Ina Garten and Make-A-Wish Foundation

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The foundation reportedly tried to contact the celebrity chef twice on behalf of a six-year-old boy suffering from leukemia who wanted to cook with her. And twice they were rebuffed.

Yet Garten's rep all but confirmed that it's true, saying that: "despite her demanding schedule, [Ina] participates and helps as many organizations as she can throughout the year, helping children and adults like Enzo with life threatening and compromising illnesses."

A better idea -- hopefully Food Network execs are holding a conference call right now to suggest this -- is that Garten just backtracks and invites the kid over.

But if she had time to throw a charity lunch for six Hamptonites -- who paid $100,000 to be there -- she can make time to whip up some meringues with a six-year-old.

Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring (episodic) programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns roughly two thirds of the network,

We all have to adopt a wait and see attitude when things like this hit the air waves. I'm not going to join the fray. Damaging someone's reputation is not something to be taken lightly.

What ever her reason was for denying this child, I would think that being approached by the Make A Wish Foundation would have given someone pause...this isn't a rinky dink opperation..

what we do know is that Ms. Garten was approached twice and said NO twice...Is there ever justification of turning down a dying child??

I won't watch this cold hearted b*t*h again. I hope she is removed from the Food Channel, as she is boring as hell anyway. Jeffrey (understandably) travels 6 days a week, only coming home to his Sunday meal. She wears the same shirt in every show, except for a different color. She frequents the same shops in every show -- and that cackle is enough to make anyone want to slit their wrists. Now this? I'm convinced she has no heart or soul. The devil reserves the top row of his oven for the likes of people like Ms. Garten.

You know, this comes across as awful, indeed, but gee folks......you all are being very harsh, judgemental and "holier than thou", I mite add. She may have said no, just to say no, or she may have some underlying personal reason. She is by no means obligated to do this or any other charitable thing. I'm sure all of you are just pillars of your communities and No. 1 volunteers wherever you go huh. Again, she may not want to or be able to handle the emotional toll of this. Just saying......

One issue I see here is that "we" the adoring fans, blah, blah, seem to think that just because someone is rich and/or famous, that they "must do this" or "must be like that". They are simply people just like us that are subject to fault. You yourself stated, "you'd like to think.......". Heck we all would like to think we'd do the right thing all the time, but the fact of the matter is we don't. Many of us don't do the right thing when it's not even a hardship for us to do. We, (the regular folks, the have nots, "the likely have more than alot of others, yet we still complain") pass the homeless daily, forget giving money, many don't even speak to the homeless or even attempt to make eye contact. We walk past them as if they are invisible. For as many people that volunteer and give to charity, there are tons more who don't. It would be great if everyone was more giving and caring....not just the rich and famous.....but ALL of us. The reality is we are imperfect and live in an imperfect society. Just food for thought here......so the make-a-wish folks get an overwhelming number of requests for a particular person, is that person OBLIGATED to fulfill all those wishes? According to comments here, yes, or is there a quota, so Ina, or any other celeb, could sign up for a certain number of wishes and once those are fulfilled, we, (every day folk reading these articles and posting), would be fine that she turned down number 11, because she did 1 - 10. I think not. We'd bitch and moan that she could have done one more. Human nature.....quick to see the faults in others, yet don't acknowledge our own shortcomings or the fact that we could really do more than we do. Just as no one makes YOU give to charity, more than you're comfortable giving, celebs don't HAVE to either. As indicated she does charitable work, (hence the outcry cause she's not doing "just one more"), but we always want OTHERS to do even more. Don't get me wrong, I feel those who can...should, but celebs are not the only ones who CAN.

You wrongly assume that I and others refuse to acknowledge our own shortcomings. NOW who's jumping to conclusions? We all know we have room for improvement, some more than others, and we are still RIGHTLY appalled by her behavior. Perhaps it's YOU who knows that if you were in this situation you might not want to do it either and that's why you defend her. Perhaps you can relate to her, and not in a good way. Most people however, cannot relate to turning down a child like this as you seem to be able to.

As far as the 'how many' argument, it just doesn't fly jbug. A celeb can grant a wish with the stipulation that it can only be done once, since it would be impossible to grant them all if a celeb were inundated. Just like the President agreeing to grant a wish, once. That way, in the future the MAW foundation and the kids know that this particular person is no longer an option. And no bad press! How easy is that?

