ST. LOUIS, MO (November 3, 2026) More than 500 children across Missouri and Kansas are waiting for their wishes to come true. On November 10–11, Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas is calling on communities across both states to help change that reality through Wishes Can’t Wait, a 36-hour online fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $900,000 to grant heartfelt wishes for children facing critical illnesses.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 10, and continuing through 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, the campaign will unite donors, volunteers, businesses, community partners and wish supporters in a shared mission: helping more children experience the hope, strength and joy of a wish come true.

Thanks to the generosity of several donors, eligible gifts made during the campaign will receive a fourfold match, up to $675,000 in matching funds. This means a $100 eligible donation can have a $400 impact, helping Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas move closer to its $900,000 fundraising goal.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to experience the hope and joy of a wish, especially while facing the challenges of a critical illness,” said Caroline Schmidt, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas. “Right now, more than 500 children in our region are waiting for their wishes to come true. Wishes Can’t Wait is an opportunity for all of us to come together, multiply the impact of our generosity and take a meaningful step toward our vision of granting the heartfelt wish of every eligible child.”

For a child facing a critical illness, life can be filled with treatments, hospital visits and uncertainty. A wish offers something extraordinary to look forward to — an experience that can restore a sense of possibility, bring families together and provide hope during an incredibly difficult time.

The need continues to grow. In the United States, another child is diagnosed with a critical illness every 20 minutes. Through Wishes Can’t Wait, Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas hopes to turn that urgent need into meaningful action by rallying the communities it serves to help make more wishes possible.

Participation is simple. Supporters can make an online donation during the 36-hour campaign, create or join a peer-to-peer fundraising team, and share the campaign with friends, family members, colleagues and their broader networks through social media, email and text. Every act of generosity and every conversation about the campaign can help inspire others to get involved.

The campaign’s $900,000 goal represents a significant step toward helping fulfill the heartfelt wishes of children across Missouri and Kansas, and bringing hope to more families who are navigating the unimaginable.

HOW TO HELP

• Give: Make a donation during the 36-hour campaign beginning at 9 a.m. November 10.
• Multiply your impact: Eligible gifts will receive a fourfold match, up to $675,000 in matching funds.
• Spread the word: Share the campaign with friends, family, colleagues and your community.
• Start a fundraising team: Rally your personal or professional network to help make more wishes come true.

To learn more, make a donation or get involved, visit charidy.com/wish.

Because wishes can’t wait — and together, we can help make more of them come true. For media inquiries or to arrange interviews, please contact Brian Miller at bmiller@mokan.wish.org or 314.681.7797.

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ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH MISSOURI & KANSAS

Make-A-Wish® Missouri & Kansas creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are on a quest to bring every eligible child’s wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. The local Make-A-Wish chapter is headquartered in Ballwin, Missouri and serves all counties in Missouri and Kansas. Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas has granted over 11,000 wishes since its inception in 1983.

For more information about Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas and how you can transform lives, one wish at a time, please visit our website (wish.org/mokan) and connect with us on Facebook (@MakeAWishMOKAN), X (@MakeAWishMOKAN), Instagram (@makeawishmokan), LinkedIn (Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas) and YouTube (Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas).