Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada FY22 Annual Report

A Message from Scott Rosenzweig

At Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, we work tirelessly to be the prescription for hope for wish kids and their families going through the unimaginable. While we would welcome the day that we must go out of business due to children no longer suffering from life-threatening illnesses, that day has yet to come. This fiscal year we were back to granting wishes close to pre-pandemic numbers. On a budget of 115 wishes, our team granted 120. Travel came back in a big way this year, with our wish kids headed everywhere from Denali National Park in Alaska to a family reunion in Minnesota. Next year, we are looking to grant even more wishes of all varieties as we seek to bring every eligible child’s wish to life.

In addition to our financial successes outlined in this report, you’ll also find the faces of the kids behind these numbers …

Kids like Kaci (front cover), who was able to cast a fishing line for the very first time on her wish trip. Kaci wished to go on an RV camping trip to Sequoia National Park with her family where they enjoyed the simple pleasures of nature and simply being together under a canopy of the world’s largest trees.

Kids like Annie, whose wish to be a farmer came to her in a dream. After receiving a kidney transplant, Annie was well enough to take a trip with her family to Fallon, Nevada where she was able to bottle feed a cow, ride a horse, and kiss a pig among other farm activities.

Kids like Gerold, who was not only able to race around SpeedVegas at top speed in a custom racing suit, but was also able to meet face-to-face one of the longest-living organ transplant recipients in the world, Simon Keith. The comfort and hope that this meeting gave to Gerold’s family … priceless. This is what we strive for every day. To take the wish of a child, find the perfect community partners to help us and together, create life-changing wishes.

I’ve said it before and I’ll never stop saying it: we are able to make these wishes come true because of you. I am so grateful for all the ways that this community shows up for our wish kids. To you – our donors, volunteers, staff, and medical referral partners – thank you. Thank you for working with us to find innovative and engaging ways to support our wish kids and families.

Hope begins with us.

Wishfully yours,

Scott Rosenzweig President & CEO

Special Recognition to our Board of Directors

Heather Harris, Chair

Keith Hansen, Vice Chair

Jon Wolfe, Past Chair

Rich Justiana, Treasurer

Tom Burns, Secretary - partial year

Jodie Sacco, Secretary - partial year

Melissa Akkaway

Waseem Alhushki

Jacob Bundick

Kristine Creel

Tom Evans

Phil Fortino

Assistant Sheriff Sasha Larkin

Anita Pomerantz

Travis Scribner

Dan Smithman

Lorraine Marshall

Brian Killingsworth

Contact Details

Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada 9950 Covington Cross Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89144

Phone: 702-212-9474

wish.org/snv

Follow Us ›

@makeawishsnv

The Year at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada

FASHION LUNCHEON

The 20th annual Fashion Luncheon made its highly anticipated in-person return to Scarpetta inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in late November with over 180 community members in attendance. Together, attendees raised more than $1 million in a single afternoon to support the Make-A-Wish mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Looks from this year’s featured designer, Chloé™, were modeled at a fashion show and wish kid, Maria, shared the story of how getting her wish granted provided her with the hope she needed to move through an otherwise very dark time in her life.

TRAILBLAZE CHALLENGE

In its inaugural year, the Trailblaze Challenge raised over $200K to grant the wishes of critically ill children in Southern Nevada. Presented by Findlay Subaru of Las Vegas and hosted by the City of Mesquite in the Valley of Fire, the Trailblaze Challenge is a 25-mile hike that participants conquer in one day. Tested physically and philanthropically, participants’ hike training efforts coincide with raising much-needed funds to grant wishes.

WALK FOR WISHES

As Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada’s largest in-person fundraising effort, we were thrilled to bring Walk for Wishes, presented by Allegiant, back to Town Square Las Vegas. The event attracted community members and sponsors from across the valley who wanted to support the more than 2,400 lifechanging wishes already granted in Southern Nevada, while raising over $470K to grant future wishes.

The event emcees, News 3’s Kim & Dana Wagner and Mix 94.1’s JC & Mercedes, were back along with Make-A-Wish supporter Criss Angel, who generously donated a $100K check which will go directly to kids waiting on their wishes. It was a beautiful, sunny day and a wonderful event.

