Spotlight

Dunkin’ Donuts Genie in a Mug Three Wishes Holiday Program

John Motta and The Motta Family Dunkin Donuts Franchise started this holiday tradition in 2005. John is a member of the Girls Inc. of New Hampshire  board of directors and wanted to help the children enrolled at our centers by granting them wishes at the holidays. He chose to name the program “Genie in a Mug” (a Dunkin Donuts mug, no doubt!) with an original intent to fulfill the wishes of three girls from the 250  submitted from  all 4 Girls’ Centers. When John and his family read the wishes the first year, they decided to fulfill as many as they could. The wishes that come in from the girls are always very thoughtful. They rarely ask for toys or gifts for themselves, but rather they ask for things that will help their parents and siblings – or ways that they might re-connect with an absent parent.

The girls’ wishes have included such things as:  to meet a father for the first time, many requests for food for their families, furniture such as a child’s bed or a dining table where there was none, repairs to the family car, winter clothing, heat for their apartments, appliances and diapers and formula for the baby.

John and his family read through every wish together each year over the Thanksgiving holiday and together they choose which ones to grant. This year the Motta family granted 20 children’s wishes and provided such things as the following:

• Clothing for two younger brothers and a gift card to the grocery store
• Diapers and formula for her baby brother
• Books to read
• $50 grocery store gift card a week for a year
• A new microwave
• Donation to the Susan G Komen foundation in honor of a grandmother’s fight against breast cancer
• Blankets, sheets, comforters and a gift card for groceries
• $200 towards a family’s utility bill
• Hats, mittens, boots for three sisters
• “Clothes that fit” for one girl and her sister
• Art supplies including paper, markers, pencils
• Pillows, blankets, and new shoes

The wishes are granted at a festive pre-Christmas brunch at a local restaurant, provided by the Motta family, and attended by the girls whose wishes are being granted along with their families. Girls Inc. staff and board members and their children also attend.  John and Maria Motta and their entire family – including married children and grandchildren attend and share in the joy of the day. John is a fitting MC for the event and always says it is his favorite day of the year. Santa Claus makes an annual appearance and delivers the gifts to the children.

Here are some examples of the wish letters written by the girls: 

Dear Genie, I need a hat, gloves and boots for the winter because I don’t have any. Thank you– Jaylin

Dear Genie, I wish my family could have money to buy food because we are poor. Our cat and fish need food too.  We need pillows and blankets because ours are ripped up. Thank you for your help– Lauryn

Dear Genie, I wish my mother had money so she could buy food because she has to eat my Grandmother’s food. I also wish she had money so she could buy clothes for my brothers because their clothes don’t fit. Thank you– Jasmine

Dear Genie, my family needs to get rid of some old junk but we also need money and we can’t pay our bills. I think we need to have a yard sale but my mom doesn’t want to have one in the cold. I also think we could sell hot cocoa but we would need a lot of powder. We could end up like a homeless guy I saw 5 days before my birthday. We literally have no money for food, light or heat. Sorry to ask so much. Sincerely, your desperate friend Adriana.