I wish to have an outdoor play space Nicolas, 4 respiratory failure
It’s difficult to imagine what it must be like for a family when they hear the devastating news that their child has been diagnosed with a critical illness. Yet, it happens somewhere in Southern Nevada every other day: a childhood is stolen, and a family gears up for its biggest struggle. Imagine, for a moment, how powerless you would feel as a parent. You do everything you can to maintain a sense of normalcy for your child through endless doctor’s appointments, illness-related treatments, insurance battles, and ultimately, tears. It seems impossible, at times, to help someone so young hang on to hope and experience joy when they’re enduring so much. But what if there was an opportunity to prescribe that hope, like a doctor writes a prescription, and allow a child to focus on something completely separate from his or her illness? What if there was a way to give them a break from the reality of their battle and feel real joy? What if there was an opportunity to help them heal that didn’t come in the form of a needle or another pill?
I wish to be a mermaid Quinn, 4 nervous system disorder
“My favorite part was seeing how excited Quinn was and that she was able just to forget about her seizures and diagnoses and be a normal four-year-old. She had the time of her life. She loved going to the Shark Reef but especially being turned into a mermaid. She still full-heartedly believes that she is a true mermaid just like Ariel.” — Ashley, Quinn’s mom
Wishes:
Emotional Medicine A wish is prescribed hope. It’s the emotional injection of strength traditional medicine can’t provide. It gives kids something to look forward to, something to focus on besides their illness. When we allow children to dream about something they’ve always wanted, then we make that dream a reality, we replace fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope.
“Every moment was full of surprises, and the fact I wish to meet my favorite baseball team Benji, 3 cancer
that he got to just be a kid is what mattered most.” — Azalea, Benji’s mom
The Impact of a Wish Wishes aren’t just a “nice to have,” they are a necessity. Increasingly, medical professionals view wishes as an important part of a child’s medical treatment plan. Research shows that a wish come true can help kids build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. For many children, a wish marks a significant turning point in their battle.
“When they go on their wish, they start to feel normal again. They start to feel that they’re actually doing all the things that other kids are doing.” – Dr. Waseem Alhushki, Physician at Children’s Specialty Center of Nevada The impact of a wish extends beyond the wish child to his or her family and the community. Many parents report that bonds between family members were strengthened as a result of the wish, and the experience allowed them a rare moment to step away from everything their family has been facing. The act of wish granting serves to strengthen communities. When volunteers come together around a child’s wish, they say they feel an increased sense of compassion, a desire to help others, and greater faith in humanity.
“This brave little man looked at his Dad and said, ‘It’s okay Dad, he’s going to make everything better!’ I tried to hide the tears, but at that moment it really hit me how impactful we are in their lives, and how hard I will work to make sure that whatever their wish, I will do everything possible to make it a reality.” – Tommy Facer, Volunteer
About
Make-A-Wish® Southern Nevada OUR MISSION: Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Since 1996, Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada has granted more than 2,200 wishes for children with critical illnesses. The average cost per wish is nearly $10,000. We serve children in four counties: Clark, Lincoln, Esmeralda, and Nye. Our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child in Southern Nevada.
“We thoroughly celebrated the gift of time with each other in a beautiful, stress-free environment that fostered family togetherness. This trip was awesomely healing not only for Finnegan, but our family as a whole.” — Tara, Finnegan’s mom
I wish to go to the Splash Resort Finnegan, 4 gastrointestinal & genetic disorders
SOUTHERN NEVADA’S
Children NEED YOUR HELP
To reach our vision, we must work together. The Las Vegas population is growing at an incredible pace along with the number of children diagnosed with a critical illness. As a result, the number of wishes we need to grant each year is increasing.
To reach our ultimate goal of granting every eligible wish, we need to build the financial capacity to ensure we fulfill our mission each year without worry or delay. Our chapter receives only private financial support and no government funding as we continually work to ensure we are meeting the demands of a growing population. Wishes are powerful facilitators of hope, strength, and joy, and each requires an incredible amount of creativity, time, and generosity. We are simply not able to deliver our mission without your support. Please consider making a meaningful gift to help us make sure the critically ill children of our community get the emotional medicine they need.
