History of World Wish Day

Make-A-Wish® traces its inspiration to Christopher James Greicius, an energetic 7-year-old boy battling leukemia, who wished to be a police officer. Loved ones came together on April 29, 1980, to help make his biggest dream come true. In doing so, a movement to transform millions of lives was created. Today, Make-A-Wish has been granting life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses for nearly 42 years, in 50 countries across five continents all over the world. More than 500,000 wishes have been granted in that time. Every year, Make-A-Wish chapters come together in celebrating World Wish Day on April 29, the anniversary of the wish that inspired our mission. Now more than ever, wishes can bring hope, joy and a sense of normalcy back into the lives of wish kids and their families. You can help to make life-changing wishes come true.