Make-A-Wish Arizona, the 2024 recipient of Make-A-Wish America's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leadership Award, is honored to be recognized for its commitment to fostering inclusivity and equity within both our chapter and the communities we serve.
This award celebrates the progress our chapter has made in identifying and addressing the unique needs and opportunities across Arizona’s diverse populations, ensuring that every child feels seen, supported, and empowered through their wish journey.
Make-A-Wish Arizona is dedicated to delivering impactful programming that provides strength, hope and transformation to children with critical illness across Arizona’s communities. Each year, between 500-600 kids that become eligible for a wish in Arizona alone. To better serve underserved communities, Make-A-Wish Arizona has strengthened efforts to reach Latino children who qualify for a wish. While Latino children represent more than 40% of Arizona’s population, only 28% of granted wishes previously reached this community. To close this gap, Make-A-Wish has expanded its outreach and enhanced equity in the wish delivery experience through targeted medical outreach across Arizona.
Make-A-Wish Arizona expanded its Spanish-speaking staff across community engagement, medical outreach and wish granting departments throughout the state, establishing a solid foundation for ongoing efforts. As a result, Make-A-Wish Arizona has achieved significant growth. In Fiscal Year 2024, Latino wishes increased by 11% to 39% of all wishes. By the end of FY24, Make-A-Wish Arizona fulfilled 183 wishes, compared to a baseline of 120 wishes.
One of those wishes granted is five-year-old Abraham, who after being diagnosed with a blood disorder, wished to have a kid-sized motorcycle. During one of his numerous doctor visits, a social worker referred Abraham and his family to Make-A-Wish Arizona. In just one year, Abraham’s story and these efforts illustrate Make-A-Wish Arizona’s ongoing commitment to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging both within our chapter and across the communities it serves.
As Make-A-Wish Arizona enters FY25, our outreach is set to expand further with the addition of a Northern Arizona Tribal and Regional Ambassador. This role is a vital step in connecting with Arizona’s diverse communities, particularly in the Northern region, to enhance our wish-granting efforts and deepen community engagement. Recognizing the importance of Arizona’s sovereign tribes in fulfilling our mission to reach every eligible
child, this new ambassador will focus on increasing volunteer involvement, fostering meaningful community relationships, and encouraging wish referrals.