Local Nonprofit Make-A-Wish^® Massachusetts and Rhode Island Celebrates 40^th Anniversary and Approaches 10,000^th Wish

This month, Make-A-Wish^® Massachusetts and Rhode Island kicks off a year-long celebration of its 40^th anniversary. The organization’s mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses provides children and families with hope and joy that are essential components in a child’s treatment. In its 40-year history, the organization has granted wishes for over 9,800 children in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and is in on track to grant its 10,000th wish this year.

“What an incredible time to be a part of our organization,” said Sean Holleran, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island CEO.  “We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate such a milestone and honor the families, volunteers and supporters who have inspired us for decades.  To those who haven’t experienced our mission, I welcome you to join us as we celebrate this year.”

Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island relies on the generosity of the community to achieve the vision of granting a wish for every eligible child. Children ages 2 ½ to 18 years old with life-threatening illnesses are eligible, and a child’s diagnosis need not be terminal to qualify. Children are referred by medical professionals, family members, or themselves. In the face of life-threatening medical conditions, wishes enable children to experience profound joy, renewed strength and resiliency, and lasting hope to keep striving and dreaming for the future. “Make-A-Wish is truly about helping kids be kids. It is about imagination and fantasy and making the impossible real,” said Dr. Amy Kritzer, Attending Physician, Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children’s Hospital, Medical Advisor for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island and a member of the Make-A-Wish^® America Medical Advisory Council. “When the child has a serious medical condition so much time and energy is focused on their medical care. Talking about Make-A-Wish is an opportunity for us to talk about them just being a kid.”

Throughout the year, events and campaigns will highlight the organization’s four decades of wish-granting work in the community. Key initiatives include World Wish Day on April 29, which honors the wish that inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish; the Heroes for Hope campaign, through which local first responders raise funds to help grant wishes; and marathon teams for the Boston Marathon and the Providence Marathon and Half-Marathon, the latter for which Make-A-Wish is the exclusive charity partner. Signature events in 2023 include the 10^th Annual Swish Night at Longmeadow County Club in Longmeadow on March 25, the Make-A-Wish Gala at the SoWa Power Station in Boston on April 1, Wine and Wishes at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter in Boston on April 28, and Evening of Wishes at WaterFire Arts Center in Providence on November 11, along with several golf tournaments.

The creative campaign to support the 40^th anniversary will focus on the hope and joy that a wish delivers. Content creation will be supported by local creative agency Sleek Machine. A special font that will be used in marketing materials throughout the year was created based on handwriting of 9-year-old wish recipient Mikayla Morais, whose wish to go to Walt Disney World^® Resort and eat at Cinderella’s Royal Table restaurant was granted in 2018. Mikayla is part of the Wish Community, made up of wish recipients and families who remain engaged with the organization after their wish journeys are complete. Growing the Wish Community and reconnecting with past wish recipients and their families will be a priority throughout the year.

As part of the celebration, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island is announcing partnerships with local media, including Western Mass News of Springfield, MA, and WPRI of Providence, RI, and local sports teams including the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, New England Revolution, Worcester Red Sox, Providence Bruins, and Springfield Thunderbirds. “Make-A-Wish Night” will be celebrated with each team at a home game this year, with the goal of raising funds and reaching fans of the teams. “If the Make-A-Wish Nights that we’ve held so far with the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins are any indication, these deepened sports partnerships are going to be incredibly meaningful for us, not only in reaching New England sports fans with our mission, but in creating meaningful experiences for the families we serve,” said George Deveney, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chief Advancement Officer.

Businesses, organizations, and individuals can take part in the 40^th anniversary celebration in various ways. Visit massri.wish.org/40years for details on how to get involved and to stay updated on local wishes being granted and additional Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island news.

Make-A-Wish is the #2 most loved nonprofit among 100 of the largest national and global nonprofits, based on a 2022 survey by Morning Consult. Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island is one of 58 chapters in the United States. The local organization also supports other Make-A-Wish chapters through “wish assists” when children’s wishes bring them to New England. To learn more about the Make-A-Wish mission, register to be a volunteer, or to refer a child for a wish, visit massri.wish.org.

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About Make-A-Wish^® Massachusetts and Rhode Island 
Make-A-Wish^® Massachusetts and Rhode Island creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. A wish can be a spark that helps a child believe anything is possible. 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. Together with generous supporters and 500+ volunteers, the organization has granted the wishes of nearly 10,000 children in Massachusetts and Rhode Island since its founding 40 years ago, and its vision is to grant the wish of every medically eligible child. For more information and ways to get involved, visit www.massri.wish.org.