But people should know that unintentionally, Its because there are so many people who may not want to or are able to handle this that childhood cancer kills more kids then diabetes, aids, and asthma combined and receives less then 3% of the funding. To the government its a popularity thing. The more talked about, the more funding it receives.

I wont comment on her decision as I don't know what it was based on enough to judge her for something like that. I just want people to know that if they want to help children with cancer, all they have to do is acknowledge that its a problem. (like people have done with breast cancer) That alone will save thousands of children's lives.

Who the FU*K would turn down a 6 year old with cancer? I sure wouldnt. The kid gave her the greatest compliment in that when in the hospital recovering from treatment he watched her and asked as one of his last wishs to cook with her...his disease is fatal...a kid...and you want to give her a pass because her fame and schedule and whatever bullsh*t reason is valid. This was a 6 year old kid to remind you again and again and again.....He wont have the luxury of age and wisdom....and we cant find time for him? Ina Garten says "how easy is that"...well refusing the last important wish of a child seems to be easy for her.

I volunteered at an AIDS hospice in San Francisco on weekends when in law school in San Francisco for guys whose heartless parents rejected them....they left them to die because they were born gay. I learned a life valuable lesson that it could be anyone of us in need, You dont reject abother human being ever!! No, I NEVER pass a homeless person without a smile or a kind word...

Charity? No this is not about doing a "charity" this is about being human and showing human kindness. There simply isn't a good enough excuse buy I am sure she might be digging for one right now!

I have met Ina Garten years ago and watch her show all the time. I can't believe she would not make this childs dream come true. In this day and age there are so many kids watching cooking shows and idolizing the hosts. I am a mother of 6 children and I am appalled that she would turn this child down. I know she's busy but if you want to be in this business and be on TV there are some things you have to do and cooking with a child who has cancer and is his dying wish IS something you have to make time for. Put yourself in the place of his parents. They want to make him happy. Please rethink your decision Ina or Food Network should can you and I wont' be buying anymore books or watching your program. You have time for the Hamptonites you can surely make some time for a sick child.

I cant even look at her face let alone watch her on TV anymore. She makes me sick, You should be honored this little boy found time to fit YOU into his BUSY schedule I sure hope your schedule opens up soon because if food network keeps you on after this there company is just as cold as your heart!!! I hope your career suffers after how you pushed this sick child to the side. Because lets be real the only reason you wont cook with him is because its a good deed and theirs no money in a good deed!

Its possible that the Barefoot Contessa was never fully apprised of the request by this sick child and her staff is responsible for the screw up.

The other possibility is the Contessa has a personal phobia of leukemia victims...perhaps the loss of a young relative or other loved one...that would make it too personally distressing to handle this request.

I am DISGUSTED!! I was a HUGE fan of her and have purchased all her books as well as watched every show, often more than once. I am disgusted that she has chosen not to fulfil this young boy's request...TWICE!! because she is busy. Excuse me, but she would never have the fame and forture she has now without her fans, and this young man being a fan deserves her attention. She always has plenty of time on her show to have one of her rich friends on there from the Hamptons or the City....why not spend one show with this boy???? I don't get it. I will now throw away all of her cookbooks or giving her books away as gifts like I typically do. I will no longer be watching her show. Ina needs to remember back to the days before she became a success because of her fans and pay it forward. It's the right thing for her to do.

Wow. A bunch of people telling a complete stranger what she should have to do. News flash: she is not legally, morally, "humanly" or anything else "-ly" obligated to do this. It is her life. And she doesn't have to explain herself to any of you strangers either.

If you stop watching her because of this, you were watching for the wrong reason in the first place. It's a cooking show about cooking.

To repeat AGAIN, it is the wish of a dying child, not some stray dog. This kind of foolishness is disgusting, and supportive responses are so meaningless as well as lame.

The chances that Ina herself even knew of this request are quite slim! Her reps/assistants/managers all filter her mail, calls, etc and they are the ones putting off M.A.W. foundation. I'm sure heads will roll and Ina will step up once this reaches her. She made a HUGE success for herself by not only owning a successful catering company, but by being a genuinely gracious and endearing woman - those qualities just don't go away. I wouldn't be too surprised if Paula Deen or Rachel Ray put this boy up to this request in hopes of Ina's scheduling conflicts - they need all the help they can get!

