Make-A-Wish Foundation Facts
- Make-A-Wish fulfills wishes for kids living with critical illnesses.
- The foundation is celebrating 40 years since the wish that inspired its founding back in 1980.
- The org has granted more than 330,000 wishes so far.
- There are 60 chapters around the country, with more than 34,000 volunteers.
Jayden Edwards was a vibrant, athletic 17-year-old when he got a diagnosis of a rare form of cancer last year. It came as a shock not just to Jayden but to his entire household of 11. Although he had plenty of family around him for support, Jayden was the recipient of some extra special love and pampering, thanks to his local Make-A-Wish chapter in Connecticut.
Jayden took his girlfriend along on a shopping spree the foundation arranged — picking out a flashy jacket that goes perfectly with his outsized personality (pictured above). It wasn’t his first choice — that was a trip to Disney — but given the worldwide pandemic, he had the chance to “wish” for something a little closer to home.
“When somebody else cares, that is a big help,” Jayden’s dad James told SurvivorNet about the experience of working with Make-A-Wish. “It always feels good to have people that are taking their time volunteering to come see you and show you love and care.”
Related: ‘I Understand What It’s Really Like’ — Famed Magician Criss Angel Presents Make-A-Wish Award as His Son Fights Cancer
These days, Jayden is in treatment and keeping his head up — even serving as the source of inspiration for his own family experiencing the journey with him. “He’s a big help [in encouraging the family] because he’s just trying to live life,” dad James says. “He’s trying to be in good spirits and that helps the people around him who love him.”
What is Make-A-Wish Foundation?
Make-A-Wish is a nonprofit group dedicated to creating life-changing experiences for children with critical illnesses, such as cancer. Sometimes family members get to take part in the wish-granting, because often the entire family goes through the cancer journey. This year, the organization is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the wish that inspired its founding, back in 1980.
Related: This Little Girl with Cancer Just Got Her Wish to Meet a Unicorn — A Small Town Rallies to Make a Dream Come True
Since that time, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 330,000 wishes for kids in the U.S. — more than 15,800 just last year alone. There are 60 chapters all around the country, and more than 34,000 volunteers involved.
How Did Make-A-Wish Start?
Back in 1980, Christopher James Greicius was a 7-year-old kid with leukemia who dreamed of being a police officer. Before his death, his community in Phoenix came together to help him experience the tools and pomp of police life. And it was his wish that inspired the founding of the organization.
When Talking to Kids About Cancer: Be As Open As You Can
Frank “Bopsy” Salazar, also 7-years-old with leukemia, became the first official Make-A-Wish kid the following year.
How Does Make-A-Wish Foundation Grant Their Wishes?
Like all nonprofit organizations, Make-A-Wish relies on fundraising, and it operates with the help of devoted volunteers who help fulfill kids’ special wishes. Of course, the volunteers get something important in return, too: the warmth and satisfaction that comes from knowing they made a difference in the life of a sick child.
Make-A-Wish is able to fulfill the wishes of kids with critical illnesses through donations from individuals and corporate sponsors. You can donate or learn more about the foundation through its website, wish.org.
The Impact of a Childhood Cancer Diagnosis on the Whole Family
How Has Make-A-Wish Been Impacted By COVID-19?
Before his shopping spree, Jayden’s earlier wishes included a trip to Disney, but the coronavirus pandemic forced some changes to his and other kids’ plans. Still, Make-A-Wish is granting wishes every day for children with critical illnesses around the country in safe ways — think pets, backyard playsets, and shopping experiences like Jayden’s.
From hope, kids with critical illnesses can derive the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illnesses. And Make-A-Wish keeps coming up with new ways to make it happen, even during COVID-19.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Make-A-Wish Foundation Facts
- Make-A-Wish fulfills wishes for kids living with critical illnesses.
- The foundation is celebrating 40 years since the wish that inspired its founding back in 1980.
- The org has granted more than 330,000 wishes so far.
- There are 60 chapters around the country, with more than 34,000 volunteers.
Jayden Edwards was a vibrant, athletic 17-year-old when he got a diagnosis of a rare form of cancer last year. It came as a shock not just to Jayden but to his entire household of 11. Although he had plenty of family around him for support, Jayden was the recipient of some extra special love and pampering, thanks to his local
Make-A-Wish chapter in Connecticut.
Jayden took his girlfriend along on a shopping spree the foundation arranged — picking out a flashy jacket that goes perfectly with his outsized personality (pictured above). It wasn’t his first choice — that was a trip to Disney — but given the worldwide pandemic, he had the chance to “wish” for something a little closer to home.
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“When somebody else cares, that is a big help,” Jayden’s dad James told
SurvivorNet about the experience of working with Make-A-Wish. “It always feels good to have people that are taking their time volunteering to come see you and show you love and care.”
Related: ‘I Understand What It’s Really Like’ — Famed Magician Criss Angel Presents Make-A-Wish Award as His Son Fights Cancer
These days, Jayden is in treatment and keeping his head up — even serving as the source of inspiration for his own family experiencing the journey with him. “He’s a big help [in encouraging the family] because he’s just trying to live life,” dad James says. “He’s trying to be in good spirits and that helps the people around him who love him.”
What is Make-A-Wish Foundation?
Make-A-Wish is a nonprofit group dedicated to creating life-changing experiences for children with critical illnesses, such as cancer. Sometimes family members get to take part in the wish-granting, because often the entire family goes through the cancer journey. This year, the organization is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the wish that inspired its founding, back in 1980.
Related: This Little Girl with Cancer Just Got Her Wish to Meet a Unicorn — A Small Town Rallies to Make a Dream Come True
Since that time, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 330,000 wishes for kids in the U.S. — more than 15,800 just last year alone. There are 60 chapters all around the country, and more than 34,000 volunteers involved.
How Did Make-A-Wish Start?
Back in 1980, Christopher James Greicius was a 7-year-old kid with leukemia who dreamed of being a police officer. Before his death, his community in Phoenix came together to help him experience the tools and pomp of police life. And it was his wish that inspired the founding of the organization.
When Talking to Kids About Cancer: Be As Open As You Can
Frank “Bopsy” Salazar, also 7-years-old with leukemia, became the first official Make-A-Wish kid the following year.
How Does Make-A-Wish Foundation Grant Their Wishes?
Like all nonprofit organizations, Make-A-Wish relies on fundraising, and it operates with the help of devoted volunteers who help fulfill kids’ special wishes. Of course, the volunteers get something important in return, too: the warmth and satisfaction that comes from knowing they made a difference in the life of a sick child.
Make-A-Wish is able to fulfill the wishes of kids with critical illnesses through donations from individuals and corporate sponsors. You can donate or learn more about the foundation through its website, wish.org.
The Impact of a Childhood Cancer Diagnosis on the Whole Family
How Has Make-A-Wish Been Impacted By COVID-19?
Before his shopping spree, Jayden’s earlier wishes included a trip to Disney, but the coronavirus pandemic forced some changes to his and other kids’ plans. Still, Make-A-Wish is granting wishes every day for children with critical illnesses around the country in safe ways — think pets, backyard playsets, and shopping experiences like Jayden’s.
From hope, kids with critical illnesses can derive the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illnesses. And Make-A-Wish keeps coming up with new ways to make it happen, even during COVID-19.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
