For those of you Make-A-Wish® supporters who are not familiar with “Blue’s Clues,” it is a television show that prepares children for elementary school by teaching them to recognize colors, shapes, sounds, words, and animals. Joe (actor Donovan Patton) and his animated dog, Blue, are the stars of the show and play a game where Blue leaves paw prints on three items, with each one a clue as to what she wants to do that day. Joe places the clues in his Handy Dandy Notebook and must decipher Blue’s intent. Meanwhile, he interacts with animated characters around the house, such as Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper, the salt and pepper shakers; Tickety the clock, who teaches kids how to tell time; Shovel and Pail, a smiling shovel and pail; and, of course, Blue the happy puppy.

“Blue’s Clues” has captivated many Make-A-Wish children, including Ryan. When wish granters with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Southern Florida questioned the 4-year-old, he offered up a big smile. “I want to meet Joe and have a ‘Blue’s Clues’ party,” he explained.

Wish granters began Ryan’s Make-A-Wish experience by picking him up – along with his family – in a limo and shuttling him to Fort Myers’ Hilton Garden Inn. Seventy-nine friends and family had converged on a banquet room – donated by the hotel – to celebrate Ryan’s fifth birthday and share in his meeting of “Blue’s Clues” host Joe. The party radiated with the color blue, with blue presents, blue cake, blue candy, blue balloons, and blue tablecloths.

Finally, Ryan’s favorite television character entered the room. It was Joe himself, in his familiar orange rugby shirt with squares across the chest. Ryan was wearing an identical outfit, which prompted Joe to jokingly exclaim, “Hey, Joe!” Initially, Ryan was incredulous that Joe came out of his television and into his birthday party, but he soon grew attached to his special buddy. They even played “Pin the Tail on Blue.”

Ryan’s mom was extremely grateful for her son’s momentous party, saying, “It was the best day of his life. He will never forget this day.” Additionally, Ryan’s grandmother, who flew in from El Paso, Texas, videotaped the entire wish so her grandson could watch it over and over.

“Blue’s Clues” has been a favorite of wish kids since its debut in 1996. Joe’s predecessor, host Steve Burns, was presented with the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s 1999 Celebrity Wish Granter of the Year award.