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Joey Landry

At nine years old, my charitable career started.

When I was nine, I got my first glimpse of the joy Make-A-Wish brings to kids with critical illnesses, and I wanted to help. Then I read that granting one wish costs about $20,000, so that became my goal. I started where I was: a lemonade stand on the lawn in Nyes Neck, a small neighborhood on Cape Cod.

It did not happen overnight. Every summer I tried something new (games nights, movie nights, raffles, apparel), and plenty of it flopped. I kept adapting, the neighborhood kept showing up, and by 2021 we had raised more than $20,000 for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The goal from the start. Granting one costs about $20,000

1 wish

The goal from the start. Granting one costs about $20,000

Raised for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 2013 to 2021

$20,000+

Raised for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 2013 to 2021

Children’s Research Hospital, supported today by a portion of Nyes Neck Clothing & Apparel proceeds

St. Jude

Children’s Research Hospital, supported today by a portion of Nyes Neck Clothing & Apparel proceeds

“I have been given an amazing opportunity to help provide life-changing experiences for wish children.”

2021

Make-A-Wish · Nyes Neck

Where it all began.

  1. 2013

    Lemonade and bracelets. I raised only $50.

    My first fundraiser

    Lemonade, iced tea and bracelets on the lawn, under a hand-painted sign (spelling was not my strongest subject yet). It was a small start, but it was a start.

  2. 2014

    Games night, 2014.

    Games night at the Beach Field

    Two dollars at the door, 7:30 to 8:30 at the Beach Field, rain date next Monday. Not every night worked: I was crushed at 10 when only two kids showed up to Movie Night, and again a week later when I had to cancel Games Night for lack of interest. I kept going anyway.

  3. Early years

    The Make-A-Wish table by the harbor.

    The table by the harbor

    A pop-up tent, two striped tables and a Make-A-Wish banner. My fundraisers ran in the daytime, so I set up by the water to catch beach-goers (and a few early arrivals to the annual meeting) on their way by.

  4. 2016

    Movie night, 2016.

    Backyard movie nights

    A sheet on the fence, a projector and a lawn full of blankets. This time the kids came, and movie-night gift bags and s’mores kits became a summer staple.

  5. 2019

    The apparel tent, 2019.

    Apparel and gift bags

    By 2019 the table had become a tent: shirts, sweatshirts and rows of gift bags, all for Make-A-Wish. Each summer went better than the last, but I was still thousands of dollars short of $20,000.

  6. 2021

    3 photos

    The last one: the first Nyes Neck Gala

    My final summer before college. The whole neighborhood gathers once a year for the annual meeting (to debate the “dock,” among other fiery topics), so this time I took over when it ended: a tent, a live band, and the first ever Nyes Neck apparel. By dark the colored lights were on and everyone was dancing. It pushed the total past $20,000.

A thank-you from Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Thank you to my family, my neighbors, and everyone who showed up for Make-A-Wish along the way.

Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island thank-you graphic headlined “Joey Landry raises over $20K for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island!”, telling the story of the Nyes Neck fundraisers and thanking Joey and the Nyes Neck community, beside a photo of a smiling wish child at a drum set.
Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

  1. 2026

  2. Now

    Still going. Want to help?

    I’m working toward a nonprofit that helps children in need and people affected by domestic violence. It’s early, and I’d love help shaping it, whether that’s an idea, an introduction, or a hand at the next event under the tent.

    Get involved Shop the cause (opens in a new tab)