Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America

In 1980, seven-year-old Chris from Phoenix, Arizona, was being treated for leukemia.  Every day, he dreamed of becoming a highway patrol officer. Realizing that his medical condition might keep him from realizing this dream, a group of officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety planned a day that would lift Chris’ spirits. They set out to make Chris the first and only Honorary State Trooper. They even gave him a custom-made uniform, a helmet, and a badge. They also took him for a ride in a department helicopter.

The young boy’s delight in having experienced this special day was the inspiration for the Make-A-Wish Foundation^®. After seeing the joy that this brought to Chris and his family, those responsible for fulfilling Chris’ wish wanted to do the same for other children with life-threatening medical conditions. This led to the formation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation! Since then, more than 196,000 wishes have been granted worldwide with a wish being granted every 40 mintues.

Today, the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of America is the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 64 chapters in the United States and its territories and 28 international affiliates spanning five continents.

The Kansas chapter was established in 1985 and has since granted over 1,000 wishes, each one combining a bit of magic, a lot of love and many wonderful memories.  The first wish was to fly a 10-year-old girl to Arizona to ride a horse in a parade with her former neighbor. That one child's delight in having her wish fulfilled provided the inspiration for the local foundation.

In 2010, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Kansas will celebrate its 25th Anniversary of granting wishes.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, donors and volunteers, we can continue to make dreams come true throughout the state of Kansas.