Each year, Communication Studies students at California State University, Stanislaus must complete a senior capstone project to meet their graduation requirement. Four students joined together this semester to put on a “Bake-A-Wish” event, which donated all proceeds made to the Make-A-Wish foundation – an organization that helps enrich the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

“We all love baking, so we decided to put on a baking-inspired event,” said Stephanie McIntosh, one of the students who helped put on Bake-A-Wish. “We also all wanted to help benefit an organization that we all hold dear to our hearts, so we decided that all of the proceeds would go towards the Make-A-Wish Foundation.”

McIntosh worked with Anthony Pascual, Sarah Peckham and Melissa Bishop to plan the event for their senior capstone project. The team also worked with local sponsors, including Ironstone Vineyards, Body Tropics, Mr. Pickles, Chipotle, Chloe & Zoey’s Pet Boutique, Stanza, Southern Exposure, CSU Stanislaus Bookstore, Starbucks, Crivelli’s T-Shirts, Safeway, and Marie Callender’s.

The event was held at 1 p.m. Thursday in the South Dining Hall at CSU Stanislaus. Activities included decorating techniques, a “blind” decorating competition, a cupcake eating contest, and two baking contests based on both aesthetic and taste.

“We worked together to compile a cookbook with different recipes that we included as part of the raffle,” said McIntosh.

Upon arrival, guests were given one free ticket and could choose one activity to participate in. Should they desire to participate in the other activities available, such as the cakewalk, additional activity tickets could be purchased for $5 each. Raffle tickets were also being sold, with prizes such as a cookbook, a bottle of wine, and other fun prizes. Guests who participated in the baking contest also paid a $5 entry fee.

“We’ve had a pretty great turnout today,” said McIntosh. “In just the first couple of hours, we had about 70 people come through and enjoy the various activities we put on.”

After the event, the team of four must create a portfolio explaining their event and give a presentation to their class.

As one of the most well known charities, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has been helping enrich the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions since 1980. By providing children with hope, joy and strength by fulfilling one of their life wishes, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has helped more than 250,000 children worldwide.

“The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a great organization, and we’re so glad that we could find a way to help benefit their cause,” said McIntosh.

To learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org.