Make-A-Wish Celebrates Wish Alumni Whose Stories Reflect the Lasting Impact of a Wish
The national Starblazer Awards program celebrates previous wish recipients whose lives and careers reflect hope and possibility
For many children facing a critical illness, a wish is more than a joyful experience. It can become a source of hope, confidence, and lasting perspective during one of the hardest chapters of childhood. Today, Make-A-Wish® Illinois in partnership with chapters nationwide and Make-A-Wish America, announces the return of its Starblazer Awards, opening nominations for the second year of the national recognition program honoring stellar wish alumni whose lives have been transformed into lifelong missions of impact and leadership in their industries, workplaces, and communities.
The Starblazer Awards spotlight wish alumni whose stories help show that a wish is not simply a moment of celebration. It can mark a turning point in how a child and their family navigate a medical journey. While Make-A-Wish is often misunderstood as an organization serving only children with terminal diagnoses, it grants wishes for children with critical illnesses across many diagnoses and stages of treatment. These stories help illuminate what wish families and research have long shown: a wish can bring hope, strengthen emotional well-being and leave a lasting imprint on how a child sees the future.
Nominations are now open, and the public is encouraged to nominate wish alumni who are making outstanding contributions to society. Anyone may submit a nomination, and alumni may also apply to be considered at wish.org/starblazer.
“The Starblazer Awards are a celebration of who these alumni are and all they continue to become,” said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A- Wish America. “When previous wish recipients share their stories, they remind us that a wish leaves something lasting behind and can give a child hope in the middle of uncertainty. It helps shape how a child sees their future and what they believe is possible.”
The continued growth of the Starblazer Awards is made possible through the support of dedicated partners like Allied World, an award founding supporter of the program. Their investment helps expand national recognition for Starblazer Award recipients and reinforces the lasting impact of a wish beyond the wish itself.
Allied World is a proud partner of Make A Wish and has sponsored more than 50 wishes, in addition to providing children with access to family friendly entertainment experiences. As a Starblazer Award Founder, Allied World supports the role of wishes in helping children navigate their medical journeys and recognizes that these experiences can create lasting benefits for children and their families.
The Starblazer Awards program is also grateful for the generosity of other award founding donors, including Jim & Colleen Clark, Jeff & Anna Saplis, Michael Halle, the John Dawson Foundation, Paul & Angie Martino (Elmhurst, Illinois), the Montgomery Family, and Jeff & Jenny Wright and their family, whose support helps elevate the voices of wish alumni and advance the Make-A-Wish mission nationwide.
Future Starblazer Awards may be established by donors through the program. To learn more about the Starblazer Awards or to submit a nomination, visit wish.org/starblazer to learn more.
About Make-A-Wish® Illinois
For 40 years, Make-A-Wish Illinois has been fueled by the hope we give our kids, granting more than 19,000 wishes across the state. With support from everyday WishMakers who contribute on every level as volunteers, donors and partners, Make-A-Wish Illinois continues to share the power of a wish® with a vision to reach every child with an eligible condition because research shows a wish experience is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. For information, visit wish.org/illinois.
About Allied World
Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd, through its subsidiaries, is a global provider of insurance and reinsurance solutions. We operate under the brand Allied World and have supported clients, cedents and trading partners with thoughtful service and meaningful coverages since 2001. We are a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, and we benefit from a worldwide network of affiliated entities that allow us to think and respond in non-traditional ways. Our capital base is strong, our solutions anticipate rather than react to changing trends, and our teams are focused on establishing long-term relationships that are mutually beneficial.