SCOTTSDALE, AZ (September 1, 2025) – Make-A-Wish^® Arizona proudly celebrates a historic milestone in its 45-year history, granting a record-breaking 476 life-changing wishes, the most in the chapter’s history, during fiscal year 2025. This achievement reflects the chapter’s unwavering mission to bring hope, strength, and joy to children with critical illnesses and their families.

The record comes in a year of special significance, as 2025 marks the 45th anniversary of the very first wish ever granted, which inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish right here in Arizona in 1980. Since then, the chapter has continued to honor its legacy by expanding its reach and granting more wishes than ever before.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, the dedication of volunteers, and the support of community partners, Make-A-Wish Arizona continues its commitment to ensuring every eligible child receives a wish. Research shows that the wish experience has a profound impact on children’s emotional and physical well-being, inspiring hope and giving them strength to face their medical challenges with greater resilience.

The 475 wishes granted this past year have spanned a wide range of extraordinary experiences, including wishes like tuition for trade schools, meet-and-greets with celebrities, playhouses, bedroom renovations, shopping sprees, and wishes for pets—all uniquely tailored to the individual interests and needs of each child.

See the impact: Watch ‘Our Year in Wishes.’

Since its founding in 1980, Make-A-Wish Arizona has granted more than 8,500 wishes across Arizona, contributing to the more than 615,000 wishes granted across Make-A-Wish chapters worldwide. To learn more about Make-A-Wish Arizona and how you can support the mission, visit arizona.wish.org.

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About Make-A-Wish^® Arizona

Make-A-Wish Arizona is celebrating 45 years of granting life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and volunteers, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish Arizona has granted more than 8,500 wishes in the local community, contributing to the more than 615,000 wishes granted worldwide; more than 390,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone With 58 chapters nationwide, Make-A-Wish is the most trusted nonprofit operating locally across 50 states. For more information about Make-A-Wish Arizona, visit arizona.wish.org.