Wishes Can’t Happen Without People Like You
Kaden Erickson, a remarkable 12-year-old boy from Jonesboro, Arkansas, suffered from leukemia. A 60 Minutes camera crew spent a year in Jonesboro to capture the kindness of Kaden’s community as they raised money for Kaden and, with the help of Make-A-Wish, made his wish to visit Australia come true.
The emotional 60 Minutes piece and Kaden’s excitement when he learned that his wish was granted inspired people all over the country to give the “gift of a wish” so other children could experience the same joy.
See life through Kaden’s eyes as he travels to the land down under, embracing his own words to live by…
It takes doctors, nurses, social workers, sponsors, donors and more than 27,000 volunteers – each playing a special role - to make wishes like Kaden Erickson's come true.
Learn more about the Make-A-Wish volunteers featured on 60 Minutes - Danna, Christie and Kendra – and find out how you can become part of the global movement to renew families and communities disrupted by serious illness.
Danna
Danna began supporting and volunteering for Make-A-Wish back in 1998. Danna has granted more than 45 wishes since she started wish granting more than 16 years ago.
"Wish kids are the most inspiring and courageous people I have ever known, and they will bless your life in ways you never dreamed possible. We don't just go out and meet these families and gather information for their wish, we get to know them and they become a part of our Make-A-Wish family. We have a saying here "once a wish kid, always a wish kid."
Learn more about Danna’s story.
Kendra
Kendra had her wish granted by Make-A-Wish volunteers, Christie and Danna, in 2002. Since she started granting wishes in 2005, Kendra has granted 28 wishes.
"My journey with Make-A-Wish began 13 years ago when I was a recipient of a wish. I was a senior in high school when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma. During my treatment period, I was interviewed by two volunteers, Christie Matthews and Danna Johnson. My wish ... to meet the Atlanta Braves!"
Learn more about Kendra’s story.
Christie
Christie has been supporting and volunteering for Make-A-Wish since 1999.
"From that very first wish interview I was hooked. I was captivated by this little boy who had endured so much. A little boy who wanted more than anything to go to his favorite Florida theme park. After that first wish, I was determined that part of my life’s mission would be to serve these children through
Make-A-Wish."
Learn more about Christie’s story.
See your local chapter's volunteer opportunities.
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Danna's Story...In Her Words
I am one of the original 6 NEA volunteers. The real estate company that I was working for in 1998 wanted to do something to give back to our community.
Our owner’s sister was best friends with Patricia Brown, CEO of Make-A-Wish® Mid-South, at that time. Patricia came and spoke to our office about Make-A-Wish and we knew immediately that we wanted to help. Several weeks later we got assigned our first wish child and we wanted to raise enough money locally to grant the wish. We approached The Jonesboro Radio Group which is how Christie got involved and several weeks later in February 1999 we held our first Have-A-Heart Wish-A-Thon. Since then, our event and our volunteer base have grown tremendously. The event is now one of the largest and most respected fundraising events in our area.
Over the past 17 years, Make-A-Wish has impacted and shaped my life tremendously. Christie and I became best friends, more like sisters, because of Make-A-Wish and so many of the important people in my life I have met as volunteers or wish kids. Anyone who has ever needed a reason to get out of bed every day and go out into the world and make a difference should have the opportunity to meet a wish child. Wish kids are the most inspiring and courageous people I have ever known, and they will bless your life in ways you never dreamed possible.
We don't just go out and meet these families and gather information for their wish, we get to know them and they become a part of our Make-A-Wish family. We have a saying here "once a wish kid, always a wish kid." Our kids fill our hearts and keep us inspired.
Christie's Story...In Her Words
In January 1999, a group of amazing women I had never met before, sat with me in the conference room of the radio station and asked for my help. They wanted to raise money for a wish granting organization that I only knew a little about; Make-A-Wish®. They were newly trained volunteers and were eager to raise money to fund their first wish.