What COVID-19 Means for Wishes To protect the health of wish kids and their families, Make-A-Wish® has paused wish-granting that involves travel and gatherings until further notice. Right now, there are over 5,000 wish kids across the country whose wishes have been postponed because of COVID-19, and that number grows every day as this crisis continues. In Southern Nevada, though, we are committed to ensuring that no child waits even one unnecessary day to experience the hope and joy that a wish brings. From conducting virtual visits with wish kids to reimagining wishes that enable social distancing, our community of supporters has found new, creative ways to deliver the Make-A-Wish mission. Some wishes have been postponed, but we are doing everything we can to reach wish kids safely right now. Most importantly:
Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada is still granting wishes. A wish is prescribed hope, and now more than ever, that hope is essential. The healing power of a wish starts when a child learns their wish is coming true and continues to work as they anticipate their wish. With COVID-19, new health worries are also present, bringing added isolation and vulnerability for wish kids and their families. While fighting their illness, children are now anxiously counting the days until their wish will be granted. Their families are counting, too.
While we’re granting all the wishes we can right now, we’re also getting ready to grant wishes at an unprecedented pace once it’s safe to do so. That means donor support is more important than ever. For 40 years, Make-A-Wish has brought transformational wishes to over 330,000 children and families. But we’re not done yet. Your support can make every wish come true by helping us:
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Innovate rapidly to grant wishes in new ways now – and into the future.
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Bring experiences of hope and joy to waiting wish kids.
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Prepare now to quickly grant all the wishes that have been waiting due to COVID-19 delays.
Together, we can continue to be a light of hope throughout this time of crisis — and beyond.
I wish to have a saxophone Jon, 15 congenital heart disease
Meet Jon WIS H G R ANTED
Jon’s Wish Story Jon is an energetic fifteen-year-old who loves playing pranks, building model cars and creating art, but it should be known that Jon is happiest when playing his saxophone. Very intelligent and ambitious, he has been playing the saxophone for three years and has also tried his hand at songwriting. He looks forward to following in his sister’s footsteps and attend college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Diagnosed with congenital heart disease at birth, Jon has endured three open-heart surgeries. With the help, love and support of his parents and older sister, Jon has been able to keep a positive mindset. When Jon discovered his wish was going to be granted, his passion for music led him to wish for a new saxophone!
Jon’s wish experience was one he and his family will never forget. Jon’s reveal was a socially distanced celebration in his backyard. It was a small gathering consisting of Jon’s family and staff members from Make-A-Wish. Band members from Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns also attended to surprise Jon with a special performance. When Jon stepped outside, the band began to play, and Jon’s face lit up while he shouted, “Wow!”. The celebration continued as everyone cheered for Jon as he opened the case to his very own saxophone. Jon shared he is working on learning “Careless Whisper” for his sister and creating original music for his mom and dad. For Jon, his wish experience was a priceless moment he’ll always remember. Click here to watch Jon’s wish come true!
I wish to have a room makeover Maddy, 11 heart condition
Meet Maddy WIS H G R ANTED
Maddy’s Wish Story Madeleine, also known as Maddy to those closest to her, is a funny and intelligent 11-year-old girl who has a heart of gold. She has a creative personality and loves making jewelry, spending time with her family, and reading. Despite all she’s been through, Maddy is a sweetheart who loves to spread joy to those around her. Doctors discovered Maddy’s heart condition after she passed out at an airport at the age of three. Maddy’s condition makes it difficult for her lungs to get the blood it needs, causing her heart to work harder than usual. To treat this condition, Maddy takes several medications, has undergone six cardio catheterizations, and now uses oxygen daily. Although she’s endured a lot, Maddy continues to move through life radiating hope and positivity. Maddy’s oldest sibling recently moved out, allowing Maddy to have her very own room for the first time. When it came to her wish, Maddy immediately knew she wanted to let her interior
design skills shine and create a concept for her room makeover. Maddy’s wish wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the insight and expertise of Make-AWish volunteer and interior designer, Jimmy. Virtual Zoom meetings allowed Maddy to share her vision with Jimmy, including her Pinterest boards filled with creative ideas, color schemes and design inspiration. Maddy’s collaboration with Jimmy helped create the room of Maddy’s dreams. Maddy’s new room is everything she could have hoped for and more. From her desired color scheme to anime and Fortnite inspired décor items, Maddy now has a space to call her own. What makes this wish particularly special to Maddy is that she was in control of her room design, and it came to life just as she imagined. She now has a room where she can rest and leave all her cares on the other side of her bedroom door. Click here to watch Maddy’s wish come true!
