Last year, in honor of its 30th year in business, Association Management, Inc. (AMI) set a goal to raise $30,000 — the equivalent of five children’s wishes — to donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana. Though the economy was down, donors’ spirits were high and under the stewardship of its co-founders, Glenda and David Regenbaum, the company more than doubled its original goal with a total of $65,000.
“We granted five wishes last June and will present the balance of $35,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana today to fulfill wishes of a potential of ten children who have life threatening medical conditions,” said AMI President Glenda Regenbaum, founder of the Houston-based homeowners association management company with her husband, David, Chairman and CEO, in 1979.
AMI, along with approximately 200 employees, and 44 vendor companies, contributed the $65,000, a major philanthropic achievement for AMI and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana. One of the Chapter’s Board Members, Cheryl Smith, and her son Robin Spidell, who, as a child, was a Make-A-Wish recipient, accepted the gift on behalf of the organization. Robin plans to graduate from Pearland High School on June 4 and has been accepted into Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX for the fall. This summer, he will be going to the United Kingdom with a trip sponsored by one of his history teachers, Mr. Lane. Additionally, he will be doing mission work with his church, Friendswood United Methodist Church, and performing in a musical through United Players.
AMI made the presentation at an ice cream party today at their Northwest Houston corporate offices. An ice cream social is the ideal venue, according to Smith, whose teen-aged son, Robin, had one simple wish 13 years ago. He wanted to be “the boss of the ice cream man” in their Pearland neighborhood. As a child, Robin had T-cell Lymphoma, a form of cancer that affected his lungs and immune system. His treatment over two-and-one-half years included aggressive chemotherapy and painful spinal taps. He was often at Texas Children’s Hospital as much as three to four days a week for two and one-half years. Smith remembers when he was at home recovering; he looked forward to visits from the local ice cream man.
“I remember that I couldn’t wait for the ice cream man to come by. At the time, that was a big deal,” said Spidell. “I think that’s also when I first realized how expensive things could be.” Robin also noticed that some neighborhood children didn’t have the money to buy ice cream treats. Robin wished he could solve that problem and soon, with help from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana, and free ice cream donated by Blue Bell, his wish came true. In May 1997 Robin put on a hat dubbing him “The Ice Cream Man,” boarded the truck and handed out free frozen ice cream treats to the children in his neighborhood.
“The whole cancer treatment process was hard on Robin and each member of our family. But he had this incredible opportunity, and he really wanted to give to other people. That’s just how he is. Even as a typical teenager he has the best heart. He will always help anyone. As a mom, I have a lot to be thankful for,” said Smith.
Association Management, Inc. (AMI) is the Houston area’s oldest and largest privately owned company offering a full range of professional management services to a wide variety of communities. One of the first Accredited Association Management Companies (AAMC) in the nation, AMI was acknowledged by The Community Associations Institute (CAI) as an outstanding professional community association management company based on its experience, professionalism, and continuing education. In addition to the Pearland office, the company currently has regional offices in Kingwood, The Woodlands and Austin and has a corporate office in Houston.
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The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Wish children are referred to the Foundation by their parent, legal guardian, doctor, or social worker. Once Make-A-Wish has been contacted, a medical release form is sent to the child’s primary physician. Upon medical approval, a volunteer team sets up a time to visit with the child to determine the one wish in that child’s heart. With the help of the Chapter office, the wish team makes the necessary arrangements for the wish to come true (average wish cost is $6,000). The goal is to provide a joyful and meaningful experience that gives the immediate family time together away from medical treatments & medical bills
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