Source: Make-a-Wish Foundation
In 2010, Make-A-Wish® led a study that defined for the first time the impact of wishes on the children and families that are part of the wish journey. This research provided quantitative measures of the breadth and depth of the impact of the Make-A-Wish mission – previously supported by anecdotal knowledge and assumptions – that wish impact is not limited to the immediate emotional effects on wish children. Rather, Make-A-Wish broadly enhances the quality of life for children and their families by promoting resilience and increasing well-being.
This research has been expanded in 2022 to include a much larger population of Make-A-Wish children and parents, in addition to medical professionals. Over a decade later, a large majority of Make-A-Wish alumni, parents, and medical providers overwhelmingly agree that the wish experience contributes substantially to physical, mental, and emotional health; and was a necessary part of the medical treatment journey, improved the odds of survival, provided a support system and better health outcomes, and gave the child a better chance of recovering from their critical illness.
- Increased hope, strength, joy, confidence, self-esteem, quality of life, and well-being.
- Served as a coping mechanism and a turning point during treatment.
- Brought families closer together and strengthened relationships with loved ones.
- Helped overcome traumatic stress, hopelessness, depression, and loneliness.
Wish fulfillment organizations offer children and adults with a chronic or advanced condition, such as cancer, the chance to take a break from the challenging experience by allowing them to have their wishes and dreams come true. Such dreams may include taking a family vacation, attending an event, purchasing a desired item, or meeting someone special. Whatever the wish, wish fulfillment organizations aim to help people with advanced illness enrich the quality of their lives and create meaningful memories.
Various organizations have differing eligibility requirements and limitations regarding the types of wishes they grant. If you or a child or an adult you know has a wish they would like granted, consider contacting one of the following organizations.
3 Little Birds for Life
888 370 8885
Dreams of a lifetime for persons ages 18-40 with any cancer, any stage.
Chances are that you’ve heard the captivating and peaceful lyrics from Bob Marley’s “3 Little Birds” sometime in your life – “Don’t worry about a thing ‘cause every little thing gonna be all right.” This song was the very essence of Guy “Tyler” Gifford, brother of our founder, Ashley Swip. Tyler had a unique way of making each and every person around him smile, laugh, and remember that everything would be all right, no matter what. When Tyler passed away November 2, 2010, the words from “3 Little Birds” were placed on his prayer card, and through his life, his caring nature, loving heart, and this song, 3 Little Birds 4 Life came to be.
Our Recipients have 2 Celebration Options to choose from:
- “All The Things” Celebration –This Experience will include a Birdie Basket (custom gift basket), music, confetti, photo shoot, and so much more. We can bring a Celebration to a home, parking lot, etc.
- “Memory Maker” Celebration – The Wish Recipient will get to go to some kind of local experience Wish. This could be sports, theatre, art, cooking, concert, and many other options.
A Special Wish Foundation, Inc.
800 486 9474
Our Goals
To enhance the quality of life for those infants/children/adolescents who have been diagnosed as having a medical problem which is considered to be life-threatening, and who have not attained the age of 21 years by providing the opportunity for their special wish to be granted.
To lend both emotional and social support to the family of the above-mentioned children by providing the opportunity for them to share in the wish activity, and to enable them to gather some lasting memories to cherish in the future.
This foundation grants wishes for infants, children, and young adults younger than 21 years old who have been diagnosed with an advanced illness. Wishes fall into three categories, including a special gift, (computers, televisions, stereos, video games, even a puppy are included among the wishes we have granted). These wishes can captivate children and help take them away from the pain and uncertainty caused by their disorder. In the category, a special place, (whether it’s a visit to a special friend or relative, amusement park, or other wish destination. A Special Wish Foundation, Inc. handles complete travel and lodging arrangements for the child and members of the immediate family. This includes air transportation, hotel expenses, meals, spending money, and all other aspects of the travel wish). The category “a special hero” is for the many children who dream about someday meeting their special hero, whether it be a sports figure, government leader, rock star or other entertainer. A personal visit is a true morale boost for the child, as well as a memory to hang on to during unsure times ahead.
Ally’s Wish
Ally’s Wish, Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in North Texas devoted to granting the last wish to young, terminally ill mothers with children. Inspired by the late Allyson Hendrickson, Ally’s Wish provides a memory for the family that will last a lifetime. Wishes are granted in the form of services, gifts, transportation, lodging, or any other wish the mother may have, and a typical wish granted is approximately $5,000. Since inception, 114 wishes have been granted to families across North Texas and the U.S.
