New social media campaign encourages Make-A-Wish kids amidst wish delays due to COVID-19.

Orlando, FL(March20, 2020) –Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida faces a record number of wishes waiting to be granted as a result of the recent need to postpone all wishes that involve travel due to the public and medical concerns of COVID-19. As 77% of wishes involve travel, 970 wishes nationwide and over 50 wishes through Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida were immediately impacted with additional wishes being impacted every day. The challenging circumstances have inspired Make-A-Wish to think creatively about how to bring hope and joy to Make-A-Wish kids during unpredictable and scary times. Today, March 20, 2020, Make-A-Wish announces “Messages of Hope” to give supporters and the general public alike a fun, easy way to help children with critical illnesses without needing to leave the house.

Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida knows that the anticipation of a wish-come-true can be a powerful motivator for wish kids to face and overcome the challenges in their way. Through “Messages of Hope,”Make-A-Wish invites the public to spread hope and anticipation by writing, recording or photographing themselves delivering messages of encouragement for wish kids waiting for wishes impacted by COVID-19. Before sharing their messages, participants should consider a donation at cnfl.wish.org/donateto prepare Make-A-Wish to grant the unprecedented number of pending wishes once normal operations resume. The last step is to post the messages to any social media channel along with the tag, @MAWCNFL and the hashtag, #WishesAreWaiting. Two or more friends should also be tagged and challenged because the more messages shared, the greater the impact on wish kids and their families.

Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida sent out messages of hope to the more than 50 wish families whose wishes were impacted by COVID-19 related postponements. Photos of the Make-A-Wish staff show handwritten cards, personal messages, and small goodies being sent out to ensure that our goal of bringing hope, strength and joy to our wish families continues even during this difficult time.

The announcement of “Messages of Hope” comes exactly 40 days prior to April 29,2020, known as World Wish Day.On World Wish Day, Make-A-Wish will mark the 40th anniversary of the wish that inspired the founding of the organization with noteworthy surprises and announcements. Until then, Make-A-Wish will spend the next 40 days highlighting some of the messages received on the official Make-A-Wish social media accounts. The messages will give wish kids and their families hope today so that they can look forward to tomorrow.

“Our chapter has had at least 55 COVID-19 travel related wish postponements. Our kids need the hope, strength, and joy a wish experience provides now more than ever. Although our mission has been interrupted, we are still working hard to shine a light on our families during this time. That’s why our team came together to share our own messages of hope with the impacted wish children and their families by making cards and sending care packages. We want them to know that are here for them and our community is here for them.”-Anne Cuba, Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida President and CEO. “‘Messages of Hope’ calls upon people looking to do something positive and impactful during these uncertain times to bring hope and joy to children and families who need it most,” said Richard K. Davis, Make-A-Wish America president and CEO.“As we approach the 40th anniversary of the founding wish, there’s no denying that we are in the midst of one of the most challenging times in Make-A-Wish history. The time is now for the public to rally in support of wishes because every child deserves a childhood.”

Through “Messages of Hope,”Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida aims to build support for the wishes currently on hold due to COVID-19 because wishes can improve a child’s quality of life and produce better health outcomes. More than ever before, wishes need the support of individual and corporate donors to grant the wish of every eligible child.

Learn more and help at cnfl.wish.org or wish.org/messages-of-hope.

# # #

About Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida 

Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring every eligible child's wish to life because every child deserves a childhood. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. This year, we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the wish that inspired the founding of the organization in 1980. Since then, Make-A-Wish has become the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, serving children in every community in the United States and in nearly 50 countries worldwide. Together, generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 34,000 volunteers across the U.S. grant a wish every 33 minutes, on average, somewhere in the country. Locally, our chapter has granted more than 6,000 wishes to children in the U.S. and its territories since inception in 1994; 250 wishes in 2019 alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida visit cnfl.wish.org