When wishes do not fail

MONROE-The sixth annual Jennifer Lynn Schnaars Memorial Barbecue will take place on Saturday, July 23, beginning at 2 p.m. at the American Legion pavilion on Lakes Road in Monroe. The fund raiser benefits the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Jennifer Lynn Schnaars of Highland Mills was 19 when she died as a result of a car accident in 1997. She was a student at Monroe-Woodbury High School, a co-captain of the varsity swim team as well as a cheerleader. She was planning on becoming an elementary school teacher. Two years after her death, her family created the fund-raising barbecue to honor her zest for life. Since then, family and friends have raised nearly $60,000 for Make-A-Wish. The wishes that have come true because of these efforts have included a teenager's wish to visit Hawaii and swim with the dolphins, a 4-year-old boy's wish to meet his favorite cartoon character, "Cat Dog" and become part of the animation, another 4-year-old's wish to travel by train to a beach to play in the sand and visit an amusement park, a 12-year old boy's wish to meet the New York Yankees and receive a bat autographed by the players, a 4 year-old girl's wish to visit Cinderella at her famous castle in Disney World, a 16 year-old boy's wish to have his very own touch screen computer, and most recently, a 13 year-old's wish to visit the tropical paradise of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, as well as an 8-year old's wish to have his bedroom completely redecorated. For information, call Lori Smith, Jennifer's sister, at (845) 783-7066 or their father, Charlie Schnaars at (203) 352-7571 during the day and (201) 941-6289 evenings. Checks should be made payable to "The Jennifer Lynn Schnaars Memorial Fund" and mailed to the following address: The Smith Family, 3 Barnett Drive, Apartment 1B, Monroe, N.Y. 10950.