Make-A-Wish

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization founded

in the United States that arranges experiences described as "wishes"
to children with life-threatening medical conditions. In order to qualify
for a wish, the child must be between the ages of 3 to 17 at the time
of referral. It is the child's physician that ultimately decides if a child
is eligible.
The national headquarters and founding chapter of the Make-A-Wish
Foundation are in Phoenix, Arizona. The organization grants wishes
through its 61 chapters located throughout the US. Make-A-Wish also
operates in 45 other countries around the world through 38 affiliate
offices. The President and CEO of Make-A-Wish America is David A.
Williams.

History
In the spring of 1980, 7-year-old Christopher James Greicius (August
13, 1972 May 3, 1980) was being treated for leukemia. He had
always wanted to be a police officer. U.S. Customs Officer Tommy
Austin befriended Chris and worked with officers at the Arizona
Department of Public Safety to plan an experience to lift Greicius'
spirits. Chris spent the day as a police officer, rode in a police
helicopter, received a custom-tailored police uniform, and was sworn
in as the first honorary DPS patrolman in state history. Greicius died
soon after, but his wish became inspiration for the world's largest
wish-granting organization.
Professional wrestler John Cena holds the title for the most wishes
granted by a single individual, with over 500 wishes. Singer Justin
Bieber has volunteered in over 250 wishes. National Women's
Collegiate Fraternity Chi Omega has raised over $13 million for MakeA-Wish since 2001.

Process
Children who may be eligible to receive a wish can be referred by one
of the following three sources:
1. Medical professionals treating the child

2. A parent or legal guardian

3. The potential wish child
To refer a child, the appropriate referral source can use Make-A-Wishs
online inquiry form or contact the Make-A-Wish chapter closest to
them. All medical information is considered confidential and is not
discussed with outside parties unless it is required for the wish and
the childs parent(s) or guardian(s) have given their consent.
A child with a life-threatening medical condition who has reached the
age of 2 and is under the age of 18 at the time of referral, is
potentially eligible for a wish. After a child is referred, the childs
treating physician must determine whether the child is medically
eligible for a wish, based on the medical criteria established by MakeA-Wish. In addition, a child cannot have received a wish from another
wish-granting organization.
Each Make-A-Wish chapter follows specific policies and guidelines for
granting a childs wish. Make-A-Wish works closely with the wish
childs physician and family to determine the most appropriate time
to grant the wish, keeping in mind the childs treatment protocol or
other concerns. Most wish requests fall into five categories: I wish to
go, I wish to be, I wish to meet, I wish to have, or I wish to give.

Governance
National Board of Directors: The National Board of Directors helps
chart Make-A-Wishs course. They contribute a vast array of
experience and skills that help maintain Make-A-Wishs status as the
nations largest wish-granting organization. The board determines the
mission and vision, evaluates and supports the president and chief
executive officer and protects Make-A-Wishs assets. The board
enhances Make-A-Wishs public standing, ensures accountability,
maintains legal integrity, and assesses its own performance.
Senior Leadership Team: This team is composed of Make-A-Wishs
top-level management. Each member is a National Office leader in
disciplines that include wish-granting, fundraising, legal, brand
advancement and operational activities. The president and CEO
guides the strategic plan in areas such as board development, talent
development, fundraising, and corporate relations.

Firearms and Fishing

Make-A-Wish stopped granting wishes involving the gift or use of
firearms or other weapons, including fishing tackle, designed to cause
animal injury in 1996. This was largely due to the pressure from
animal-sensitive donors, regardless of the child's wish. In response,
three organizations were formed: Hunt of a Lifetime, which arranged
hunting trips for terminally ill children, Catch-a-Dream, which was
conceived by Mississippi outdoorsman Bruce Brady, and formed by his
loved ones following Brady's death from cancer, to grant hunting
experiences to ill children, and Life Hunts founded by the
Buckmasters American Deer Foundation.

In popular culture

In the 1997 made-for-TV movie, A Child's Wish, the protagonist's

wish is to go to the White House to meet the President who was
responsible for signing the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 into
law (which her father lobbied hard to help achieve). Although at
first Make-A-Wish isn't sure she'll get to meet the President or even
be allowed to see the Oval Office, in the end President Bill
Clinton (as himself) does in fact meet her and make her wish come
true.

In the South Park episode, Kenny Dies, the Make-A-Wish

Foundation is heavily satirized when they visit Kenny in the
hospital and asks what his one wish is.

In the Family Guy episode "If I'm Dyin', I'm Lyin'", a parody of
the Make-A-Wish Foundation called the Grant-a-Dream Foundation
was presented.

In January 2008, the satirical news site The Onion produced a

parody video claiming that the Make-a-Wish Foundation was
bankrupted due to a child's wish for "infinite wishes". The video
was apparently so convincing that some people believed it to be
real, and it had to be debunked by the urban legends web
site Snopes.[12] The
Mansionand The
Chaser's
War
on

Everything did similar sketches about the Make-a-Wish Foundation,

the latter causing an unprecedented amount of controversy.[13][14][15]

Four children were guest-stars on the show Cake Boss, in which

Buddy Valastro helped four children make one-of-a-kind cakes
before making a hot air balloon cake for a reception for the MakeA-Wish Foundation.