A Special Wish

Your Chance to Dine at Bagger Dave’s Before They Open

November 2, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

The first Ohio location for this Detroit based burger joint will open at 11:00am on November 9th at 5299 Cornerstone North Blvd. in Centerville, just off Wilmington Pike. The first 50 guests through the door on that day will receive FREE burgers for a year! Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern prides itself on fresh, never frozen menu items. There are no freezers or microwave ovens in their kitchens. Even the fries are fresh-cut daily. They describe their restaurant as a relaxed, friendly place to meet friends, have a drink while watching the ball game, and enjoy a great meal.

Bagger Dave’s menu offers a variety of burgers, sandwiches, and flatbreads as well as some Bagger Dave’s exclusives like their Prime Rib Recipe burgers, Amazingly Delicious Turkey Black Bean Chili, Handcrafted Artisan Mac ‘N’ Cheese, Sweet Potato Chips, signature cocktails, hand-crafted sodas and more.

Juicy turkey burgers and vegetarian burgers provide menu options to appeal to the growing diversity of individual tastes. Speaking of which, Bagger Dave’s lets you create-your-own burgers. You pick your bun, protein, and toppings to create your very own signature burger. And for gluten-free customers, you can enjoy Bagger Bowls.

Special Sneak Peek:

On this Thursday, November 5th, Bagger Dave’s is hosting a VIP community day. They have generously opened that day up for friends of the Dayton Chapter of A Special Wish Foundation so they can do a trial run for the opening of their new restaurant. ASW gets 100% of the proceeds.

Who: Bagger Dave’s Centerville
What: Bagger Dave’s Training Fundraiser Event with A Special Wish Foundation
Where: 5299 Cornerstone North Blvd. Centerville, OH 45458
When: Thursday, November 5th

A Special Wish has 20 tickets available for each shift. Each ticket admits up to 3 people and includes an entrée for each guest and free non-alcoholic drinks, plus one appetizer to share. Lunch shifts are $15 per tickets and dinner shifts are $20 per ticket. No takeout is available for this event.

Lunch Shift 1: 11:30am – 12:30pm

Lunch Shift 2: 12:30pm – 1:30pm

Dinner Shift 1: 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Dinner Shift 2: 7:30pm –8:30pm

Contact Susan at [email protected] to purchase your tickets. Please indicate which shift you would like and the number of tickets you need. Please also indicate the number of guests in your party.

A Special Wish 5k and Fun Run

October 25, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

A Special Wish Foundation (ASW), the only wish-granting organization located in the Dayton Region, is excited to announce that the Special Wish Run will take place on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 9:30am. New this year is a Fun Run and Stroller Roll for aspiring runners 12 and under sponsored by Primrose Schools. Runners will enjoy the scenic trails of Island MetroPark and will be cheered on by Wish Kids and their families along the course.

Bill’s Donut Shop Raffling A Dozen Donuts A Week For A Year

September 25, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

In October Bill’s Donut Shop will be celebrating 54 years in the donut business!

The shop was founded in 1960 by Bill and Faye Elam originated in downtown Dayton. Through the years, Bills Donut Shop has moved numerous times. In the 1970’s, there were multiple locations in the Dayton area including the cities of: Vandalia, Wilmington, Kettering, and Huber Heights. Over time, the Elam’s decided to focus their resources and talents in one store location.
In 1967, the shop was located at the intersection of Franklin and Main, close to where Panera Bread is today and the parking was one of the biggest problems in those days. Bill Elam admits that the added parking available in the current location was a big motivator in moving. In the earlier years, Bills was not open 24 hours a day. The advent of the third shift arose from the need of late night workers who would travel to work for NCR. “Back in those days, NCR was going strong and everybody south of town worked there. They all took Route 48 home-to Centerville, Lebanon or Springboro.” Faye says. Many Centerville residents worked for the company and for a while Bill would provide coffee and donuts to the workers at the back door using the honor system. Within a month, third shift was launched. In 1979 Bill’s moved to its current location at 268 N. Main Street in Centerville.

In 1995, Bill & Faye sold the family business to two of their children, Lisa & Jim Elam. They have made sure that the friendly atmosphere and hospitality that has defined the shop since its beginning remains a mainstay today. When asked why the shop has been such a success, Lisa said, “We know many of our customers by name, we’re very family oriented.”

In April of 2013 USA today featured Bill’s Donuts in their list of “10 great places to get doughnuts.”

In honor of their anniversary, Bill’s Donuts will be selling raffle tickets with 100% of the proceeds to benefit The Special Wish Foundation. There will be many prizes awarded, shirts, hoodies, mugs, gift baskets, etc. The grand prize will be one dozen donuts a week for a year.

