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Tree House is Wish-Come-True10-03-16 | News
Tree House is Wish-Come-True
Pro Bono Efforts Result in New Outdoor Experience


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A team of design/build professionals and material suppliers joined forces with Make-A-Wish of Alaska and Washington to provide a wish kid with a wheelchair-accessible tree house with thermally improved aluminum windows for warmth.


Make-A-Wish of Alaska and Washington recently received donations and support from Milgard???(R)???AE???? Windows & Doors, Cascade Lumber and others to provide wish kid Daniel, with a new playhouse.

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Daniel spent almost half a year in the hospital in 2014, and during that time, he got very interested in the television show Treehouse Masters. He wanted to experience one for himself but it had to be accessible by wheelchair. Daniel is also very vulnerable to hypothermia, so he if a tree house was in his future, it needed to be a warm place to play.

"Daniel loves the outdoors but it's often physically hard for him to get outside because of his wheelchair," said Jeannette Tarcha, vice president of communications and marketing. "Now he has an easy to access playhouse right off his back deck."

The playhouse was a team effort with many businesses coming together to help make this wish come true, including: thermally improved aluminum windows provided by Milgard; lumber provided by Cascade Lumber; window installation by Impel and Madrona Beach Construction; carpentry by Bumson Construction, skylights by Crystalite; painting by Nicholson; roof by ABR; flashings by RSI Metals and the plan designed by Bill Lippens of Designs Northwest Architects.

"The use of thermal barriers in aluminum framed windows vastly improves insulating ability," said Jeff Cain, sales manager of Milgard Windows & Doors, Tacoma. "Our thermal break windows were chosen for this project for their energy efficiency, which will help keep Daniel warm in his new playhouse."

In addition to being warm and comfortable in his treetop surroundings, Daniel now has a great place to hang out with his friends and brothers. Squirrel watching is now on the top of his list for fun activities. Daniel's wish has allowed him to experience the woodsy feel of his backyard in a way that he has never been able to before. Plus, it has given him something to think and talk about that has nothing to do with his health concerns and has really lifted his spirits.

The Make-A-Wish foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true can influence the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illnesses, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Currently, there are many children awaiting their wishes and there are more who qualify for services, yet will not due to a lack of funds and capacity. For more information about Make-A-Wish in your area and how you can help, go to https://wish.org/







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