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After a child is referred to the organization, the Foundation contacts the child’s treating physician to determine if the child is medically eligible for a wish. Beyond meeting medical and age criteria (over 21/2 and under the age of 18 at the time of referral), the only other qualifier for Make-A-Wish service is that the child cannot have received a wish from another wish-granting organization.
Upon final confirmation of eligibility, the Foundation assigns a volunteer wish team to coordinate the wish-granting process. This two-person wish team visits with the child and asks a simple question: “If you could have one wish, what would it be?” As the child lists his or her preferences, they typically fall into one of four categories:
• To go to a favorite destination
• To fulfill a special role
• To meet a celebrity or other person who bears special significance to a child
• To have a gift item or an experience that will provide gift items
Once a chapter approves the child’s wish, the wish team works directly with Foundation staff to make it come true . . . to create a magical wish experience for the child that will last a lifetime. Every effort is made to include the immediate family in the child’s wish.
The wish experience often touches dozens —sometimes hundreds — of people who either help coordinate or are directly involved in the wish. Some recent examples include:
• Six-year-old Michael, who wished to be a superhero. During his wish, “Beetle Boy” rescued the city of Pittsburgh from the Green Goblin while Spider-Man was on vacation. He donned his yellow and red costume equipped with a shell, mask, boots, gloves, and antennae, and set out to stop the dastardly Green Goblin and bring safety and peace back to his city. Beetle Boy rescued a damsel in distress at the Pittsburgh Zoo, saved the University of Pittsburgh’s Panther mascot from certain doom, and restored the city’s water supply. Hundreds cheered as the mayor of Pittsburgh presented Pittsburgh’s favorite superhero with a key to the city and declared the day “Beetle Boy Day.”
• Twelve-year-old Hope selflessly set aside traditional requests and, when asked her one true wish, responded with a simple question of her own: “How many other children are waiting for their wishes?” When told that 155 children in central and western North Carolina had wishes pending, Hope expressed her wish to help her local chapter raise enough funds (more than $1 million) to make those children’s wishes come true. Sadly, Hope passed away before her wish was realized, but not before inspiring thousands in her community to rally behind the cause and ultimately raise more than $1.3 million to make Hope’s dream a reality. |
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