Tickets go on sale the first of October and they will sell them throughout the month. The cost will be $1.00 each or six for $5.00. Stop by, pick ups some donuts and and help support this very worthwhile organization.

Pizza School – Now Enrolling To Benefit A Special Wish

March 19, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

The Special Wish Run

October 9, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

This family friendly 5k run/walk will take place on November 2, 2013 at Island MetroPark. All proceeds will benefit ASW and the granting of Special Wishes to local children d or adolescent (birth through age 20) who has been diagnosed by a physician with a life-threatening disorder. The Dayton Chapter of A Special Wish Foundation serves Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Darke, Shelby, and Mercer counties. Over the past 29 years, our chapter has granted over 1,500 wishes to children living in its six county area.

Pre-registration (before October 26, 2013) is $25/person; Kids 8 years and younger are free, but still need to register for the event. Registration must be done by printing out a registration form and sending it to ASW. Late or day-of registration is $30/person, but a race t-shirt is not guaranteed.

Event Details:

Date: 11/2/13

Time: 9:00am, 7:30am day-of registration

Location: Island MetroPark/Stillwater Bike Trail (1001 Helena St., Dayton, OH 45405)

Volunteers Wanted: A Special Wish, Bike Miami Valley & Garden Station

August 12, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Volunteering is the perfect way to feel connected to your community. The simple act of offering your skills and enthusiasm will positively impact the lives of others, as well as your own. Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you’re going through challenging times. Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but it’s especially beneficial in older adults. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.

Check out these groups looking for volunteers:

A Special Wish Foundation, the wish granting organization located in the Dayton region, is looking for 25 volunteers to help with the 4th Annual Glow Fore Wishes night time golf scramble on Friday, August 23. The event is from 6 – 11PM at Community Golf Course. “Midnight” Breakfast Buffet provided. Call Mariesa Stock at 937-641-4263 if interested in helping

Bike Miami Valley is looking for a group to handle bike valet parking at Oktoberfest for Sunday, 29 September! Want to support cycling? Love beer? Here’s your chance! Bike Miami Valley encourages all local festivals to have bike valet parking – and Oktoberfest is out front! We need a group to provide people to handle bike valet parking – racks provided. You have a chance to set up a table, sell t-shirts, promote your organization – and get free admission (a $12 value) to Oktoberfest! Send an email if interested!

Garden Station is looking for some volunteers to help organize events for Urban Nights on Friday, September 20th! Garden Station is transforming a two acre lot on the northeast corner of Fourth Street and Wayne Avenue that was vacant for more than 40 years into a vibrant art park and community garden.Who wants to help showcase Garden Station as one of the coolest spots in the city? Email if interested/

FilmDayton‘s 5th annual festival is coming Aug 23-25th, headquartered at The Neon, and they could use a few more volunteers to cover all the bases. They need folks for set-up, ticket takers, greeters and odd jobs, too. Fill out the online form and volunteer for a shift – you get a free movie ticket out of the deal, too!

MostMetro will be updating these opportunities each week. If your organization has a need for volunteers, email us your info and we’ll include you in the next update.

Jane’s Best Bets (7/13 – 7/17)

July 13, 2011 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

First off, I would like to say congratulations to the Dayton Dragons on setting the national record for sports sell-outs this past weekend…what an accomplishment! We do truly live in a great city! And I’d like to prove it once again by letting you know about some of the great things going on here this week!

On Wednesday, take a break from work and head to The Square Is Where… Yoga Class from Practice Yoga at Courthouse Square. If you haven’t been getting enough beauty sleep lately, consider going to La Comedia to see Sleeping Beauty. Listen to music at Yankee Trace with Jazz on the Green or at Veteran’s Park Amphitheater with The Dark Star Orchestra. And if you’re in need of a good laugh, then head to Wiley’s for their Dirty Little Secret Superhero Show.

On Thursday, there are several great happy hour options so you are going to have some tough decisions to make! If you are an enthusiastic young professional, join Generation Dayton at El Meson for Thirsty Thursday. It’s Thursday Night Live at the Moraine Embassy, so let DaytonMostMetro.com’s very own Bill Pote and Lisa Grigsby help take care of you, as they will be the celebrity bartenders on hand. Grab dinner and drinks at one of the fabulous restaurants at The Greene such as McCormick & Schmick’s and then sit on the green (literally) to watch as Ed Kowalczyk, the lead singer of Live performs. Check out three of the Oregon District’s new businesses as part of their Progressive Open House, where each business will have live performances by jazz and classical musicians, as well as raffles! Bring the whole family to see Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Salvation Army Kroc Center – tickets are FREE! Or help support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by getting your tickets to see ‘The Sound of Music’ at Epiphany Lutheran Church. And finally, listen to live music at the Dayton Art Institute for a Twilight Concert or at RiverScape for their Big Band Nights featuring the Eddie Brookshire Orchestra.