I had no idea how that meeting would truly change my life. Our first Radiothon raised over $22,000. Still even after that first fundraiser, I was scared to get involved in any other capacity than as a fundraiser. It was a comfortable place for me, I was a professional communicator, and I could engage people. I was persuasive and I could tell the story, but actually meeting the kids … Well … I was just plain scared. I was afraid I would cry when I met the kids. I just knew I would be a blubbery fool, and I wouldn’t be able to get the job done. I didn’t want to add to the heartache that these families were dealing with, with a sick child. I felt guilty because I had two healthy babies. Flash forward a few months later, when I got the call that they needed someone to meet with a child in Paragould.
A little boy named Hunter. At first I was like "No, I've told you before, I can't do it. I’ll cry." Patricia Brown, the CEO of Make-A-Wish Mid-South at the time said "Christie, if you don’t, who will?" So I said yes. From that very first wish interview I was hooked. I was captivated by this little boy who had endured so much. A little boy who wanted more than anything to go to his favorite Florida theme park.
After that first wish, I was determined that part of my life’s mission would be to serve these children through Make-A-Wish. I made a commitment to raise money, to be the voice of the kids. I vowed to speak at every civic organization that would let me and to motivate school children to raise money to grant wishes to their fellow students. I vowed to help grow the number of volunteers, and to truly Share The Power Of A Wish® with anyone who’d listen.
I had hoped it in secret, but honestly never dreamed that God would give me the opportunity to play a significant role in the lives of so many children and their families.
I believed that surely there was someone better, more qualified to be that person. It’s taken me a lot of years to really grasp it all. To trust myself and believe in me and the gifts that God has given me. So many wonderful people have come into my life through Make-A-Wish. Wish kids and their families, so many wonderful volunteers who are more like family than friends, great relationships that just keep getting stronger. That first meeting in 1999 introduced me to my very best friend Danna Reece Johnson and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Make-A-Wish is part of me, it’s part of this great community in Northeast Arkansas, and as we gear up for our next Have-A-Heart Wish-A-Thon, when you see those dedicated volunteers bundled up in frigid temperatures holding out buckets and you hear those sweet Wish Kids on the radio asking you to give, I ask you… like Patricia Brown asked me all those years ago … "If you don’t … who will?" I hope you will!
Kendra's Story...In Her Words
My journey with Make-A-Wish® began 13 years ago when I was a recipient of a wish.
I was a senior in high school when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma. During my treatment period, I was interviewed by two volunteers, Christie Matthews and Danna Johnson. My wish ... to meet the Atlanta Braves! My wish was granted during Senior Night at my school with family, friends, and all of my classmates in attendance. At the end of our slide show they had inserted a few extras that said, "Pack your bags Kendra Gerdes! Make-A-Wish is sending you to meet the Atlanta Braves." It was such a breathtaking experience! Make-A-Wish flew my mom, dad, sister, and myself to Atlanta where we ended up going to two games, shopping, and visiting all of the attractions. It rained right before I was supposed to go on the field for batting practice so they took me to a small waiting area right outside of the Braves locker room! I met 15 players, took pictures with them, got their autographs, and just hung out. It was so amazing that I found myself speechless on many occasions. I knew immediately after my wish trip that I wanted to pay it forward and help others get the experience that I had.
I honestly can't imagine my life without being a part of Make-A-Wish. The opportunities to meet so many wish kids and their families, making friendships that will last a lifetime, and seeing the power of a wish play out in front of me is something that I am extremely thankful for. I have met wish kids that have made a bigger impact on me than I could ever imagine making on them. Seeing the strength and determination in them and their families is amazing. I have relationships with wish families who now consider me a part of their family. You grow to the point where you hurt when a wish kid is hurting and they become a part of your daily life. Being involved in the annual Have-A-Heart Wish-A-Thon and getting to hear the stories of our past wish kids justifies why I am part of such an amazing organization. I hate to be cold but love to be out at the roadblock in the middle of February! I have made friendships with my wish granters and look up to them so much. They have no idea just how much I love and appreciate them. The night that I was diagnosed, I told my parents that God had a plan for all of this in my life. What an incredible plan He had!