Elena, a 6-year-old from the Houston area battling leukemia, learned on Sept. 30 that her wish for a family vacation would become reality when Logisnext Americas revealed its partnership with Make-A-Wish to grant her dream.
The announcement came during a princess-themed celebration at Logisnext Americas' Customer Experience Center on Houston's southwest side, where Elena and her family gathered with company employees and representatives from Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana. The event featured dress-up stations, bracelet-making activities and a visit from adoptable dogs courtesy of the Houston Humane Society.
"Seeing Elena's reaction to the wish reveal was a special moment for our team," said Berry Mansfield, president of Logisnext Americas.
The family vacation is scheduled for fall, giving Elena and her two younger brothers time to prepare for the trip with their parents. Elena's mother said her daughter is creative, loves gardening, hula hooping and sewing, and is a self-described princess enthusiast—which influenced the celebration's theme.
Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana, which serves children with critical illnesses across southeast Texas and Louisiana, has been granting wishes since 1984. The organization fulfilled 607 wishes during fiscal year 2026 and has exceeded 12,600 total wishes since its inception.
"We know that wishes have the wonderful power to unite communities with hope and joy, and Elena's wish is a beautiful example of that," said Shelly Millwee, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana. "We are grateful to Logisnext Americas for helping make Elena's wish come true and for creating a day where she and her family could celebrate together and create lasting memories."
Logisnext Americas, a Houston-based leading manufacturer of material handling and automation equipment, is marking its second consecutive year as a corporate sponsor of the local Make-A-Wish chapter. The company operates five major brands—Cat lift trucks, Rocla AGV Solutions, UniCarriers Forklifts, Logisnext Forklifts and Jungheinrich warehouse systems—and employs hundreds across the region.
Make-A-Wish operates as one of 57 chapters nationwide and has granted more than 650,000 wishes globally since its founding in 1980. Families interested in supporting Make-A-Wish or nominating a child for a wish can donate or apply to volunteer year-round through wish.org/texgulf.
