The beginning
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas granted its first wish in January
1985. The first wish was to fly a 10-year-old girl with hydroencephalitis 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.
Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas was formed in 1984 as a non-profit
Kansas corporation. We are the Kansas chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®
of America, which is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and is the largest wish granting
organization in the world. We are certified as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization
by the Internal Revenue Service.
Philosophy and purpose
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® is dedicated to granting the single favorite
wish of Kansas children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 who have life-threatening
illnesses or medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope,
strength and joy. It strives to provide the wish child and family with some
special memories of joy and laughter in the midst of a world filled with hospitals,
doctors and treatment programs. A "wish" offers a welcome respite - a time of
normalcy and just plain fun!
Who is eligible
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas will consider the wish of any child
with a life threatening illness, between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18, anywhere in Kansas. A
child can be referred to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® by anyone ... family,
friends, medical personnel, teachers or clergy. After the family contacts the Make-A-Wish
Foundation®, the child's physician determines whether or not the child
qualifies for a wish. If the child is eligible, a wish team meets with the family to
determine the child's wish.
How wishes are granted
Volunteer wish teams provide the magic of the Make-A-Wish,
working out all the logistics of each child's special wish. Many businesses provide
in-kind donations for a wish, and generous individuals go out of their way to assist
Make-A-Wish® volunteers in granting a wish. The Kansas chapter has granted
more than 800 wishes of every variety imaginable, from meeting the President of the United
States to having playground equipment, a toy kitchen set or a private fishing pond. The
Make-A-Wish® national office also provides assistance, coordination and
guidance to the Kansas chapter.
The family
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® is unique in that the entire family of the wish
child takes part in the wish. The family is an integral part of each child's life and it's
only natural they are a part of the wish. Make-A-Wish Foundation® covers all
expenses.
The wish categories
The majority of wishes fall into four categories:
- Travel (I want to go to)
- Occupation (I want to be a)
- Celebrity (I want to meet)
- Gift (I want a...)
The wish is, for the most part, limited only by the child's imagination. Make-A-Wish
Foundation® provides the structure, but it's the child's request that
determines what Make-A-Wish Foundation® will do.
All wish expenses are covered
In a time that is often stress-filled for families, all wish expenses are fully
covered, regardless of the category of wish.
Average cost of a wish
The average cost to fulfill a wish is $6,000, including an average in-kind donation of
$2,500. In-kind donations for wishes have ranged from $10 to more than $25,000 for one
wish. Make-A-Wish® has received everything from stuffed animals and snacks to
a portable spa for the children's wishes.
Impact
More than 800 wishes have been granted since 1984. Because the wish experience includes
the entire family, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas estimates a positive
direct impact on 300 to 350 individuals each year, plus the indirect impact on countless
volunteers and donors.
Administration
An all-volunteer board of directors governs the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of
Kansas. Members are elected by the chapter to three-year terms. Board members are diverse
in their professionals backgrounds and experience. Board committees assist in all phases
of the work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®: marketing, fundraising, wish
granting, strategic planning, volunteer management and chapter administration. The work of
the Make-A-Wish Foundation® is accomplished by these committees and the help
of countless volunteers.
Funding and support
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® finances its program services through
individual and corporate donations, internal and external fund-raisers, the memorial
program, grants from public and private foundations, and the efforts of many service
clubs. A minimum of 80 cents out of every dollar goes directly to wish-granting. The Make-A-Wish
Foundation® does no door-to-door or telephone solicitation, and it also
receives no federal or state assistance.
The Make-A-Wish® mission
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas is dedicated to fulfilling the single
favorite wish of children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 who suffer from
life-threatening illnesses.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas strives to be the best wish granting
organization in the country and will continue to grow with a philosophy based on quality
and commitment to excellence.
The vision of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas is to see that every
child in our state who qualifies for and wants a wish can have one without adverse
financial impact to our organization.
For more information about Make-A-Wish, or to volunteer
your time or services, call:
Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas
2016 North Amidon
Wichita, KS 67203
800-566-WISH (9474) in Kansas
316-838-WISH (9474)
316-832-1108 Fax
www.wishks.org
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