Trailblaze

VIRGINIA RICHARDSON STAR WALL

Born shortly after the founding of Las Vegas, Virginia Beckley Richardson – known as “Ginny” to her close friends and loved ones – was a true pioneer in our community.

MAKE-A-WISH-THEMED EXAM ROOM OPENS AT CURE 4 THE KIDS FOUNDATION

In August 2022, Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada teamed up with fellow local nonprofit, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, to unveil a new patient exam room at the pediatric cancer treatment center. The room transformed into a Make-A-Wishbranded room featuring a painted mural by artist and illustrator, Juan Muniz, who conceived artwork for other patient exam rooms including ones for Criss Angel and Gwen Stefani.

As a young girl, she served as editor of her school newspaper and bookkeeper at her father’s menswear store on First and Fremont. At a time when few women were pursuing higher education, Virginia attended Scripps College in Claremont, California, and later completed her business administration degree at the University of Nevada – Reno, where she met her husband, Jack. While Jack was away serving in World War II and the Korean War, Virginia oversaw his businesses and served her community. She was an early supporter of the American Cancer Society, Boys Republic, Nathan Adelson Hospice, The Meadows School and Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. Her heart was particularly connected to children’s causes and our organization was a grateful recipient of her generous support. Never one to ask for recognition or accolades, Virginia truly found joy in serving others. Virginia passed away at 100-yearsold in August 2017, leaving our chapter a significant bequest gift. Her legacy at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada continues through her son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Linda Richardson, and her granddaughter, Melissa Akkaway. To celebrate the woman who inspired a community, Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada unveiled the Virginia Richardson Star Wall at our Evening of Gratitude event (August 2022). The wall recognizes our community partners whose generosity helps us to grant the wish of every eligible child in Southern Nevada.

The Make-A-Wish room is the first exam room at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation to feature a digital monitor, which plays a video showcasing the Make-AWish process for wish-granting as well as a QR code directing families to our referral page. The event featured an appearance and donation from Criss Angel; a wish reveal for Cure 4 The Kids Foundation patient and Wish Kid, Adison; and exam room tours.

MEET GEROLD

As an energetic five-year-old and big fan of toy cars, Gerold eagerly looked forward to his wish to be a racecar driver. When the limo carrying him and his entire family arrived at SpeedVegas, Gerold couldn’t wait a moment longer. His wish was at last coming true.

In March 2020, Gerold received a heart transplant and began a medical journey filled with ongoing treatments, extended hospital stays, and surgery. Throughout his recovery, Gerold played with his toy cars to pass the time. Some of his favorite types of cars include police cars, firetrucks, and, most of all racecars, especially Lightning McQueen.

On the day of his wish, Gerold received all the makings of a true racecar driver, from a custom racing suit and helmet, courtesy of SpeedVegas, to his very own life-size Dodge Viper SRT toy car. Accompanied by a professional driver, Gerold suited up and made his way to the racetrack where four different racecars awaited.

Gerold’s parents, brother, and grandparents watched as Gerold zipped and zoomed around the track for what seemed like hours, cheering him on each time he switched cars. Just when everyone thought Gerold had completed his final lap, Gerold’s older brother, Nelson, treated him to a victory ride in his new kid-sized Dodge Viper.

With the help of The Simon Keith Foundation, getting to celebrate Gerold’s special day has given his family the strength they need to heal and much hope for a brighter future. When asked what Gerold’s wish meant to their family, his mom, Amanda, called it a day “they will never forget.”

Simon Keith is the first athlete in the world to play a professional sport after undergoing a heart transplant. Now, Keith is among the longest living organ transplant recipients in the world.

What an incredible kid. We are just so proud and thrilled to be part of today.

— Simon Keith, wish sponsor

I wish to be a racecar driver Gerold, 5 heart transplant

MEET MARIA

It is not often that a child comes into The Wishing Place with a clear vision of what they want their wish to look like. Maria Duran-Bravo is the exception.

“I have always loved writing and I love kids,” Maria said. “So, when I had the opportunity to have a wish granted, I knew that I wanted to publish a children’s book. With everything that was going on in my life, a book about inclusion just made sense.”

Maria was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, at 16. She immediately underwent an intense yearlong chemotherapy treatment that was successful in treating her condition, but ultimately required a portion of her right leg to be amputated.