I wish to have an outdoor playhouse Nicolas, 3
Meet Nicolas
respiratory failure
WIS H G R ANTED
Nicolas’ Wish Story Nicolas, also known as Nickle Pickle to those who know and love him, is a special and unique three-year-old boy who is ready for a new adventure. He has a vibrant personality that comes to life any time there’s music, dancing or light up toys. Despite his hardships, Nicolas is a happy boy who loves to laugh. He has the special gift of becoming your best friend as soon as you meet him. Feeling the wind in his hair and sunshine on his face is difficult for Nicolas. Respiratory failure has forced him to spend most of his life in the hospital, dependent on breathing equipment and undergoing numerous surgeries. Nicolas’ mom has always wanted to take him to a playground to play with other kids, but the risk of infection is too high due to his medical condition. When thinking about his wish, it was clear that the most meaningful wish would be one that allowed Nicolas to enjoy being outside and play freely but protected from elements that can cause harm. So, Nicolas’ wish was to have an outdoor play space of his very own!
Through the incredible generosity of partners like MartinHarris Construction, Zitting Brothers Construction, Kessman Group, GTI of Nevada, and GSL Electric, Nicolas’ wish to have an outdoor play space came true. Nicolas’ new space takes him on a fun sensory adventure in the safety of his own home. With direct access from his bedroom, Nicolas’ outdoor play space has a custom designed pergola to offer Nicolas shade while he plays, a fun wall panel filled with activities to provide sensory exploration, a mini trampoline, wind chimes, foam building blocks and more. The community came together in a remarkable way to make Nicolas’ wish a reality, and now he has a space of his own where he can play, be safe, and feel joy. Click here to watch Nicolas’ wish come true!
I wish to have a shopping spree Madelyn, 17 cancer
Meet Madelyn WIS H G R ANTED
Madelyn’s Wish Story Madelyn is an outgoing and positive seventeen-year-old who likes hanging out with friends, listening to music, and working out. When Madelyn isn’t playing her favorite sport, softball, you can find her playing the ukulele, enjoying a meal at The Cheesecake Factory, and watching Mean Girls. Diagnosed with cancer in August 2019, Madelyn has endured a chest tube surgery, numerous biopsies, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy. Luckily, Madelyn is now in remission and in good health. Madelyn has battled a lot, but she has a lot to look forward to including attending her freshman year of college in the fall. When Madelyn discovered she had a wish, it gave her the hope she needed during her treatment. The anticipation and excitement of her wish to have a shopping spree allowed her to put her focus and energy into something positive. The
COVID-19 pandemic has largely affected the Southern Nevada community, and battling a critical illness while having to be in quarantine only proves just how essential hope is for wish kiddos like Madelyn. The morning of Madelyn’s wish reveal brought members of the community, Make-A-Wish staff and volunteers together in a way that allowed Madelyn to feel safe and celebrated. A police escort brought Madelyn and her family to The Wishing Place where she walked down the Make-A-Wish blue carpet and found all the items she envisioned for her shopping spree. Madelyn received an Apple MacBook, new clothes, jewelry and all the essentials needed for her freshman year of college. Madelyn’s wish prepared her for the future and helped her stay positive during her most difficult days. Now she’s ready to take college by storm!
Click here to learn more about the children in our community who have experienced the power of a wish come true.
The Wish Experience There’s a lot more to wish granting than meets the eye. This is the journey of a wish, Southern Nevada-style. Wishfully Ever After
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JUST FOR WISH
Kids The Anticipation of a Wish
Welcome Kit
Online Activities
Talk to the Wish Community
Message of Hope
Your Wish Revealed!
Volunteers are an integral part of the entire wish granting process. The yellow line you see between the cogs represents all the volunteer roles throughout the process.
Referral
Eligibility
Welcome
Wish Discovery
Wish kids are referred to Make-A-Wish by medical professionals, parents or guardians, wish families, or the wish child.
Wish kids must be between 2 ½ and 18 years of age at the time of referral to qualify for a wish. They must be diagnosed with a critical illness, and a doctor must confirm their eligibility.
Call Once children are deemed eligible, they receive a welcome call from a volunteer to let them know their wish journey is about to begin.
A team of two volunteers works with each wish child to determine his or her one true wish.
Concept Approval
Wish Planning
Wish Enhancement
Wish Granted
Once the child’s wish is determined, our team ensures it fits within our national and chapter guidelines and is medically sound for the child.
