“Drink your milk.” “Milk helps you grow strong bones.” “Milk does a body good.” Most youngsters have heard these statements from parents or teachers, and occasionally they heeded the advice. However, when the question “Got Milk?” entered the public consciousness, drinking milk suddenly became cool.

For 10 years, the “Got Milk?” ad campaign has motivated children and families nationwide to drink their milk, while establishing the “Got Milk?” brand as an American icon.

Wish kid Alyssa developed an affinity for the popular milk mustache ads well before she was faced with a life-threatening medical condition. For several years, the teen collected the ads and has hung them all over her room as decoration. “I think the variety of celebrities is really cool, with all the different mustaches,” said Alyssa.

When visited by volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois, Alyssa carefully selected her one true wish. She decided that she wanted to be in a “Got Milk?” ad.

The Foundation approached Lowe Worldwide and Weber Shandwick, the advertising and public relations agencies responsible for the “Got Milk?” campaign, and they generously agreed to coordinate an experience for Alyssa that usually only a celebrity would enjoy. Eric L. Klein Photography, Inc. came forward and graciously donated professional photography services toward Alyssa’s wish.

As she was waiting for her wish to be granted, Alyssa already envisioned what the photo shoot would be like. “Being in some room with a bunch of people trying to get the mustache right, telling me what to do and taking pictures. I will probably be nervous at first, but excited.”

Finally, Alyssa’s wish day was here. Alyssa, her parents, and her younger sister Lauren arrived at a Chicago photography studio for Alyssa’s photo shoot. For the entire day, Alyssa was the celebrity – working with the advertising and public relations teams and the photographer who were creating an unforgettable experience for her. The end result was a fun and inspiring ad featuring Alyssa, holding a tall glass of milk and wearing a milk mustache, of course, exclaiming:

I wanted to be in a milk ad. I wanted to be famous. And milk made my wish come true. It has 9 essential nutrients active bodies need. Any questions? Have your people call my people.

Alyssa’s wish exemplified her patience and perseverance, as it took nearly a year to coordinate. When asked what she learned from her experience, Alyssa stated, “I can handle more than I thought I could. I am stronger than I thought I was, and I can probably get through lots of things that I was scared of before.”

And in case you are wondering, Alyssa still drinks three glasses of milk every day.