Seeing a lack of representation for disabled children in the media, Maria penned the first draft of her children’s book, My New Neighbor, Macey, from her hospital bed. It’s a story that chronicles the blossoming friendship between the narrator and her new neighbor, a little girl named Macey who has a prosthetic leg.

“I work with preschoolers who have questions about everything,” Maria laughed. “When they first see my ‘robot leg,’ they get pretty excited, but they are mostly curious. I am usually the first person they’ve ever seen with a prosthetic limb, so I want to teach them that just because I have a physical difference, I’m also a person just like them.”

Normalizing people with disabilities is Maria’s ultimate goal with the book.

“I wanted to put this book out there to allow kids – and even adults – to open up and have a discussion about how our differences make us unique,” Maria said. “When you have a disability, it’s so easy to feel alienated from society. I know because I have felt that way. But this book shows that at the end of the day, these are just two little girls with so much in common.”

Maria also happens to have a lot in common with the book’s illustrators, María Julia Mancheno and Abigail Cárdenas. While she grew up in Las Vegas, Maria is originally from Ecuador, where the illustrators reside. While they had never illustrated a book for publication, they were happy to jump on board with this project.

“There were just so many people involved in making my wish come true,” Maria gushed. “I’m very grateful to everyone who gave their time and resources to this project. Being able to hold the book in my hand is proof of how all the pieces fell into place so beautifully.”

Special thanks to longtime Make-A-Wish supporters Beverly Rogers and Kristine Creel for their support of this wish and The Writer’s Block for hosting her book signing.

Fiscal Year 2022 Results

Fiscal Year 2022 restored domestic travel for our children in February, allowing us to exceed our wish budget by 5 wishes! Similarly, our wish referrals returned to our pre-COVID levels, setting up our FY23 with even more wishes to grant. Our wish costs were not immune to inflationary and supply chain issues experienced globally, but we maintained the ratio of donated goods & services per wish to help offset these costs. With an increase in wish granting, we saw improvement in our program ratio expense level, and forecast FY23 to finish above 70% again like pre-COVID years. Allegiant Air generously extended to us a new, 5-year $1/year lease in 2022, which increased our in-kind revenue by $840,000— money saved that we can put towards wish granting through 2027! Following market trends, our investment portfolio reported unrealized losses on paper – but we did not withdraw from it and look forward to a market reversal eventually.

**Wish Assists are wish children from other Make-A-Wish chapters around the world whose wishes occur in Las Vegas. We help with local reservations and wish planning.

*Denotes year impacted by COVID-19 restrictions

120 Wishes Granted Class of 2022

Thank you to our Cash & In-kind Donors

Wish Founder ($200,000.00 +)

Linda & Bill Richardson

Anonymous

Wish Visionary ($100,000.00 +)

Johnny Crisstopher Children’s Charitable Foundation (Criss Angel)

Robert Bigelow

Car Donation Foundation

Wish Innovator ($50,000 +)

RIG-RENTS

Reed Morse

Wish Leader ($25,000 +)

Dutch Bros

Findlay Subaru of Las Vegas

Lynne Ruffin-Smith

Charitable Foundation

Million Dollar Golf

Vanessa & David Moore

Centennial Toyota Desert Radiology

Vegas Golden Knights Foundation

Wish Champion ($15,000+)

Swing King

Binion Family Foundation

VideoPoker.com

Raymond Group

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Macy’s

Heather Harris

Yvette & Ellis Landau

Angela & Larry Chiu

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Shelley & Thomas Burns

Donna Isaacs

Fabulous Freddy’s Car Wash

Roberto’s Taco Shop

Wish Hero ($10,000+)

Anne & Mark Wayman

The Paul Powell Law Firm

Betty Evans

Raising Cane’s

Eureka Casino Resort

Shannon & Bill McBeath

Dana Wiesner

Nicole Bradley

Marcia Chami

IT’SUGAR

b & p

Bombard Electric

Bombard Mechanical

Boyd Gaming

Robyn & Brad Englert

Caesars Foundation

Cityneon

Chloé

Dimopoulos Law Firm

Eglet Adams

Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Gaming Arts

GeoComply

House Advantage, LLC

Konami Gaming, Inc

Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway

Children’s Charities

Monica & Joe Garin

Subaru of America

Pat & Dave Revzin

Kristine & Allan Creel

LPBC

Martin-Harris Construction

Mesquite Gaming

Performance Contracting Inc

SRS Distribution

Stacks-Bowers

Numismatics, LLC

Bruce and Barbara Lee

Woollen

Venafi

Y Design Build, LLC

Beverly Rogers

Wish Captain ($7500+)

