An illustration of a kettle with stars coming out and the text "A fine kettle of wish"

It’s a Wisherful Life: Daniel Marlay and the rise of the wish pun 

You may have heard that today, January 30, 2024, is Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area’s 40th birthday. But did you know that it’s also Senior Volunteer Manager Daniel Marlay’s 12th-year anniversary with our chapter? 

Daniel had been volunteering with the chapter at fundraising events for a little over a year, but he officially became a full-time staff member on January 30, 2012. He brought expertise, dedication, and a can-do spirit to his role that have helped elevate our volunteer program over the past 12 years. 

He also brought a deep love of puns and dad jokes. 

One of the tasks Daniel takes most seriously is the subject line of each volunteer enewsletter, which generally goes out once a month to our around 800 volunteers. He keeps a running list of these puns, so he won’t accidentally repeat one, and occasionally puts out a call for fresh ideas. 

In honor of Daniel’s milestone with our chapter and our 40th birthday, we’re sharing this historical list—or as Daniel would call it, this wish-torical list! 

2014 

Gone With the Wish 
The Da Wishi Code 
The Wishes of Eastwick 

2015 

The Wish in the Willows 
Roast Beef Sand-wishes 
Wish Side Story 
Once Upon a Time in the Wish 
North by Northwish

2016 

The Wishard of Oz 
Pop Goes the Wish-el 
Good Wish Hunting 
A Wish in Time Saves Nine 
Gone Wishing 
A Wish Called Fonda 
Harry Potter and Ron Wishley 
The Salem Wish Trials 
Wishstock 
Kisses under the wishletoe 

2017 

Wishin' Accomplished 
Wishin: Possible 
A Fine Kettle of Wish 
Thankswishing 
Good King Wish-eslas 

2018 

Wishin' to Mars 
20/20 Wishin' 
Little Wish Sunshine 
Wish and Chips 
Blair Wish Project 
Wishing Through the Snow 

2019 

Go Wish Young Man 
One Wish Two Wish Red Wish Blue Wish 
Magical Wishtery Tour 
Les Wisherables 
Wish and Tell 
Wishin' Statement 
The Lion, The Wish and The Wardrobe 

2020 

Wishes at Midnight 
Hugs and Wishes 
Wishin' Control 
GreenWish Mean Time 
Word to the Wish 
Wish Out of Water 
Wish Hunt 
Wishin' Board 
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Wishin’ 

2021 

Wished Wing 
Sealed with a Wish 
Road to Per-Wishin' 
Coming to Fru-wishin' 
Family Tra-Wishin' 
O'er the ramparts we wished 
Starting wisher 
Latest ed-wishin' 
Wish Hazel 
De-wish-ous Thanksgiving Dinner 
Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Wishin' 

2022 

New Year's Wish-o-lutions 
Wish From a Rose 
Wishering Heights 
Three Wishketeers 
Nutr-wish-ous breakfast 
Count of Monte Wishto 
Days of Wish and Roses 
Wishy Stardust 
Wishical Graffiti 
Escape to Wish Mountain 
Wished Potatoes and Gravy 
Wish Kringle 

2023 

Wishington Monument 
Prelude to a Wish 
Wishkanda Forever 
Wishabod and Mr. Toad 
Alfred Wishcock Presents 
WISH-E 
Wishenheimer 
Wishing Time: Rise of the Wish Kids 
Earth, Wish, and Fire 
Season of the Wish 
Thanksgiving Wisherole 
It's a Wisherful Life 

2024 

Wishted Metal