Going to school. Hanging out with your friends. Eating dinner with your family. All of these things are regular activities we tend to take for granted. For some kids with cancer, any of these moments would seem like a dream. These children have spent so many hours in a bleak hospital room and are deprived of a typical childhood. Inspired to help these kids, the Make-A-Wish Foundation was created to bring joy during tough times.
This non-profit organization grants "wishes" to kids who have fatal medical conditions. On average, a child gets a wish granted every 35 minutes! Kids can spend a day as a police officer, firefighter, or princess. They can even meet famous celebrities, sports players, or TV characters and go to places like Disney World or the tropics. As of 2016, the average cost of a wish is $10,130. The foundation covers all expenses of the wish, which is not inexpensive. This non-profit organization, meaning it does not intend to make money, relies mainly on donations and grants.
In 1980, a little boy named Christopher Greicius was being treated for leukemia. The 7-year-old wanted more than anything to be a police officer. Knowing this, Officer Tommy Austin and his fellow officers planned what would be one of Greicius' most memorable days ever. He rode in a police helicopter, received a custom-fit police uniform, and was even sworn in as the first honorary public safety patrolman in state history. Sadly, Christopher died soon after, but his story became an inspiration to many. This experience built the foundation for what was to become the Make-A-Wish program.
Currently, more than 220,00 wishes have been granted in the United States and its territories. Although, receiving a wish is not as easy as it might seem. Before thinking about applying, there are some requirements to be eligible. The applicant must have a life-threatening disease and must be between the ages of two and a half and eighteen. A qualified referral source, like legal guardians, doctors, family members, or the wish kids themselves, can fill out an inquiry form to apply for a "wish". After receiving the form, the foundation will communicate whether they will follow up with the request.
Most wishes fall under one of five categories. "I wish to go..." Is one of the categories. This wish can simply be to go to the recipient's favorite amusement park or even traveling around the globe. For Logan, a five-year-old with a neurological disorder, his wish was to
Make a Wish
By Katie Shi
Going to school. Hanging out with your friends. Eating dinner with your family. All of these things are regular activities we tend to take for granted. For some kids with cancer, any of these moments would seem like a dream. These children have spent so many hours in a bleak hospital room and are deprived of a typical childhood. Inspired to help these kids, the Make-A-Wish Foundation was created to bring joy during tough times.
This non-profit organization grants "wishes" to kids who have fatal medical conditions. On average, a child gets a wish granted every 35 minutes! Kids can spend a day as a police officer, firefighter, or princess. They can even meet famous celebrities, sports players, or TV characters and go to places like Disney World or the tropics. As of 2016, the average cost of a wish is $10,130. The foundation covers all expenses of the wish, which is not inexpensive. This non-profit organization, meaning it does not intend to make money, relies mainly on donations and grants.
In 1980, a little boy named Christopher Greicius was being treated for leukemia. The 7-year-old wanted more than anything to be a
police officer. Knowing this, Officer Tommy Austin and his fellow officers planned what would be one of Greicius' most memorable days ever. He rode in a police helicopter, received a custom-fit police uniform, and was even sworn in as the first honorary public safety patrolman in state history. Sadly, Christopher died soon after, but his story became an inspiration to many. This experience built the foundation for what was to become the Make-A-Wish program.
Currently, more than 220,00 wishes have been granted in the United States and its territories. Although, receiving a wish is not as easy as it might seem. Before thinking about applying, there are some requirements to be eligible. The applicant must have a life-threatening disease and must be between the ages of two and a half and eighteen. A qualified referral source, like legal guardians, doctors, family members, or the wish kids themselves, can fill out an inquiry form to apply for a "wish". After receiving the form, the foundation will communicate whether they will follow up with the request.
Most wishes fall under one of five categories. "I wish to go..." Is one of the categories. This wish can simply be