I just wanted to let people know who are not familiar with Make A Wish that they have specially trained people called "wish granters" that take each individual child aside away from everyone, including parents. And they find out what the child truly wishes for. And then go through the process of making it happen. They are specifically trained to prevent any one else from persuading the child to wish for something that is on someone Else's agenda. I just wanted to clarify that it is not possible for a child to be put up to a "wish" by anyone. Just to make sure people are aware of the facts surrounding make-a-wish and its children they serve.

I'd like to add, I was at one of her book signings, and she was so sweet, so nice - her handlers were the ones being rude, bitchy, and pushy to people who were getting their books signed. I felt that Ina would have spent the entire afternoon just having sweet/friendly conversations with her fans if it weren't for the staff keeping the line moving and pushing sales.

I'm sorry, but there is no retraction she could ever make (which she probably won't anyway) that would make me feel the same about her. Volunteering is exactly that, doing something to help others, to make a person's day brighter. She is all about being a socialite and rubbing elbows with the high society people. Money doesn't buy class and decency and the facade of what she really is has just shown through. No, she doesn't have to volunteer or donate time to charites, but when a terminally ill child has his heart set on a request to see her and cook with her. She should see that as a honor and make a little time to brighten his day. That was all he wanted. How hard is that??? I guess giving is easy when it makes her look good. To me, she is a heartless winch.

Justin Bieber is arguably a lot busier than Ina Garten and he has granted over 35 wishes in the past two years. Her excuse is a total copout.

I will no longer watch or support Ina Garten. I think it is ridiculous that someone as well off as she is with her tv show, nice home, cars, nice food in her refrigerator cannot take a few measly hours out of her charmed life to spend time with a child.

That sick child was willing to be patient for Ina to make time for him, but she is still refusing to visit with him. Maybe being a TV Star with her own show makes her an extremely busy person, but life is too short to pass up opportunities to bring a little happiness to someone else's life. She seems to have time to support Planned Parenthood, who gladly kill babies and help child prostitution rings get abortions for underage children.

She has time to go and sign her name on books, which benefits her pocket book, instead of visiting ONE sick child who has nothing to give her.

Now that the cat is out of the bag.......people are not impressed with how this has been handled. Bad press is bad press and she had better rectify this somehow because a lot of people have lost complete respect for her.

I hope the Make-A-Wish foundation can find something better for this young man to do. And that pretty much would be anything worth doing.

Keep your kids away from this pig. Don't buy her books. Boycott this cold cut. I never heard of her before, but I wouldn't buy a thing from this pig, and will boycott the food network. Have you kid visit Snoop Dog and he will order up some good food for him. He will also have a better time.

"Get on the phone NOW to Make-a-Wish and offer to cook up a session with ...Enzo. It's a two-fer. You step on the Barefoot Contessa's toes and, not incidentally, do something nice for a seriously ill kid."

She's a snob. She's a disgrace to the food network. I like Foodgawker.com better anyway. Those cooks are real and their life stories are believable.

WOW!!!! no time to make a dying childs wish come true, she must be the best thing since sliced bread. I think her superness should go and fight for the country we live in or how about help stop the meltdown of the nuclear power plant in JAPAN!!! She just has so many things to do she can't take the time to address this child Enzos wish.WOW!!! I want to be just like her when I grow up!!!

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has a very strong working relationship with Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa), a celebrity wish granter who has generously made herself available to grant a wish in the past. Ina is a good friend of the Foundation and we are grateful to her for her support of our mission.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. From time to time, planning for wishes doesn't turn out as originally envisioned, despite people’s best intentions and efforts. In such cases, the Foundation is committed to working with the wish child and family to grant another wish.

Each wish we grant requires extensive support from many people, and we respect that no individual has an unlimited capacity to grant children’s wishes on demand.

We regard the planning of wishes as a private process among the parties involved. Thus we cannot respond to questions about any particular wish in progress.

Individuals who are interested in learning more about the wish-granting process, or how they can help, are encouraged to visit wish.org.