The Wish Star Honor Wall at Make-A-Wish Iowa
The Wish Star Honor Wall at the Make-A-Wish Iowa office is more than a piece of artwork. It is a visual tribute to the strength, hope, and community that makes wishes possible.
Add a star to The Wish Star Honor Wall at Make-A-Wish Iowa to recognize those who have made a difference, honor loved ones and celebrate a shared commitment to Iowa wish families. Your tribute will fuel the wishes that bring hope and joy to children with critical illnesses across our state.
Donations from the honor wall all go into the general operating fund for Make-A-Wish Iowa to serve the highest need in the organization such as wish needs, volunteer needs, staffing needs, urgent needs and wishes. Donations will not be tied to a direct wish. Donations cannot be combined year over year to receive a star; Memorial gifts are eligible if all of the donations are submitted at once. Gifts made through this recognition opportunity are an investment in the future—your support will help grant wishes to children that are waiting across Iowa and provide the operational resources necessary to make those life-changing experiences possible.
This Wish Star Honor Wall was created by Urbandale High School senior, Noah Small. As Noah listened to stories of wish kids and their families, he was struck by the immense challenges they carry every day.
His artwork centers on a powerful image: a mountain rising from an Iowa cornfield. The mountain symbolizes the incredible uphill battle that many families face during a child's medical journey. While these mountains are often invisible to those around us, they are everywhere across Iowa. They represent the worries, treatments, hospital stays, uncertainty, and sacrifices that families endure as they fight for their child's future.
Noah wanted to create a visual that reflected this fight in a beautiful and meaningful way while also celebrating the people who help families climb those mountains. The mural provides a stunning backdrop for honoring individuals, families, organizations, and community partners who have stood beside wish kids, volunteered their time, raised funds, provided resources, or supported the mission in countless ways.
Together, the mountain reminds us that although we may not always see the struggles families face, we can choose to walk with them.
This is the office wall before and after Noah finished the mural. What was once a blank wall in the Make-A-Wish Iowa office is now a powerful image: a mountain rising from an Iowa cornfield. When you add a star to the Wish Star Honor Wall, you are making a meaningful investment for the future and celebrating the people who make life-changing wishes possible.