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Make a Wish Veterans, a local service organization for veterans, likely will change its name after being pressured by Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that helps children with life-threatening illnesses.
BY LEORA ARNOWITZlarnowitz@MiamiHerald.comIn what's shaping up to be a battle of the big guy vs. the little guy, a Miami-based veterans' service organization likely will change its name after being pressured by Make-A-Wish Foundation, group leaders say.
The better-known Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses, first contacted the lesser-known Make a Wish Veterans in February.
The organization is concerned that the Liberty City veterans group is infringing on its name, said Brent Goodrich, media relations manager for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, which is based in Phoenix.
''We don't want the organization to stop doing what they are doing,'' Goodrich said. ``We simply want them to change their name.''
Goodrich said the Make-A-Wish name is a federally protected trademark, and it is the responsibility of the foundation to protect that trademark ``regardless of the reason the name is being used, and we know they are using it for a good reason.''
Charles Buford, president of Make a Wish Veterans, said the group has not made a final decision but likely will change its name to avoid a legal battle, which he said the Make-A-Wish Foundation has threatened.
''We do not wish to fight them,'' Buford said. ``We are a small group, and we have a lot to lose.''
Buford said the organization likely will go through with the change because it has limited funds. The organization has an annual budget of about $40,000, comprised primarily of donations.
''It's big Goliah jumping on little David, and I think it's very unfair,'' he said. ``But we don't have the money to fight them.''
John Burton, operations director for Make a Wish Veterans, said the organization was founded in 2007 and currently has about 1,500 members in South Florida. The group primarily works to feed hungry veterans and their families, but it recently expanded to do projects that included getting free public transportation for veterans and burying homeless veterans.
''We're funded out of pocket, and the limited funds that we do have, we'd rather use those to help the veterans than fighting in court,'' Burton said.
Burton said he suspects Make-A-Wish Foundation is concerned people trying to make a contribution to their organization will confuse it with Make a Wish Veterans.
Goodrich disagrees.
''It just boils down to the name and the trademark situation,'' he said.
Burton said regardless of the reason, the veterans probably will make the change to ``keep the peace.''
He said he expects the decision will be complete soon, and the group will meet later this month to further discuss the issue.
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