On Friday, bring your kids to the PNC 2^nd Street Market for Pasta Making for Kids…afterall, wouldn’t it be nice if they made you dinner for a change?!?! If you love biking, consider taking part in the Greene Trails Cycling Classic at the Greene County Fairgrounds Recreation Center. Although this is a four-day event, you are able to “Design-A-Ride” that fits your schedule. Art lovers should make plans to attend the 20th Annual Open Members’ Show: Light at the Dayton Visual Arts Center. Head to the Beavercreek Kroger for their Wine and Food Extravaganza. Once again, you will be able to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by going to Epiphany Lutheran Church for The Sound of Music’. Have a nerds night out at Xenia Area Community Theater as part of Nerd Comedy Night. If you prefer to be cool, head to Victoria Theatre to see “Some Like It Hot” as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series. And if you actually do like it hot, then make your way to Bella Villa Hall for the The Bocce Classic XVI.

On Saturday, if you enjoy seeing beautiful irises (the flower kind), then you will want to be at the PNC 2^nd Street Market for their Iris Sale. At RiverScape, get in shape with Zumba in the Park or participate in their Kayak Float. Support A Special Wish Foundation by attending Fajita Fest at the Polish Club. Listen to the sounds of Michael Bashaw & Puzzle of Light and the Rippingtons at Veteran’s Park Amphitheater, the Bob Gray Orchestra at Stubbs Amphitheater, Son Del Caribe as part of the Free Summer Concert Series at RiverScape, or Trace Adkins at the Fraze Pavilion. Over at

: Trace Adkins at the Fraze

Fifth-Third Field, the Bob Ross Classic will be going on, which is an All-Star Baseball Game for local high school baseball players. And if you would like to watch some great fights, head over to Drake’s Downtown for Fight Night…just be sure you don’t get into one yourself!

On Sunday, the Fraze will be having WTUE’s Breakfast with The Beatles and The Beatleburys. Baby you can drive your car there…sorry I’m not going to let you drive mine! If you would rather ride a bike, then participate in the Greene Trails Cycling Classic, which will still be going strong. Watch belly dancers and fire jugglers, listen to live music, and MUCH more at the Fling in the Springs (downtown Yellow Springs). A trip to Dave Hall Plaza for the Downtown Summer Music Series – Michelob Dayton Blues Festival is a must for all blues fans out there! You will also be able to listen to music at Stubbs Amphitheater in Centerville (The Termites) and at Riverfront Park in Miamisburg (Pizzazz in the Park Concert Series: Paragon Quartet). And if you’re not the outdoors type, then you can go to Victoria Theatre to see “Some Like It Hot” as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series or to Epiphany Lutheran Church for The Sound of Music’.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why did the coach kick Cinderella off the baseball team?

Because she ran away from the ball.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar. There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today! Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE! And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (6/22 – 6/26)

June 21, 2011 By Dayton937 2 Comments

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Holy moly, there are a ton of things going on this week! Speaking of “holy,” this week there are several church festivals…plus many more great events. Let’s check them out!

On Wednesday during your lunch hour, get moving with The Square Is Where… Dayton YMCA Presents Zumba at Courthouse Square. If you feel like having a drink, head to A.Y.O.B. at Archer’s Tavern, where a new craft beer will be featured starting at 5PM or to Franco’s for Dayton Green Drinks, where they will be discussing the Pathways out of Poverty Program. I do believe it is officially summer, so even though you may not be taking that big European vacation you’ve dreamed about, you can still have a Summer Around The World Wine Dinner at The Wine Loft. If cycling is your thing, you will not want to miss seeing Bicycle Dreams, the award-winning feature-length documentary about the Race Across America, being featured at The Neon. All women who are looking for an opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others in the Dayton area should consider attending the Junior League of Dayton New Member Social. This amazing group makes great contributions to our community, and you have the opportunity to be a part of it…as long as you’re not a man! If you’re in need of a good laugh, make your way to Wiley’s for their Dirty Little Secret Sideshow – Deuxième Exécution. And if you’re a Harley lover that also enjoys live music, head to Jackass Flats for Buddha & The Boogie Down Gig/Bike Night.