As soon as the concept is approved, the wish team begins the planning process, working to create an unforgettable experience for each child.
Every wish is unique, so volunteers work with our team to find the perfect way to let the kiddos know their wish is coming true and enhance the wish experience.
A magical and memorable wish is granted for the child.
Welcome Kit
Online Activities
Wish kids receive a Welcome Kit with items to help begin imagining their true wish.
Wish kids receive emails filled with activities while waiting for their wish to come true.
Talk to the Wish Community Wish kids receive a call from our Wish Community to talk about their wish.
Message of Hope
Your Wish Revealed!
Wish kids receive a message from a Board Member, Community Partner, or someone in our Wish Community.
Wish kids receive details and more on their wish before their wish!
(Sometimes this happens on the same day the wish is granted.)
Facts & Figures In fiscal year 2019, we received 158 eligible referrals for wish kids in Southern Nevada.
Over 200 volunteers help us grant wishes each year. Make-A-Wish® Southern Nevada has granted more than 2,200 wishes since our inception in 1996.
Last fiscal year, we granted 158 wishes to local children and assisted with an additional 28 wishes that occurred in Las Vegas.
67% of our wishes require air travel and 37% are Walt Disney Company® related.
The average wish costs $10,580, a combination of cash and in-kind support.
*Based in part on FY19 September 2018-August 2019 data
MISSION Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. WHY WISHES MATTER Research shows children who have wishes granted build the physical and emotional strength needed to fight a critical illness. This may improve their quality of life and produce better health outcomes. WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Wish kids are not necessarily terminal. Doctors use the wish as an important part of the medical treatment and healing process. We grant the wishes of medically eligible children (age 2½-18) who have been diagnosed with a progressive, degenerative, or malignant condition that places their life in jeopardy.
WISH TYPES • I wish to have… • I wish to be... • I wish to go… • I wish to meet… • I wish to give… Much like their imaginations, children’s wishes cover an almost limitless spectrum. From wishing to be a ballerina to meeting a favorite celebrity; from receiving a new laptop computer to visiting a glamorous destination, wish children have enjoyed unforgettable, inspirational wish experiences around the world.
Transform lives, one wish at a time.
IN FY20,
95 Children
experienced the power of a wish
How to
Get Involved Adopt-A-Wish® Monthly Donor
Volunteer
The Star Society
Community Partners
Fundraising
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. MONTHLY DONOR Join an exclusive community of monthly donors who are committed to helping Make-A-Wish® grant life-changing wishes. Your monthly gift adds up to big annual impact and ensures we can make wishes possible all year round.
VOLUNTEER Volunteers play an integral role in making wishes come true. Our mission is only possible with their dedication and commitment. Share your time and talent to make magic happen for the children and families we serve.
ADOPT-A-WISH ® The Adopt-A-Wish program provides the opportunity to invest in our mission. With your donation of $5,000 or more, you can help make a child’s wish come true.
WALK FOR WISHES ® Walk For Wishes® is a nationwide Make-A-Wish fundraiser that celebrates the wishes that have already been granted, while raising funds for future wishes. Register a team, fundraise, and walk with us every March at this signature event.
THE STAR SOCIETY By making a five-year pledge, you will allow us to apply funds where they are needed most to ensure our wish kids continue experiencing the power of a wish today and tomorrow. Your unrestricted gift will also support our volunteer and medical outreach efforts, which are essential to wish granting.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS Our generous local community partners help grant life-changing wishes through innovative and customized sponsorship programs. FUNDRAISING Whether it’s through athletic events, lemonade stands or birthday fundraisers, passionate supporters rally their networks to grant wishes in their communities.
Learn about all of the ways you can help us grant the wish of every eligible child in Southern Nevada. Visit snv.wish.org/GetInvolved
Become a Monthly Donor I wish to go on a cruise Ivan, 6 blood disorder
Transform Lives, One Wish at a Time A WISH IS PRESCRIBED HOPE, AND NOW MORE THAN EVER, THAT HOPE IS ESSENTIAL. You can give wish kids a beacon of hope for the future. In honor of your new monthly gift of $25 or more, we will send a neon star lamp kit to a waiting wish kid. The healing power of a wish starts when a child learns their wish is coming true and continues to work as they anticipate their wish. While we are still granting every wish we can safely, there are more than 100 wish kids in our community whose wishes have been postponed because of COVID-19 – and that number grows every day as this crisis continues. Your continued support helps us give hope to waiting wish kids and prepares us to quickly grant all their wishes when it is safe to do so. Thank you for being a light of hope or wish kids throughout this time of crisis – and beyond. Click here to watch Ivan receive his neon star lamp!