Natalie Hale

UnitedHealth Group

Snappy App, Inc

Wish Star ($5,000+)

Blair Bigelow May & Patrick May

Renee & Michael Yackira

Mandy & Keith Hansen

Victoria Otter

Annemarie Jones

Jennifer & Marc Falcone

Michael Amado

Walmart

TopGolf

Christal Fuentes-Robl

Karma and Luck

Nevada State Bank

Paula Fouce

Cynthia & Albert Aizenstat

Jack Clayton

Tim Kuhlman

Maria Diaz

Hosoda Bros Inc

Susan Graves

Natasha Spinella

Barbara Tapp

Jean McCusker

Jeff Chambers

Andrew Jenkin

Palm Mortuary Inc

Resorts World Las Vegas

Travis Scribner & Katie Ross

Cameron Parsons

Lori Beth Susman

Diana Bennett

Christy Molasky

Debbie Creel

Kristen & Ron Winchell

Helene & Ken Walker

Jon Wolfe

Allegiant

Calvary Chapel Green Valley

Bank of America

CDW

Chapman Las Vegas Dodge

Chrysler Jeep Ram

M.J. Dean Construction

Gina & Richard Schonfeld

Claire Fust

CopperPoint Insurance Companies

Francesca Malkin

Hugo Boss Fashions, Inc

Caroline & Jim Betz

Kelley Nemiro

Penta Cares Foundation

Ronald Keever

Sharon Roberts

Lovee & Robert Arum

The Simon Keith Foundation

Tiger Communications

UFC

Wish Friend ($2,500+)

George Okinaka

Christa Casper

Joe Koppy

Amy Hooks

Patricia Arvielo

Victoria Fertitta

Susan Fine

Essex Mortgage

Jeanne Wilkins

Edward Shanahan

Melissa Warren

Gretchen & Sean Clancy

Real Magazine

Gary Clancy

Stacy Delzotto

Taylor Borsari

Terra Contracting

Vanessa & Tom Breitling

Links For Life Foundation

Elizabeth Kaplan

Vicki Diamond

Dipesh Banker

Bill Yadao

Brian Harris

Patricia and Dr. Ralph

Nietrzeba

David Colvin

Findlay Toyota

Kimberly McCormack

Las Vegas Raiders Foundation

Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin, PC

Miss Asian North America Organization

Northern Trust Company

Robert Slinin

Roshie Raissi

Roslyn Weingarten

Tamara Olson

The Park Foundation

Yes & Co

Jesse & Joseph Murphy

WISH VISIONARY ($100,000.00 + )

Allegiant

WISH INNOVATOR ($50,000.00 + )

Give Kids The World

WISH LEADER ($25,000.00 + )

Sheraton Waikiki

David August

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Audacy, Inc

Destination by Design

Encore Productions

WISH CHAMPION ($15,000.00 + )

Resorts World Las Vegas

Alla Napa Valley

Thank you to Thank you to

WISH HERO ($10,000.00 + )

Subaru of Las Vegas

Zuma Restaurant

Audio Visual Advisors, Inc

WISH CAPTAIN ($7,500.00 + )

Telemundo

CPR Tents & Events

Spiegelworld

Rebecca Zajac, LLC

WISH STAR ($5,000.00 + )

Martin-Harris Construction

AVIS - Cendant Car Rental Group

Gensler

STK Las Vegas

Las Vegas Review Journal

Rising Star Sports Ranch

WISH FRIEND ($1,000.00 + )

Performance Footwear

Anglo SpeedVegas

Live Nation Las Vegas

Amazing Goldens

Red Rock Casino Resort Spa

The Doodle Grove

Bell Transportation

El Monte RV

Card My Yard

Omega Boutique Wynn Plaza

Heartfelt Productions

Sheraton Universal Hotel

Select Cabinets

Craig Berganzoni

House Advantage

Layla’s Palace

Scarpetta

Sleep Number

Carver Road Hospitality

CDW

Clique Hospitality

Our In-kind Donors Our Legacy Donors

By including the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Southern Nevada in their estate plans, these donors will provide the resources necessary to grant inspiring wishes for children now and in the future. Ensure your legacy lives on through wishes with a legacy gift by visiting snv.wish.org/freewill.

