History
The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little boy with leukemia, Chris Greicius, realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Chris rode in a police helicopter, had his own uniform custom-made, and is still the only honorary state trooper in Arizona history. Chris’ dream meant more than anything to him, but even he couldn’t have known that his wish would serve as the inspiration for a special group of volunteers, who formed an organization to provide such magical experiences for other kids in need.
The Foundation hasn’t stopped providing magical moments since. Since 1980, delivery of the Foundation’s mission — to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, and thus to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy — has been supported by a growing legion of fully trained volunteers that now exceeds 25,000 nationwide, giving the Foundation an approximate 38:1 volunteer-to-staff ratio that is vital in its day-to-day service delivery. In that time, services have also reflected the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors, and entire communities. The Foundation’s ultimate vision is that, some day, people everywhere will share the power of a wish®.
