Make-A-Wish Wisconsin
Make-A-Wish® Wisconsin is a non-profit organization that with the community’s help, creates life-changing wishes for children between the ages of 2½ and 18 who are battling critical illnesses.
The Wisconsin Chapter has been granting wishes since its founding in 1984, and has granted more than 7,300 wishes since that time. In the Madison area alone, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin typically grants about 50 wishes each year.
Wishes are as unique as the children who wish for them, including wishes to have gaming computers, bedroom makeovers and outdoor playsets; wishes to be a police officer, a ballerina or a fireman; wishes to meet celebrities and heroes, like members of the Green Bay Packers, YouTube stars, singers and actors; and wishes to go to Walt Disney World Resort, Hawaii, the mountains and New York. Each is impactful to the child and the entire family and can be life-changing. Wish kid Makalya’s mom shared this after receiving a horse: “Makayla has always had confidence issues, believing she could not do anything or would not be good at anything. She has wanted a horse since she was six years old, but due to her illness and me losing jobs because I needed to be with her, I was never able to save enough to buy her one. Since you wonderful people have granted her wish, Makayla now feels she is good at something and that’s having her own horse and taking good care of him! You have changed my daughter’s life in ways you will never know and I’m truly grateful for each and every one of you who made this possible for her!”
It takes an entire community of medical professionals, volunteers, donors and supporters to make each wish come true. According to Carol Johnson, Madison Regional Director, “There really is a place for everyone to become involved in granting wishes, whether your giving your time, your talents, finances or in-kind donations. We could not begin to make this kind of impact on the lives of these deserving children without the support of our community.”
To learn more on how you can help make wishes come true for local kids battling critical illnesses, please contact Madison Regional Director, Carol McChesney Johnson at cjohnson@wisconsin.wish.org or call 608.841.1169.