Hotel Viking in Newport hosted very special guests on Sunday, March 10, when the hotel’s staff welcomed Make-A-Wish children for a Royal Tea Party. Six-year-old Alyssa Dos Santos from Pawtucket, who had her wish granted last summer when she traveled to Walt Disney World Resort for the resort’s Once Upon A Wish party for Make-A-Wish recipients, was the Tea Party’s honorary hostess.
Joining Alyssa were wish recipients who also visited Walt Disney World Resort for their wishes — Abigail Vallejos, 8, from Providence, RI; Mikayla Morais, 10, from Hopedale, MA; Laila Amer, 6, from Andover, MA; and Lilly Tran, 7, from Lynn, MA. These children and their families are part of the Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island Wish Community, a network connecting wish recipients and families with one another and keeping them connected to the organization long after the wish has been granted.
Guests of honor got the full royal treatment, enjoying sweet and savory treats, necklace making, coloring, and nail painting. They were surprised with a performance from the Brown University Chattertocks, an all-female acapella group. Many of the wish parents in attendance shared how much the event means to them as their families navigate life with illness, treatments, and hospital visits. “It’s just me and Alyssa at home and at the hospital,” said Princess Alyssa’s mom, Arlete Da veiga Dos Santos, “so opportunities like this where she can spend time with other wish kids is so special.” Princess Laila’s mom, Aya Hendway, added, “Laila has been in the hospital for so long fighting for her life, that events like these where I can see a smile on her face are so important. This means so much to Laila and our family to see her not just be a kid, but a princess.”
Photos credit Dalia Sadaka & Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island
“We’ve been looking forward to this event as a chance to bring families together to share stories about the lasting impact of their Disney wishes,” said Michael Vieira, Rhode Island Regional Director for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. “Sometimes people think these are ‘just’ trips to Disney, but it is so much more than that for these families. These wish trips give them something to hold onto during the most trying times, and hearing what memorable, VIP experiences these families all had reminds us that there’s so much good in this world. Through granting wishes, we can be a part of that good.”
Hotel Viking has long supported Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island through auction donations. The relationship expanded in 2022 when Hotel Viking helped grant a wish for 7-year-old Summer from Manassas Park, VA, who wished to visit Newport. Summer and her mother, Jessica, who like to have spa days at home, enjoyed time together at Hotel Vikin’s Spa Fjör during their visit to the historic city.
Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island relies on in-kind support from local businesses like Hotel Viking to grant wishes and create meaningful experiences for wish recipients and their families. “It’s always an honor to work with Make-A-Wish and to be part of their incredible community,” said Robin Tosto, Director of Group Sales for Hotel Viking. “Hotel Viking was built in 1926 for the people, and by the people, and it is extremely important to be involved and supportive in our community. Michael and the Make-A-Wish staff are truly amazing partners and our team had so much fun spending the afternoon with Princesses Alyssa, Lilly, Abigail, Mikayla, and Laila.”
To learn more about Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island and find out how you can get involved, visit massri.wish.org.