Believe in Tomorrow
800 933 5470
Provides hospital and respite housing services to critically ill children and their families. They offer Hands on Adventures, a program that partners with organizations that allow children to experience “once in a lifetime” opportunities.
Cameron Siemers Foundation for Hope
949 412 4922
Helps young adults between the ages 18 and 30 diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, by awarding up to $5,000 to be used in the fulfillment of a dream, goal, or project.
Catch a Dream Foundation
662 324 5320
Provides once-in-a-lifetime dream hunting and fishing trips to children across the United States and Canada, age 18 and younger, who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. Through these adventures and exposure to outdoors-minded people who care, the program instills in these children a message of encouragement at a time when they need to know that hope does, indeed, exist.
Childhood Leukemia Foundation
Mission to educate, empower and raise awareness and the necessary funds to support programs that benefit children living with cancer. Programs improve health literacy, increase self-esteem and empower cancer victims with hope. CLF believes that by working together, we can make a difference one child at a time.
- Hugs U Wear offers human hair wigs to young cancer patients who have lost their own hair due to chemotherapy treatments. The Hug U Wear is a 100% human hair wig that is sewn into a lightweight cap and comes with a detachable hat. The child can choose from several styles to help deal with the stress and embarrassment of hair loss.
- Wish Baskets help lift the spirits of these young cancer patients during a particularly difficult time in their lives. The baskets are filled with age-appropriate items such as pajama bottoms with a matching pillow case, an MP3 player, individual games and a $50 Gift Card to purchase wish item(s) of their choice.
- Hope Binder helps mprove a patient’s level of health literacy. Pediatric oncology patients and their families are often overwhelmed with the amount of medical and insurance information associated with a chronic illness such as cancer. The Hope Binder has 12 sections to reference and record, in their own words, medical information regarding the child’s treatment. The binders also include an assortment of informational booklets regarding pain management and dietary tips, as well as, a 75 minute pre-paid telephone calling card to keep in close contact with friends and family.
Children’s Wish Foundation International
770 393 9474
From tropical vacations to shopping sprees, this is the stuff of dreams!
Open to any young person under the age of 18 and who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
Our Wish Coordinators craft extraordinary Wishes for children and their families. We create detailed itineraries that include arrangements for travel, accommodations, tickets, expense money, volunteer support, and child-specific surprises along the way.
We believe a Wish should be the child’s heartfelt Wish, in a time and place that suits the child. Our team is prepared to work quickly for the child who needs to go NOW, between treatments, because the future can be uncertain. We also understand that some families don’t have the resources for things like suitcases. And no girl can go to Disney without the requisite princess dress! We’ve got them covered.
Every wish is made possible by the ongoing support of individuals and committed organizations that are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children.
Since CWFI’s inception in 1985, we’ve granted thousands of once-in-a-lifetime wishes for children in 53 countries.
Our Wish Fulfillment program is open to any young person under the age of 18 and who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Anyone can refer a child – simply contact our office with basic information on the child, and we will immediately begin working on initial steps to fulfill the Wish.
What qualifies as a wish from Children’s Wish Foundation?
We only ask that the Wish must truly be the child’s Wish, allowing them to fully experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of their dreams.
What can a child wish for?
We never put our Wishes into categories and no two Wishes are ever alike! Our Wish Coordinators make up a professional team with over 20 years of experience in creating unique, handcrafted Wishes. Every Wish includes all travel arrangements, accommodations, tickets, detailed itineraries, expense money, volunteer support, carefully planned presentations to fit the family’s schedule, and the promise of child-specific surprises along the way. Every detail is planned to perfection, allowing the family to enjoy “Family Time” and create precious memories to cherish forever.
What if a child is not old enough to write their wish?
For those children who are unable to verbalize their Wish because of their age or cognitive level, we’ve created our Young Minds Program to fit their needs. If your child falls into this category, please call our headquarters for more information or read an overview about the Young Minds Program.
Clayton Dabney For Kids with Cancer
214 361 2600
Provides needy families, with children in the last stages of terminal cancer assistance in creating everlasting memories by providing last wishes, gifts, special events, family travel and financial assistance with household expenses.
Compassion Partners
407-396-5320 (no website)
Provides free tickets to either Sea World or Universal Studios Orlando for adults with life changing illnesses like cancer. The patient or caregiver writes a letter requesting the tickets and your doctor confirms your diagnosis.
