Make-A-Wish to break wish-granting record at Super Bowl LVIII

Make-A-Wish New Jersey sending 13-year-old Johnny to be part of the largest group of wish kids to ever attend the Super Bowl

Monroe Township, NJ (February 7, 2024) – Make-A-Wish New Jersey will be part of history at Super Bowl LVIII when it sends 13-year-old Johnny, who courageously battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia, to attend the big game. Johnny will be part of a group of 20 wish kids heading to Las Vegas, the largest number of wishes ever granted at a Super Bowl. Make-A-Wish, in conjunction with Fanatics, the organization’s official sports partner, the National Football League (NFL) and other corporate partners, has created an unforgettable itinerary for Johnny and the other wish kids and their families beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 7, and lasting through the big game on Sunday, Feb. 11. Activities include:

  • Wednesday, Feb. 7: Make-A-Wish and Fanatics will treat the wish families to a welcome party at Topgolf.
  • Thursday, Feb. 8: Fanatics has some NFL player-sized surprises in store for the wish families when they visit the Lids flagship store followed by a local card shop where they’ll get a trading card experience unlike any other. In the evening, the NFL will host the wish kids at NFL Honors, where they will get to feel like celebrities as they walk the red carpet.
  • Friday, Feb. 9: The NFL will host wish families at Allegiant Stadium for a behind-the-scenes tour and have free time to show off their football skills at the Super Bowl Experience.
  • Saturday, Feb. 10: Fanatics will host the wish families at their Las Vegas facility before the families explore the mysterious world of Meow Wolf.
  • Sunday, Feb. 11: The wish experience will culminate in the wish kids taking their seats in Allegiant Stadium to watch as the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs go head-to-head in pursuit of the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Wishes involving the NFL started shortly after the founding of Make-A-Wish in 1980. The first wish that the NFL granted was for John Paul Serna, a 12-year-old Arizona boy who attended Super Bowl XVI in 1982. The wish was the 9th ever in Make-A-Wish history, and in the 42 years since, more than 300 wishes have been granted at the Super Bowl with hundreds more wishes having been granted through the 32 teams and their players.

To learn more and find out how you can get involved, visit nj.wish.org.