Make-A-Wish Foundation of South-Central PA Endowment Fund: Funding Wishes to Inspire Hope
Since its founding in 1983, the Make-A-Wish® Foundation has granted critically ill children a million reasons to smile, even during some of their most painful and difficult days.
Through the generosity of its donor and volunteers, hundreds of thousands of wishes have been granted around the world. In the United States alone, a child’s wish is granted every 33 minutes. At the top of most children’s wish lists are trips to Walt Disney World®, shopping sprees, puppies, play sets, gaming computers, and getting to meet famous celebrities.
The inspiration behind this wish-making movement was Christopher James Greicius, an energetic 7-year-old boy who was battling leukemia and wished to be a police officer. In 1980, the community of Phoenix, Arizona rallied to make his wish come true: making Christopher an honorary officer with his own custom made uniform and badge. Sadly, just days later, he was buried wearing them. His story touched the lives of everyone involved and led to the founding of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.
When local business owner Edward Saxe saw national news coverage of Christopher’s story back in 1983, he recruited his wife, friends, and neighbors to help him establish the first Make-A-Wish chapter in York County. “I was in tears when I saw that news piece. I turned to my wife and told her we have to do this for children in York,” Edward shared. The founding volunteer board members then got to work searching for an eligible “wish kid.” They initially used their own money to fund the wish of a young girl living with a critical illness. Her wish: a trip to Disney World! After the story of York County’s first wish recipient was published in the York Daily Record, donations started pouring in. Since then, thanks to the kindness of strangers, the York chapter has granted over 829 wishes to critically ill children ranging in age from two to 17-years-old.
To ensure the organization can continue granting wishes, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South-Central PA Endowment Fund was established in 1995, making it one of YCCF’s oldest funds. Over 25 grants have been awarded from the fund to help cover the expenses of local wishes, with the average wish costing $5,000 per recipient.
Ann Waltman, Senior Director of the Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania & West Virginia-York Regional office says she is overwhelmed by the generous spirit of York County’s “Wish Makers” – people who donate and volunteer their time to help make a wish come true. “Our Wish Makers have helped our chapter grant more than 21,500 wishes. But they aren’t just changing the life of a child, they’re changing the lives of an entire family,” she added. “They help replace fear with confidence and sadness with hope and inspire each child to believe in the impossible.”
And in turn, Make-A-Wish® helps children realize that Disney characters aren’t the only ones who can wish upon a star and see their dreams come true.
To donate to the Make-A-Wish-Foundation of South-Central PA Endowment Fund, click here.