Adopt-A-Wish
®
I wish to have assistance with college tuition Fabian, 18 cancer
Make wishes come true in Southern Nevada What if you had the opportunity to make an immediate, direct, and substantial impact on the life of a child battling a critical illness? Every year, hundreds of children throughout Southern Nevada are diagnosed with critical illnesses. Their world suddenly collapses, and they are forced to confront a reality no child should have to face. Can you imagine the joy and hope that a family experiences when they learn that their child’s one true wish is being granted? The Adopt-A-Wish program gives you the opportunity to be part of that life-changing experience.
“After going through so much, this makes me feel like I’m on the other side of all the bad things that have happened. Only good things can come from here.” – Fabian, wish kid
What is Adopt-A-Wish? The Adopt-A-Wish program provides the opportunity to invest in the mission of Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. With your donation, you can help make a child’s wish come true. After you’ve made your gift, we will connect you, your organization, or your company with a specific wish story and tell you about the child’s journey, including the specifics of their wish experience.
Adopt-A-Wish Benefits All Adopt-A-Wish donors receive the following benefits:
The joy of knowing you’ve helped fulfill a wish and receive updates on wishes we continue to grant.
Experience a mission moment during the year you make your donation.
Aligning with the strength of our brand and a mission that appeals to a broad audience.
Why Adopt-A-Wish? Every wish requires passionate volunteers, dedicated community partners, and the financial generosity of people like you. Through your gift, you have the power to transform lives in our community and help us toward our ultimate goal of reaching every eligible child in Southern Nevada.
The Star Society I wish to have a media room makeover Dennis, 6 nervous system disorder
The Star Society is a group of like-minded donors committed to forever changing the life of a child and their family.
Make-A-Wish® Southern Nevada creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses and has been doing so since 1996. More than 2,000 children from our community, many fighting for their lives, have been able to imagine and then experience their one true wish. Being a part of The Star Society provides you the opportunity to directly support making wishes come true. By intending to give over five years, you will allow us to apply funds where they are needed most to ensure our wish kids and their families continue experiencing the power of a wish today and tomorrow.
In addition to granting wishes, your unrestricted gift will support our volunteer and medical outreach efforts, which are essential to wish granting. Behind every wish child, there’s a referral source. Your support will provide the constant communication and education with medical professionals that’s necessary to move us toward our vision of granting every eligible child’s wish. Likewise, our volunteers dedicate their personal time to help grant each wish, and your generosity will ensure that they have the tools necessary to best fulfill their roles.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to join The Star Society.
The Star Society MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE:
BLUE STAR LEVEL ($2,500 annually – total intended gift: $12,500 over 5 years) • Recognition in our chapter’s annual report • Recognition on Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada’s website • Invitation to annual Donor Appreciation Night at The Wishing Place
BRONZE STAR LEVEL ($5,000 annually – total pledge: $25,000 over 5 years) • Benefits include all Blue Star Level benefits plus: • Annual Wish Kids Storybook featuring stories of our local kiddos and their wishes • Commemorative gift recognizing one granted wish*
SILVER STAR LEVEL ($10,000 annually – total pledge: $50,000 over 5 years) • Benefits include all Bronze Star Level benefits plus: • Personalized star at The Wishing Place • Annual invitation to an inspiring Wish Experience • Commemorative gift recognizing two granted wishes*
GOLD STAR LEVEL ($20,000 annually – total pledge: $100,000 over 5 years) • Benefits include all Silver Star Level benefits plus: • Quarterly invitations to Wish Moments at The Wishing Place – experience firsthand, the power of a wish • Commemorative gift recognizing four granted wishes*
PLATINUM STAR LEVEL ($30,000 annually – total pledge: $150,000 over 5 years) • Benefits include all Gold Star Level benefits plus: • Special luncheon at The Wishing Place with CEO, Board Chair, and Wish Kid Ambassadors • Commemorative gift recognizing ten granted wishes*
*Upon fulfillment of your first annual gift
You can become part of the undeniable power of a wish in so many ways.
For more information about how you can make a gift and connect with our mission, contact info@snv.wish.org or 702.212.9474