Do It For The Love is a nonprofit wish-granting foundation that brings people living with life-threatening illnesses, children with severe challenges, and wounded veterans to live concerts. Founded in 2013 by musician Michael Franti and ER nurse Sara Agah, Do It For The Love has, to date, granted more than 500 wishes, working with a wide variety of musicians. Through the healing power of music, our goal is to inspire joy, hope, and lasting celebratory memories in the face of severe illness or trauma.
We make live music experiences – by any artist – available to those who need the healing power of music the most. To date, we have made over 2,700 musical wishes come true! It’s all thanks to the love and support of our incredible community!
Live Music inspires hope and healing through the gift of music experiences …
Joy
A wish-come-true helps children and adults with life-threatening illnesses and wounded veterans feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their medical conditions.
Hope
For many of our wish recipients, it marks a turning point in their fight against their illnesses. The wish experience works in concert with medicine to make them feel better, emotionally and physically.
Memories
A live musical experience forever transforms the life of wish recipients, their families and entire communities. Wishes create lasting celebratory memories in the face of severe illness or trauma.
Music is really one of the main things that helped him fight these last couple of years through so much pain and depression and loneliness. This gift you have given him is beyond wonderful.
— Christine, Wish mom
Dream Factory
800 456 7759
The Dream Factory is the largest all-volunteer driven children’s wish-granting organization that does not limit its mission to children who have life-threatening illness. The organization believes children with chronic illnesses and disorders also suffer from substantial emotional and physical pain.
Dream Foundation
The Dream Foundation fulfills the wishes of adults suffering from advanced illnesses. The foundation seeks to help adults find peace and closure with the realization of a final wish. Dream Foundation grants requests to adults older than 18 years old whose life expectancy, confirmed by their physicians, is one year or less. They must also confirm that they have limited resources. Provides end-of-life dreams that offer inspiration, comfort and closure.
Give Kids the World Village
407 396 5320
Rated Four Stars by Charity Navigator, Give Kids The World Village is an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort in Kissimmee, Florida, that provides week-long, cost-free wish vacations to critically ill children and their families from around the world who want to visit Central Florida.
A stay at the Village is much more than a vacation. During one transformative week, wish families laugh, play, and create priceless memories together away from hospital visits and medical procedures. It’s a magical week of “YES” where wish kids can experience the simple joys of childhood, and where families can recapture some of the precious moments that may have been missed due to illness.
Since 1986, Give Kids The World Village has welcomed more than 176,000 families from all 50 states and 76 countries. The Village is made possible by the support of generous donors and community partners, as well as thousands of passionate volunteers – who donate their time and talent making wishes come true.
Grahamtastic Connection
Providing free laptops, iPads, robots and internet access to seriously ill children for educational purposes.
We envision all seriously ill children in America continuing their education uninterrupted despite their medical condition or financial limitation. We provide the the tools and support needed to connect children, face-to-face with their classrooms and teachers, family and friends and medical teams.
Go 4 the Goal
Our primary goal is to assist families with financial and logistical burdens so that they are able to focus all their energy on caring for their child.
Hopecam
Connects homebound children to their classmates and family at no cost to the participant or school via web cameras, internet and laptops. Child must be in active treatment and in grade Pre-K through 12th grade.
Hope Kids
This charity hosts regular events and activities (a never-ending wish) that help restore hope for the future. Hope Kids also provides a support community for children with advanced illnesses and their families.
We believe that hope is a powerful medicine. Most of us cannot imagine the costs, fears, emotions and isolation that hospital stays and surgeries impose on families. Parents often become overwhelmed with treatment and finances. Siblings can experience confusion, fear, and resentment as normal life activities and parental attentions are replaced with a difficult medical journey.
HopeKids hosts highly-anticipated, free, fun events for families who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition. From live entertainment to private movie screenings and amusement parks to sporting events, we offer a wide variety of activities for the whole family. We want to keep children and their families focused on the future rather than dwelling on what they are dealing with now (i.e. needle pokes, chemotherapy, blood transfusions and other painful experiences.)
I can say with full confidence that HopeKids has changed my daughter’s life in ways that I could have never imagined.
Numerous studies reveal that hope and anticipation directly impact health and well-being. One study published in the Journal of the National Medical Association found that “Hope can increase one’s overall ability to cope with stress by reducing fears and anxieties.”
Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation
JAJF’s mission is
Treating families to WOW! Experiences®, giving children who will lose their Mom or Dad to cancer a timeout to create memories as a family … while they can.
JAJF has become exceptionally, even profoundly important, because of the lives we are ALL truly impacting across the United States. When a parent is diagnosed with late-stage cancer, a family’s world is immediately turned upside down. Our supporters appreciate these children who are facing the imminent loss of their Moms and or Dads deserve a timeout from cancer to create cherished, lasting memories as a family.
