look!” The family’s first stop was the 3rd Street Promenade, which pleased the self-described “shop-a-holic.” The 3rd Street Promenade is a pedestrians-only street with shops on both sides that leads to the Santa Monica Place Mall.

The next morning, the group met up with two other Make-A-Wish® families and headed down to STAPLES Center for the 46th Annual GRAMMY Awards rehearsal. The starry-eyed teen watched the performers practice and toured the backstage area. After the rehearsals, Monica and the other girls got autographs. The wish kids met Andre 3000 from Outkast, the Foo Fighters, the White Stripes, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Said Monica, “It was so fun, I still couldn’t believe it was real and really happening to me!” With still one full day before the actual awards show, the family spent an “amazing” day at a nearby theme park.

Finally, Monica’s heralded wish day arrived – February 8, 2004. To start her experience, she visited professional beauticians in her hotel to have her hair and makeup done. During the wait, older sis Krystal worked on Monica’s nails. When the teen’s turn came up, Monica remembered, “It was really wonderful. I felt like Cinderella going to meet the prince.” After her makeover, she ran up to her room to put on her long, black velvet dress.

A white limo brought Monica and her mother to STAPLES Center, and they had the honor of walking down the star-studded carpet, with all its photographers, before the start of the show. They then took their seats. Other entertainers who took the stage during the actual awards show included Christina Aguilera, Prince, Celine Dion, Sting, and Beyonce. Taking it all in, Monica exclaimed, “It was great!”

After that last night in California, the family returned to Minnesota exhausted, but happy. Monica wrote, “When we got home, I crawled under my covers and thought about all the unbelievably cool things I got to do! This was the best trip I ever got to experience!”

According to the Minnesota chapter, Monica hopes to take a trip back with her friends after they graduate from high school. The chapter also received the following note of appreciation from Monica’s mom:

Make-A-Wish,

I would like to thank everyone who had a part in making my daughter Monica’s wish come true! We all were so excited and thankful for this! Thank you for the spending money, money for the plane, car rental, and limo rides. The list goes on … We all had the time of our lives!

Kathy.