Make-A-Wish Northeast New York, the organization that grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, will celebrate World Wish Day on April 29. Taking place on the anniversary of the wish that inspired the founding of the organization in 1980, World Wish Day will be celebrated by 59 chapters nationwide and in nearly 50 countries around the world. In the days leading up to World Wish Day and continuing through the end of May, Make-A-Wish Northeast New York is asking supporters to “Restore Hope with a Wish.” The call-to-action highlights the impact a wish has on a child’s emotional and mental well-being, forever improving their quality of life. As part of this year’s World Wish Day, singer, actor and Make-A-Wish supporter Demi Lovato, who has personally granted nearly 30 wishes, is helping to spotlight the positive impact wishes have on children with critical illnesses and their families.

The inspiration for “Restore Hope with a Wish” comes from the recent 2022 Wish Impact Study that Make-A-Wish America conducted, which surveyed 3,411 individuals, including parents of wish kids, wish alumni (i.e., former wish recipients) and doctors. Results showed that following a wish:

• 94% of parents recalled seeing improvements in their child’s emotional well-being;
• 91% of parents reported the wish gave their child a better chance of surviving their illness;
• 91% of alumni credited the wish with improving their quality of life, and;
• 75% of doctors stated that a wish could improve a child’s medical outcomes.

“These numbers confirm what we have seen for years: Wishes have a life-changing impact on a child,” said William C. Trigg, III, CEO of Make-A-Wish Northeast New York. “The data only deepens our commitment to fulfilling our vision of granting the wish of every eligible child in the 15 counties we serve.”

Now more than ever, wishes can bring hope, joy and a sense of normalcy back into the lives of wish kids and their families. “Restore Hope with a Wish” empowers individuals and corporations to donate to make life-changing wishes possible for children who are waiting for their wishes to come true.

Make-A-Wish thanks the following national corporate partners that have supported the campaign through their respective fundraising, cause marketing and in-kind programs: Avis Budget Group, Discover Financial Services, Disney, Funko, Helzberg Diamonds, Keebler, Liberty Mutual, Lokai, MarquisHot Tubs, Red Lobster^®, Safelite, The Learning Experience, Topgolf, Winnebago Industries and WWE.