Anonymous

Barbara F. Tapp

Biel Family Trust

BND Management Trust

Cherie Tonkin

Cheryl Hartfield

Dorothy Lois Breese Irrevocable Trust

Under Will

Edwartoski Living Trust

Estate Of Lorraine S. Berry

Frances Pearl Rotisky Estate

Hortense G. Koller Living Trust

John Braschi

Kay Doolittle Trust

Laura Jane Noble

Lois Miller

Mary Ann Bajgier

Michael Ashley

Richard J. Simms

The Cathy McCarthy Living Trust

The Laura and Peter Weidenfeld Trust

The Lionel Trust

The Murren Family Trust

Todd R. Morse

Tom Wolf

Wilmington Trust Company

Wishfully Ever After

One of the biggest misconceptions about Make-A-Wish is that it is a last wish. For so many of our wish kids, this is not the case. Many credit their wish experience as a turning point in their medical treatment, giving them the strength needed to fight their critical illness. Here at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, we celebrate our wish alumni – young and old – whose wishes filled them with hope and joy to not just feel better, but sometimes to get better. Here are a few of their stories:

At 6-years-old, Daniel was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He endured 9 months of chemotherapy treatment and got his wish to go to Disney World in 1991. Daniel beat his cancer and went on to play collegiate soccer for UNLV. He currently oversees retail operations for Resorts World of Las Vegas and has a beautiful wife and two kids of his own. Recently, Daniel was able to take his family to Walt Disney World to celebrate the 40-year anniversary of Disney and Make-A-Wish.

Daniel wish granted, 1991 leukemia

As Jasmine was about to enter her senior year of high school, she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Suddenly, she went from being a teenager ready to submit her college applications to a kidney patient facing endless rounds of dialysis, surgeries, tests and waiting. During this period, she was referred to Make-A-Wish and a personalized internship experience was born. The experience launched Jasmine’s career and she credits Make-A-Wish for changing her life. Most importantly, in 2017 Jasmine received her kidney transplant. Today, thanks to a healthy diet, medication, active lifestyle and plenty of water, Jasmine is a thriving young woman ready to tackle any challenge that comes her way.

I wish to have a hospitality internship Jazzaba (“Jasmine”) wish granted, 2017 chronic kidney disease

I wish to go to Walt Disney World®

Wishfully Ever After

For nearly two years, 7-year-old Annie slept standing up. Diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease in June of 2019, Annie’s parents learned how to operate her dialysis equipment at home. However, the machines being used for her nocturnal treatments required her to be upright to operate properly.

Annie wish granted, 2021 kidney transplant

“We had many sleepless nights,” Luis, Annie’s dad, recalled. “There are so many things that go into dialysis – from sterilization to, in our case, figuring out a way to support Annie so that she could get much-needed rest. We were all tired. When we got the call that there could be a kidney available – we just prayed that it was a match.”

Fortunately, it was a match and Annie received the transplant.

“It was a moment of pure gratitude and relief,” Giovanna said, her eyes brimming with tears. Now six months post-transplant, Giovanna says that Annie still fatigues easily, but her energy levels and mood have improved tremendously. One thing that constantly lifted Annie’s spirits was prospect of a heartfelt wish come true.

An aspiring veterinarian, Annie’s wish came to her in a dream where she was milking cows and picking vegetables on a farm. While she lives in the city, Annie’s love of animals grew thanks to a neighbor who had a horse and some chickens that she visited regularly. The animals no longer live next door, but their impact on the little girl was long-lasting.

“She just has a heart for animals,” Giovanna said. “She always has.”

Arriving in Fallon, Nevada, for her wish trip, Annie’s admiration of farm life was immediate. Stepping into the guesthouse at the Frey Ranch, where the family stayed, her eyes immediately went to the cowgirl outfit sitting on the bottom bunk. Local seamstress, Rebecca, found out that Annie was coming to Fallon and wanted to contribute. She provided jeans and a western-style shirt along with sparkly boots and a cowgirl hat. Annie didn’t hesitate to jump right into the outfit.

