Make-A-Wish^® Northeast New York marks 25^th anniversary

Make-A-Wish^® Northeast New York, marking its 25^th anniversary this year, grants the wishes of local children with life-threatening medical conditions. The nonprofit organization grants about 100 wishes annually, ranging from travel to meeting with celebrities to special gifts such as bedroom makeovers, backyard play sets, and more.

The NENY chapter, headquartered in Cohoes, has granted more than 1,200 wishes since its founding in 1987. The organization is driven by its mission statement: Make-A-Wish^® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Eligible children are between the ages of two and a half and 18 years with life-threatening medical conditions. “The Make-A-Wish mission is about the life-affirming, hope-giving aspects of the wish experience,” said Chapter CEO William C. Trigg, III, Ph.D.  He said that a wish can be “part of the medicine” for a seriously ill child, noting that “more than 70 percent of all Wish Children go on to live happy, productive, adult lives.”

Make-A-Wish Northeast New York is one of more than 60 chapters across the United States, which combine to grant a wish every 40 minutes. The local chapter works with hundreds of volunteers from across the service area, including specially trained Wish Granters, who help determine an eligible child’s heartfelt wish. These volunteers work closely with the chapter staff, and often with donors, to plan, coordinate and grant the specific wish.

Typically, children’s wishes fall into four categories:  “I wish to be…” (e.g., a zookeeper, a firefighter); “I wish to meet…” (e.g., Pittsburgh Steelers, Derek Jeter); “I wish to have…” (e.g., a computer, a backyard playset); or “I wish to visit…” (e.g., Hawaii, Walt Disney World^® Resort).

Dr. Trigg noted that since it was founded 25 years ago, Make-A-Wish has depended on support from local individuals, businesses and community-based fundraisers and receives no government funding.

For more information about Make-A-Wish Northeast New York, visit www.neny.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish^®.