Fear, worry, and hospital treatment dominate children with a life-threatening illness. Granting their wish gives these children and their families strength. This way they can get more resilient when they encounter more difficult times related to their health. 

When a child’s wish is granted, a whole new world full of possibilities opens up. Sometimes it seems impossible to enjoy a carefree holiday, when a child is suffering from an illness. We believe nothing is less true with the impact of a wish.

It is so important for a child and their loved ones to be distracted from their everyday worries and anxiety. By granting a wish, Make-A-Wish does exactly that. The only limit is the child’s imagination; but we cannot do it alone. Together with thousands of volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants wishes all around the world. With your financial support, we can continue the work we are doing for these children and their families.

Grant life-changing wishes

What we do as Make-A-Wish near you

Naura from Malaysia is living with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. During the pandemic she found joy in cooking together with her mother. Her wish was to have a kitchen playset, where she could practice cooking the loveliest home-made meals for her family.

To prepare Naura for her wish day, Make-A-Wish sent her supplies she could later use for her own “kitchen”. An apron, a special recipe book, a chef’s hat, and many different tools for baking and cooking.

When Naura’s wish day finally arrived, the local “Chef Anis” taught her how to make her favorite dish: delicious ice-cream waffles. As an extra surprise, Naura got to keep the waffle maker!

Then the big moment arrived, her brand new kitchen playset. When Naura first saw the playset, she was stunned, and her face filled up with joy. It was a glorious day where the whole family felt happy. Together they created a memory that would last a lifetime.

Granting Naura’s wish renewed her and her loved ones’ strength. It brings out optimism for the future and hope for better days. Feeling intense joy and adrenaline is not something that Naura encounters everyday. Which is exactly why Make-A-Wish grants wishes, with the help of hardworking volunteers and generous donors. Learn more about how Make-A-Wish works and how you can support children like Naura today!

Two kids dressed as superheroes

What does Make-A-Wish do as a Children’s Charity?

With the help of local communities, Make-A-Wish works to grant the wishes of children around the world, who are living with critical illnesses. Make-A-Wish gives hope to children by making their wish come to life. The only limit is their imagination.
With the help of donors and volunteers, Make-A-Wish provides these children and their families with an unforgettable memory to keep close to their hearts. All this is made possible by the Make-A-Wish network of donors, volunteers, partners and supporters. A wish is a carefully planned journey, designed to complement a child’s medical treatment, and give them hope, strength and joy when they need it most.

Does Make-A-Wish generate profit?

Make-A-Wish is a non-profit organization that works to fulfill wishes of children living with critical illnesses. To ensure efficiency, Make-A-Wish works with volunteers as much as possible and tries to source services and items for free through in-kind donations, wherever possible.
However, fulfilling these wishes still costs money. This is where you come in. Most of your donated money goes directly into making the wishes come true. The rest is reinvested in fundraising, and used to cover management and general costs.
Make-A-Wish also collaborates with local non-profit organizations to help grant wishes.

What payments do you accept for a donation?

You can donate online, by mail, by choosing a monthly basis plan on the website, and through cryptocurrency.

Along with this, you can help in further ways by donating airline miles, you can lend workplaces to our employees, start an online fundraiser, or by supporting the fundraising activities of our corporate partners.

You can also donate services and products according to the needs of local affiliates. Please consult with your local Make-A-Wish affiliate to check all the things you can donate.

Is Make-A-Wish only for children with terminal illnesses?

No, Make-A-Wish grants wishes for children that have critical or life-threatening illnesses. Many Make-A-Wish recipients have gone on to live full, healthy lives. A child’s medical condition does not have to be classed as terminal in order for the child to be considered eligible for a wish.
Children who are at least 3 years of age but have not yet turned 18 can apply for a wish. The eligibility is ensured by confirming the medical condition from the child’s current treating physician. If the illness is classified as critical or life-threatening according to the Make-A-Wish medical criteria, the child can be eligible for a wish.

Niamh Ryan

Niamh Ryan

Niamh Ryan is Senior Manager, PR and Communications at Make-A-Wish International, having joined the organisation in 2022 after 5 years at Make-A-Wish Ireland. Niamh oversees the organisation’s internal and external communications and looks after media relations and media strategy. With a background in digital marketing, she is passionate about employing the latest technology and trends to help more people learn about the life-changing power of a wish-come-true!