That enthusiasm continued throughout Annie’s entire trip to the small farming community. The little girl embraced each aspect of the experience, from bottle-feeding piglets, baby goats, and a baby calf; to harvesting seeds, riding a tractor, and making homemade ice cream. She even hopped right up on a horse called Tiny for a ride around the fairgrounds but admitted that “Tiny was his name, but he wasn’t tiny, he was big.”

The same might be said about the impact that little Annie had on the town of Fallon.

I wish to be a farmer

Magic Meets Medicine: A Referral Ignites the Spark of a Wish Come True

Every wish experience begins with a referral. We rely on the expertise of the pediatricians and pediatric specialists who are part of our National Medical Advisory Council along with our Southern Nevada Medical Advisory Committee members to guide us through this critical first step of the wish process. In FY22, our referral sources came through for the kids of Southern Nevada, garnering 164 eligible referrals.

Dr. Nakamura of Children’s Lung Specialists is the leading pediatric pulmonologist in Southern Nevada, and a huge supporter of Make-A-Wish.

Dr. Nakamura makes me laugh every single time I go to his office! He is a really cool and chill doctor. I especially want to thank him for referring me to Make-A-Wish. Because of him I got my gaming setup!

MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Chair – Dr. Anita Pomerantz

Medical Director, Thomas Dermatology

Dr. Waseem Alhushki

Oncologist, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation

Dr. Rutu Ezhuthachan

Medical Director, United Healthcare

Dr. Beata Kwiatowska

Medical Director, CSL Plasma and Fresenius Kidney Care

Dr. Evelyn Montalvo-Stanton

Chair of Pediatric Pulmonary Department, UNLV School of Medicine

Dr. Beth Creel, PhD

Certified Grief Recovery Specialist & Director of Behavioral Health Department, Children’s Heart Center Nevada

Dr. Michael Gunter

Family Medicine, MDVIP

Megan Ramous

Nurse, CCSD School District

Claudia Clendenin

Licensed Social Worker, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation

— Darwin, wish kid

164

Eligible Referrals in FY22

TOP REFERRAL SOURCE CLINICS

Cure 4 The Kids Foundation

Children’s Lung Specialist & CF Center of Nevada

Children’s Heart Center Nevada

ProCare Hospice of Nevada

Criss Angel

While he may be best known as one of the nation’s top magicians and illusionists, at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, we are fortunate to know Criss Angel as both a Wish Granter and a Wish Dad. In FY22, through the Johnny Crisstopher Charitable Foundation, Angel’s generous financial contributions granted a life-changing wish for 24 children in our community. In addition to that, he brought his entire family to our Walk for Wishes event and the unveiling of our Make-A-Wish room at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. We are humbled by his support over the years.

Our family has a superhero,” Angel said at the unveiling of the Make-A-Wish room at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. “A boy who went through more than six years of fighting pediatric cancer with the amazing benefit of the medical team at Cure 4 The Kids who oversaw his treatment, and then the team at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada who helped him emotionally and filled him with hope during an otherwise dark time. That combination was paramount and powerful for Johnny Crisstopher, helping him to get to the finish line of ringing that remission bell on January 28, 2022.

— Criss Angel

Photo credit: Cure 4 The Kids

There are few experiences more powerful than making a wish come true.

I feel very happy and thankful to Make-A-Wish for making my daughter’s wish come true. To be honest, I didn’t expect it – our whole family is amazed by this. Again, I want to thank Make-A-Wish for the opportunity that was presented and given to my daughter. I feel happy – very, very happy.

— Jonathan, wish dad to Sofia

I wish to have a toy car

Sofia, 7 congenital heart disease

Colin was all smiles at the reveal with all of his friends and family. This wish gives Colin the opportunity to stay with his family and friends and join in all outdoor activities. Inclusion is always a goal of ours for Colin!

— Kari, wish mom to Colin

I wish to have an all-terrain wheelchair

Colin, 13 neuromuscular disorder

Thank you, Make-A-Wish, for making my wish come true. I don’t know what I could do without you guys so thank you … very much!

— Kaci, wish kid

I wish to go on an RV camping trip

Kaci, 9 leukemia