On Thursday, complete some of your grocery shopping at the Centerville Farmers Market. If you work or volunteer for a non-profit, consider helping the cause by attending Orientation to the Grants Information Center at the Dayton Metro Library’s main branch. You will be able to hear live music at the Dayton Art Institute as part of their Twilight Concert. Jim McCutcheon, a very talented guitarist (who also taught me two semesters worth of guitar when I was at UD!), will be one of the performers. If you wish to show a bit of your athleticism, make your way to Wings Sports Bar & Grille for their Weekly Cornhole Tournament. You know I’m corny, so I had to put that in here. And finally, if you have not yet had the opportunity to check out The Lion King at the Schuster Center, now is your chance!

On Friday, there are an enormous number of wonderful events from which to choose! In the afternoon, if you don’t have lunch plans, consider joining Generation Dayton for their 4th Friday Lunch Speaker Series. Or have some fun at Courthouse Square with the Team Void Summer Twist Party. In the evening, join me in attending the Hops Over the Moon Preview Party at the Boonshoft, which will feature too many great things to list…seriously! (For more info, check out this article.) If you’re in shape, run the 5th Annual 5 For the Kids 5K to benefit CARE House. And even if you’re not, that is okay too! There are several festivals happening around town, including the Fenwick Festival (my alma mater!), the Ascension Festival, and the St. Peter Parish Festival. At Yankee Trace, many people will be playing golf as part of the 2nd Annual Glow Fore Wishes Golf Scramble to benefit A Special Wish Foundation. Although registration is full for the event, there are still several sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, so if you are able to help, I encourage you to do so! And if you feel like catching a show, Hair Spray at La Comedia and The Lion King at the Schuster Center are possible options!

On Saturday, start the day off with another 5k – the First Annual Back to Health 5k, held at Indian Riffle Park. Up in Troy, get some great produce as part of the Troy Farmers Market. If you are a teacher, consider going to the Dayton Metro Library’s main branch for the Grants for Classroom Projects. There are a lot of family friendly options for Saturday, including the Family Fun Day Beach Party & Cruise in at Hueston Woods, the Fenwick Festival, the St. Peter Parish Festival, and the Ascension Festival. In addition, if you’re of the corny type, Ascension will have its very own Festival Cornhole Tournament. At RiverScape, rent a kayak and ride the river. Make sure you wear a life jacket as I once flipped over in an “unflippable” kayak, or so I’m told. Just leave it to me to do the impossible (I’m sure this won’t happen to you, however)! In the evening, make your way to the Boonshoft (kids are welcome!) for Hops Over the Moon, which is sure to be a great time, and also supports a great cause! There are a couple other fun events, including the Clambake For Kids’ Sake at McCormick & Schmicks to support Big Brothers Big Sisters and Party Arty! at the Commander Aero Hangar (Dayton Wright Brothers Airport) to support Culture Works. Theater options include The Lion King (Schuster Center) and Hair Spray (La Comedia). And if you’re downtown and love summer concerts, listen to the sounds of Kick-n-Flava as part of the Free Summer Concert Series down at RiverScape. Wow, my fingers are getting tired from typing all this stuff going on around town!

On Sunday, if you (and your kids) have any energy left, make your way to one of the great festivals going on around town – the Fenwick Festival, the St. Peter Festival, or the Ascension Festival. If your kids are Disney lovers, consider taking them to Dayton Disneyana at the Holiday Inn close to the Dayton Mall. Listen to some of the best local female jazz vocalists as part of the Downtown Summer Music Series – Michelob Women in Jazz Festival at Dave Hall Plaza. Or at Veteran’s Park Amphitheater, listen to live music as part of World Music Fest! And finally, hurry up and get to the Schuster Center to see The Lion King if you haven’t already done so!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

How does a man on the moon cut his hair?

Eclipse it.

Have a great week Dayton!

Local Non Profit Seeking New Board Members

September 13, 2010 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Children with life-threatening disorders deserve wonderful chances such as a trip to Disney World, meeting a celebrity, or going on a shopping spree. A Special Wish Foundation is determined to make these dreams become a reality. With incredible support from local organizations and individuals, we have brought smiles to the faces of hundreds of children and their families.

A Special Wish Foundation has been granting wishes to local Dayton area children since 1983. Our goal is to provide unique, once in a lifetime opportunities for children diagnosed with life-threatening disorders. Our organization is wholly dedicated to granting such wishes. We operate on minimal expenses so that over 90 percent of contributions go toward granting wishes, not overhead costs.

A Special Wish Foundation is seeking out dedicated professionals within the community to serve as members of the Board of Directors.

Interested individuals will be required to participate in monthly meetings, assist in fundraising efforts, lend professional expertise, and serve as an ambassador to the Dayton Community.

Past and present Board of Directors have had the privilege to participate in granting over 1,400 wishes to local Dayton children birth through age 20.

You can make a difference in the life of a Wish Child. To inquire about the Board of Directors please email [email protected].