Make-A-Wish Foundation

"Make-A-Wish" redirects here. For other uses, see Make a Wish.
Not to be confused with Kids Wish Network.
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Formation 1980 (1980)
Type 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Purpose Fulfilling "wish" experiences for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Headquarters Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Website worldwish.org

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in the United States that arranges experiences described as "wishes" to children with life-threatening medical conditions.[1] In order to qualify for a wish, the child must be between the ages of 3 to 17 at the time of referral. It is the child's physician that ultimately decides if a child is eligible.[1]

The national headquarters and founding chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation are in Phoenix, Arizona.[2] The organization grants wishes through its 61 chapters located throughout the US. Make-A-Wish also operates in 45 other countries around the world through 38 affiliate offices.[3] The President and CEO of Make-A-Wish America is David A. Williams.

History

In the spring of 1980, 7-year-old Christopher James Greicius (August 13, 1972 – May 3, 1980) was being treated for leukemia. He aspired to be a police officer. U.S. Customs Officer Tommy Austin befriended Chris and worked with officers at the Arizona Department of Public Safety to plan an experience to lift Greicius' spirits. Chris spent the day as a police officer, rode in a police helicopter, received a custom-tailored police uniform, and was sworn in as the first honorary Public Safety patrolman in state history. Greicius died soon after, but his wish became inspiration for the Make-A-Wish wish-granting organization.[4]

Professional wrestler John Cena holds the title for the most wishes granted by a single individual, with over 500 wishes.[5] Singer Justin Bieber has volunteered in over 250 wishes.[6] National Women's Collegiate Fraternity Chi Omega has raised over $14 million for Make-A-Wish since 2001.[7]

Process

Children who may be eligible to receive a wish can be referred by one of the following three sources:

  1. Medical professionals treating the child
  2. A parent or legal guardian
  3. The potential wish child

To refer a child, the appropriate referral source can use Make-A-Wish’s online inquiry form or contact the Make-A-Wish chapter closest to them. All medical information is considered confidential and is not discussed with outside parties unless it is required for the wish and the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) have given their consent.

A child with a life-threatening medical condition who has reached the age of 2½ and is under the age of 18 at the time of referral, is potentially eligible for a wish. After a child is referred, the child’s treating physician must determine whether the child is medically eligible for a wish, based on the medical criteria established by Make-A-Wish. In addition, a child cannot have received a wish from another wish-granting organization.[8]

Each Make-A-Wish chapter follows specific policies and guidelines for granting a child’s wish. Make-A-Wish works closely with the wish child’s physician and family to determine the most appropriate time to grant the wish, keeping in mind the child’s treatment protocol or other concerns. Most wish requests fall into five categories: I wish to go, I wish to be, I wish to meet, I wish to have, or I wish to give.[8]

Governance

National Board of Directors: The National Board of Directors helps chart Make-A-Wish’s course. They contribute a vast array of experience and skills that help maintain Make-A-Wish’s status as the nation’s largest wish-granting organization. The board determines the mission and vision, evaluates and supports the president and chief executive officer and protects Make-A-Wish’s assets. The board enhances Make-A-Wish’s public standing, ensures accountability, maintains legal integrity, and assesses its own performance.[9]

Senior Leadership Team: This team is composed of Make-A-Wish’s top-level management. Each member is a National Office leader in disciplines that include wish-granting, fundraising, legal, brand advancement and operational activities. The president and CEO guides the strategic plan in areas such as board development, talent development, fundraising, and corporate relations.[9]

Firearms and Fishing

Make-A-Wish stopped granting wishes involving the gift or use of firearms or other weapons, including fishing tackle, designed to cause animal injury in 1996. This was largely due to the pressure from animal-sensitive donors, regardless of the child's wish. In response, three organizations were formed: Hunt of a Lifetime, which arranged hunting trips for terminally ill children,[10][11] Catch-a-Dream,[12] which was conceived by Mississippi outdoorsman Bruce Brady, and formed by his loved ones following Brady's death from cancer, to grant hunting experiences to ill children, and Life Hunts founded by the Buckmasters American Deer Foundation.

In popular culture

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Our Mission Make-A-Wish Foundation
  2. ↑ Contact Us. Make-A-Wish Foundation. Retrieved on August 29, 2012
  3. ↑ Make-A-Wish Foundation International : The Make-A-Wish Story
  4. ↑ Official site
  5. ↑ Wish granted! WWE star John Cena to grant 500th Make-A-Wish request
  6. ↑ September 3rd, 2015 Justin Bieber helped more than 250 Make-A-Wish dreams come true
  7. ↑ Chi Omega: Alliance between Chi Omega and Make-A-Wish.
  8. 1 2 Refer a Child from the Make-A-Wish website
  9. 1 2 About Us from Make-A-Wish International website
  10. ↑ Hunt of a Lifetime's official site
  11. ↑ CNN.com – Hunting organization grants wish that Make-a-Wish won't – December 15, 2000 Archived March 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ Catch-a-Dream's official site
  13. ↑ "Urban Legends Reference Pages: Make-a-Wish Foundation Bankrupted by Unlimited Wishes". Snopes. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  14. ↑ The Chaser vs. The Mansion vs. The Onion
  15. ↑ Chaser sketch 'may have been ripped off'
  16. ↑ Sick kids stunt earns Chaser 2-week ban

External links

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