How Wishes Are Granted

Every wish granted represents a unique collaboration between wish families, medical professionals, volunteers and donors. Wish granting truly is a magical, yet comprehensive and dynamic process.

The magic of wish granting usually begins with a referral call to our chapter office by a physician or social worker; however, the family or even the child himself or herself may do the referral. A wish referral form is completed with relevant information about the child. After the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® has been contacted, a medical authorization form is sent to the child’s primary physician. Upon medical approval, a team of volunteers will schedule an initial visit to discover the child’s wish. Then our staff and volunteers work the magic for the child’s wish to come true. There are four steps to granting a wish. Each step builds on the next to help create the amazing experiences that delight wish kids and their families. A wish experience is frequently a source of inspiration for children undergoing difficult medical treatments and a positive force that helps them overcome their obstacles.

A wish experience is often more than a dream come true: It’s the catalyst that rekindles their belief in themselves and the promise of their future.

Most wish requests fall into four major categories:

I wish to go…

Some children want to travel to their favorite theme park, while others want to visit an exotic beach, go on a cruise, see snow for the first time, or attend a major sporting event or concert.

I wish to be…

Children search the depths of their imagination when they wish to be someone for a day - a fireman, a police officer, or a model.

I wish to meet…

Many want to meet their favorite athlete, recording artist, television personality, movie star, politician or public figure.

I wish to have…

Children often wish for a special gift like a computer, a tree house, a shopping spree, or something that they have coveted for a long time.

Step 1: Referral

To protect the privacy of potential wish kids, we only accept referrals from medical professionals, parents and children themselves. Children who have reached the age of 2½ and are under the age of 18 at the time of referral who have not received a wish from another wish-granting organization may be eligible for a wish.

Step 2: Medical Eligibility

The child’s treating physician determines their medical eligibility and whether he or she is medically able to participate in the wish requested. To receive a wish, the child must be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition – i.e., a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that has placed the child’s life in jeopardy.

Step 3: Finding the true wish

We send one of our enthusiastic wish teams to learn the child’s one true wish. These passionate volunteers connect with wish children and help explore their imaginations for the experience that will delight and inspire them.

Step 4: Creating joy

Our wish granters create an unforgettable experience driven by the child’s creativity. It’s an incredible experience that enriches not just the lives of the children and their families, but often an entire community.

To learn more about referring a child from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia, please contact the Foundation’s Director of Medical Relations at 877-599-9474 or email at wishreferral@midatlantic.wish.org.

If you are a qualified referral source and would like to make an initial referral online please click here.