The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization that grants the wishes of children with severe illnesses. World Wish Day is April 29. It is the anniversary of the first wish ever granted.
Did you know that Make-A-Wish was founded in Phoenix? It started in 1980, when Christopher Greicius, a 7-year-old with leukemia, wanted to be a police officer. Some Arizona officers helped Christopher’s dream came true. The officers took him for a ride in a police helicopter and gave him a hat, badge and custom-made uniform. They also took him on a tour of the Department of Public Safety headquarters. Then he was sworn in as the first and only honorary Department of Public Safety officer.
When his mother saw how happy he was, she wanted to do something to help other sick children receive wishes. So, she co-founded Make-A-Wish. Since then, Make-A-Wish has granted over 500,000 wishes across the world. These wishes can be as amazing as swimming with sea lions or as simple as wanting a dog.
One girl, whose leg was amputated due to cancer, wished for a poodle. On the same day that she got her prosthetic leg, Make-A-Wish gave her a poodle. When she grew up, she ran in a triathlon and became a pediatric nurse and Make-A-Wish volunteer.
Make-A-Wish wants to make every child’ wish come true. When a child is uplifted by a wish, it gives them hope, and they have a higher chance of recovering from their illness. Thanks to wishes, parents and families are also uplifted and given an opportunity to think positively about the future.
In honor of World Wish Day, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is partnering with Funko. If you’ve ever walked into a bookstore or GameStop, you’ve seen these collectible bobbleheads of pop culture icons. Funko Pop is producing a new line of bobbleheads as part of their “Pops! With Purpose,” whose proceeds go to good causes. Pops! With Purpose figures have a sticker that shows that Make-A-Wish will receive a donation. Funko has promised to donate $150,000 to Make-A-Wish. Visit www.worldwish.org to make a donation or to read more inspiring stories.