JAJF has now treated families from 44 states. We gain our families strictly from oncologist referrals.
James Bess Foundation
The vision and goal of the James Bess Foundation is to encourage people to search within themselves and uncover dreams that have become lost due to life’s difficulties and then grant such dream to the best of our ability. The James Bess Foundation is based out of Nashville, TN.
We grant wishes to terminally ill adults living in the United States. Our mission is to provide a gift of hope wrapped with joy to adults and their families going through the difficulties of a terminal illness. Our age range is 21-65 and most of our clients have a life-expectancy of less than one year.
Jason’s Dreams for Kids
Jason’s Dreams for Kids grants wishes to children diagnosed with a progressive, degenerative, or malignant condition in the New Jersey area. The organization relies on medical professionals and parents for referrals and determines medical eligibility with the help of the treating physician.
Bringing a little happiness and putting a few smiles on these children’s and their parents’ faces is our goal. Jason’s Dreams for Kids, Inc. grants wishes for children in the New Jersey area.
Kids Wish Network
888 918 9004
We grant wishes to children between the ages of 3 and 18 who are in the fight for their lives, battling a life-threatening medical condition. We customize every wish to the interests of each child. Our professional and caring wish coordinators are enthusiastically involved in every aspect of the child’s extraordinary experience and work closely with the family to make the entire wish adventure is one that the Wish Kid and their family will treasure forever. And we take the time to get to know each child so we can create a personalized, unique wish experience just for them! Whether it’s a wish to visit Florida Theme Parks, take an exciting trip to a special destination, meet a favorite celebrity, or be pampered on a personal shopping spree, we make sure every moment is what the child has dreamed of… and more!
We grant Hero wishes to children who have faced life-altering circumstances with extreme bravery and courage. We award these young Heroes in the care of hospitals, shelters, and other facilities nationwide with special Hero bears, t-shirts, certificates, and, best of all, a gift card to spend however they choose.
Kids Wish Network’s original mission was to grant wishes only to children with life-threatening conditions. In doing so, it became apparent that there were so many children in circumstances that deserved to be recognized but did not qualify for our original program. We then developed our Hero of the Month program to honor the children who did not have a life-threatening condition but who bravely faced some very tough and often tragic situations. These special wishes are called “Hero Wishes.”
If you know of a pediatric care facility or hospital that may benefit from our Hero of the Month program, please contact us.
Make-a-Wish Foundation
The nation’s largest wish-granting organization, Make-a-Wish fulfills the wishes of children between 3 and 18 years old with life-threatening medical conditions, aiming to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. The organization accepts referrals from health care professionals and parents, and children can even nominate themselves. After evaluating medical eligibility, a team of volunteers meets with the child to help identify the child’s true wish.
A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their life-threatening medical conditions. For many, the wish marks a turning point in the fight against their illnesses. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals say that the wish experience works in concert with medicine to make their patients feel better emotionally and even physically. That is why wishes matter. That is why we grant wishes.
We don’t grant wishes for short-term smiles. We grant wishes to positively impact long-term health results.
Make-A-Wish was the subject of a study to measure how wish-granting experiences influence the medical outcomes of children with cancer. Sixty-six children were evaluated using three different verified, respected, widely used assessment tools. The tools quantify hope, positive emotions, health-related quality of life and anxiety.
“It is possible that wishing enabled these children to dream about what seemed unobtainable, out of reach, and thus created an experience of achieving the impossible,” researchers wrote.
And if the impossible can happen once, kids can believe in their ability to live with or even overcome their illnesses. That’s the real purpose of a wish.
Marty Lyons Foundation
Founded by professional football player Marty Lyons after serving as a surrogate father of a three-year-old boy with a life-threatening illness,.
The Marty Lyons Foundation (MLF) was established in 1982 to fulfill the special wishes of children, ages 3 to 17 years old, who have been diagnosed as having a terminal or life-threatening illness by providing and arranging special wish requests. We are unique in that we will grant a second wish to a deserving child.
The Foundation has 10 Chapters granting wishes in 13 states – Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
Incorporated as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) organization, MLF has granted over 7,300 wishes and is dedicated to making more dreams come true for our children.
Nikolas Ritschel Foundation
Provides enrichment opportunities and encouragement to young adult cancer patients, ages 18-24. Apply online to request a wish for respite, travel, technology or other needs.
