Make-A-Wish Foundation® Celebrates 20th Birthday and 80,000th Wish

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
Thursday, 27 April 2000

Foundation Commemorates 20 Years of Growth from Humble Beginnings to Leading National Charity

PHOENIX (April 27, 2000) — On April 29, 1980, the Make-A-Wish® phenomenon began when a special 7-year-old boy spent a day with his heroes. Twenty years later, the Make-A-Wish Foundation will grant its 80,000th wish worldwide. To honor this momentous accomplishment, children from around the world will see their fondest wishes come true—beginning 20 years to the day Chris Greicius became a police officer. Chris' wish inspired the creation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Beginning on April 29th and during the following two weeks, each of the 80 Make-A-Wish chapters in the United States—along with a host of international affiliates—will fulfill a wish commemorating the granting of more than 80,000 wishes worldwide.

The 20th birthday wishes are part of a unified global celebration of the power of a wish. In major cities and small towns around the world, children's wishes will be realized and events will commemorate 20 years of serving children with life-threatening illnesses, a milestone that was sparked by the wish of one child.

Humble Beginnings

On April 29, 1980, 7-year-old Chris Greicius was sworn in as the only honorary highway patrolman in Arizona history. Four days later, Chris passed away and was given a police funeral with full honors by his fellow patrolmen. Chris' mother Linda Bergendahl-Pauling—along with others involved in Chris' wish—were so touched by Chris' experience that they founded the Chris Greicius Make-A-Wish Memorial, which eventually became the Make-A-Wish Foundation.The organization began serving children with life-threatening illnesses in the state of Arizona, and since has blossomed into 80 chapters throughout the United States and 20 international affiliates.

Becoming a National Charity

In 1982, Douglas Kiker featured the Make-A-Wish Foundation in a story broadcast nationally on "NBC Magazine." The response to the story spawned the creation of dozens of new Make-A-Wish chapters across the United States. The following year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation was officially incorporated as a national organization.

Turning Point

As the Foundation continued serving more children around the country, the public began to notice. In 1988, Reader's Digest published a feature story about the Make-A-Wish Foundation titled "They Bring Joy to Sick Kids." The story prompted significant national and international response. Within two years, the total number of wishes granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation increased by nearly 50 percent. The Foundation granted a total of 1,201 wishes nationwide between 1980 and 1986, compared to 3,487 wishes in 1990 alone.

Coming of Age

Throughout the struggles and hardships, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has continually experienced growth in wish granting, corporate support and public recognition. During the 1990's, the Foundation ventured internationally, now reaching children in 20 countries spanning five continents. International affiliates have granted more than 7,500 wishes around the world. Domestically, it continued reaching previously uncovered regions of the United States and its territories.

"It's been 20 years since my son Chris received his wish, and I am still amazed and inspired how one little boy's dream to be a policeman has touched the lives of so many thousands of people," said Linda Bergendahl-Pauling, Chris Greicius' mother and a co-founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. It is the largest wish-granting charity in the world.

For more information, or to contact Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, see their website at: www.wish.org