J. Calnan and Associates is grateful for its success and takes pride in giving back to its local communities. In keeping with its community commitment, JC&A recently supported a local wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mass., helping to fulfill a young boy's wish for a pirate ship themed tree house. The wish was a vision inspired by sixyear- old Ethan Lent, a Mass. native who was diagnosed with AML, a form of leukemia, in 2007.
"I wish to have a pirate-themed tree house," said Ethan. A small request from an amazing child who spent four and a half months as an inpatient at Children's Hospital Boston before receiving a bone marrow transplant from his younger brother. After returning home from surgery, Ethan learned that the Make-AWish Foundation would be granting his wish. Ethan was excited and wished to create a fun place where he could spend more time with his best friends - his siblings Emma and Eliot. The Make-A-Wish Foundation reached out to JC&A and asked for their help in making Ethan's wish come true.
Mike Crowther, vice president of JC&A met with the Lent family to discuss Ethan's pirate ship and a timeline for completion. Armed with the sketch and ideas, the team at JC&A, headed up by Crowther, general superintendent, Barry Ledin; superintendent, Mike Flemming and lead carpenter, George Smith, started building Ethan's wish.
With the help of other generous local supporters, including National Lumber and Moynahan Lumber, JC&A completed Ethan's tree house in two weeks. Captain Ethan's ship is fully equipped with a captain's wheel for steering, portholes for launching his water cannons, a slide for quick escapes, a pulley system for shipmates Emma and Eliot to stock the boat and a lookout tower to make sure no parents are coming!
"As an organization we are thrilled to be involved with the Make a Wish program, and proud to have a culture that includes a focus on giving back to the community." said Crowther "We will look back on this experience with pride for many years to come. We trust that Ethan and his JC&A Supports Local Wish Granted By Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mass. friends and family will continue to get enjoyment out of his tree house for years to come."
"The foundation is truly inspired by J. Calnan & Associates' support in helping Ethan's wish come true," said the Foundation's CEO Charlotte Beattie. "Their understanding of our mission is clearly seen in their efforts. It is this understanding and community commitment that helps the Foundation move closer to its goal of granting a wish for every eligible child in Mass."