Some wishes celebrate the completion of treatment. Some are for taking a needed break from treatment to rejuvenate for the continued fight. And, some are a last wish to spend the remaining precious time with loved ones. Typically, a Nik’s Wish grant will cost $6000. Our amazing Wish Coordinators work directly with the young adults and their families to create awesome experiences filled with joy, love, and FUN! The memories created are priceless for the entire family. Read the testimonials from some of the families.
Rainbow Connection
This organization helps grant wishes to children from Michigan facing an advanced illness. To qualify, children must be between 2 1/2 and 18 years old, live in Michigan, be diagnosed with an advanced illness, and have the diagnosis verified by a physician. In addition, they must not have received a wish fulfillment from any other organization. Medical professionals, parents or guardians, and children may submit wish requests.
Second Wind Dreams
678 624 0500
Fulfillment of dreams for age 18 plus.
Stella’s Wish Foundation
Fulfills a wish to someone who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 of a life-threatening cancer.
Wishes that have been granted thus far range from a catered family gathering to trips with loved ones … the opportunities are endless to make a person’s dreams come true.
Sunshine Foundation
215 396 4770
This foundation is committed to fulfilling the dreams of children 3 to 18 years old who have advanced cancer. Sunshine Foundation’s sole purpose is to answer the dreams of seriously ill, physically challenged children whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to financial strain.
Dream requests are as unique and individual as each child we serve, but Sunshine Foundation’s most popular request is a family trip to Disney World or the other Orlando theme parks! Below provides more information on some of the many dream requests Sunshine Foundation fulfills.
Dream Village
Sunshine Foundation owns a Dream Village in Davenport, FL, where families stay while on a dream trip to Central Florida! The Dream Village features 9 fairy tale themed cottages, an Olympic sized swimming pool, mini golf course, and play ground, all handicapped equipped and wheelchair accessible! Sunshine Foundation pays for airfare, transportation, lodging, and tickets to the attractions. Families arrive on Thursday and leave on Monday.
Special Dream Stories
While, Sunshine Foundation’s most requested dream is a family trip to the Dream Village and the Orlando Attractions, Sunshine Foundation also receives many other requests as well. Sunshine Foundation’s special dreams can be anything from a celebrity meet and greet, family trip, shopping spree or adaptive medical or therapeutic equipment!
Dreamlifts
There are so many chronically ill and physically challenged children that dream of going to Disney World. To try to meet these growing requests of these special young people, Sunshine Foundation provides Dreamlifts, a one day excursion to Disney or other Orlando theme parks. Sunshine charters a plane and takes groups of about 100 special needs children to spend the day in the #1 most requested destinations. For many of these children they are having two dreams fulfilled: their first time flying and a day at one of Orlando’s theme parks.
Warrior Horses
Mission to bring joy and a unique experience to pediatric cancer patients by matching them with a “warrior” horse. Matches pediatric cancer patients with a horse that participates in the show ring. Patients may visit their horse in person or virtually, and follow the horse’s journey in competitions.
Waves of Grace
[email protected]
Provides beach vacations (travel, accommodations, and food are covered depending on finding) to cancer patients and their families.
Wigs & Wishes
856 582 6600
Provides free wigs to women and children and offers a wish-granting program for children.
Western Wishes
[email protected]
817 757 9216
Grants “western”-themed wishes to children with cancer, other severe illnesses, and critical injuries.
Wishing Star
This charity grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses who are between 3 and 21 years old and live in Eastern and Central Washington and Idaho. Children do not have to be terminally ill to qualify. We foster hope, community, and lasting memories by granting wishes for children and supporting their families beyond the wish.
ALEXANDER says
Very nice post. I certainly love this website. Keep on it
Janet Hessenflow says
I run a hospice company and we grant our patients wishes! It is such a blessing when we come across organizations such as yours that are so generous and giving to those that are suffering with the emotional, let alone physical barriers of their life limiting illness. Bless you for having an open and loving heart.
Adriana Celeste Dalcin says
I am very happy to know that there are so many organizations that make the dreams of children and their families come true, but diseases affect all ages, deficiencies exist at all ages and the person who is no longer a child, nor a young adult but is over 30 years, you are probably sick today with many unfulfilled dreams.
Nancy Novack says
Adriana ….
You are right .. There are only a few organizations which serve the adult population. I will do more research to find foundations that serve adult wishes.
Tiffany Moore says
Had no idea there were this many resources. I was sad to learn that I waited to long to request for my son’s wish to come true due to him reaching the age of 18. Hoping one of these organizations will be able to help in some way. Thank you for putting together this list!