Mike Wolanin | The Republic Clara Roth smiles during a Make a Wish ceremony in her honor at Toyota Material Handling North America in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Clara asked Make a Wish for tuition assistance for Indiana University. Toyota Material Handling North America held golf outings and fundraisers to raise money for her tuition.
“Crazy and overwhelming!”
That’s how a 19-year-old Indianapolis cancer survivor described one of the most extraordinary mornings of her life at Toyota Material Handling in Columbus on Wednesday when her wish was granted.
Wednesday’s Make-A-Wish celebration at the manufacturing facility was intended to be a surprise for Clara Roth, a recent graduate of Bishop Chatard High School in Broad Ripple.
It was almost three hours into her visit, immediately after a video presentation, that a giant wall in an auditorium was raised to reveal flashing lights, beaming Toyota associates swinging glow sticks, reflecting confetti falling from the ceiling, 3-D images bearing Toyota products – and even Indiana University cheerleaders.
Besides enthusiastically greeting the teenager, the cheerleaders also held up signs stating: “Your wish has been granted, Clara.”
It was at that moment that company president and CEO Brett Wood confirmed that Toyota Material Handling associates, in conjunction with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, had raised more than enough money to pay Clara’s first year of tuition at Indiana University.
And there were even more surprises. When Wood mentioned he heard something had happened to her iPhone, Clara responded she had dropped it the night before and the entire screen went permanently dark.
With little time to spare, the company took fast action and was able to provide Clara with a stylish replacement.
In addition, the soon-to-be college freshman received a newMacbook computer, $500 in IKEA gift cards to furnish her dorm room, and a substantial amount of gear bearing IU logos.
Wednesday’s cheers and jubilation was a much different experience for Clara, compared to what it has taken to overcome serious health challenges.
Three years ago, the teenager was having one of her occasional hospital stays for treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer affecting part of the body’s germ-fighting immune system, which can have serious long-term complications.
While she was approaching her 16th birthday, Clara told the Make-A-Wish Foundation she wanted to travel, foundation spokeswoman Maria Quinton said. But the year was 2020. That wish was impossible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Quinton said.
Clara then began talking about wanting to attend Indiana University. That was a very unusual wish for the foundation, which usually grants seriously-ill children wishes that include trips to Disney World or Hawaii.
Wood is a board member for the Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana chapter.
Last February, Toyota Material Handling kicked off its annual Make-A-Wish fund-raising efforts. This year’s goal was to raise $7,500 from associates, and when that goal was met, Toyota Material Handling matched it with $7,500, according to company officials.
Fundraising efforts included selling items ranging from shirts, koozies, gift items and baked goods. Two fund-raising golf tournaments were both completely sold out, attracting a total of 144 golfers, Wood said.
The CEO said he believed there is a message in his company’s several acts of philanthropy.
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up first,” Wood said.
He then turned his attention solely to Clara.
“You are now part of Toyota’s family,” Wood told her. “You’ve got 2,000 people right here in Columbus, Indiana who are ready to support you, who want to give you hope, happiness and joy as you go into the future.”
Clara said she was only expecting to come to Bartholomew County with family members to tour the plant. But when a limousine arrived at 8 a.m. Wednesday to pick up Clara, mother Michele, father David and sister Margaret, that’s when she knew something was up, she said.
As the family arrived at their destination in the Woodside Industrial Park, Clara saw a large sign outside that welcomed her. And after the Roth family entered the lobby displaying forklifts, red and white IU balloons were displayed in various areas.
After meeting Wood, Clara was told she was “CEO for a Day,” which meant the 19-year-old was allowed to sit behind Wood’s desk, attended some meetings and make the following three company directives.
- She was given her choice of three charities to receive a corporate contribution. Clara picked a backpack program that supplies school supplies to underprivileged children.
- Her choice of six possible movies to be shown during an outside Halloween event that usually attracts about 400 people. She chose “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.”
- And she selected a photo to be used on social media.
Clara said she’s not sure what her major will be at IU, but wants to help children in the future.
