North Central PA Times

HARRISBURG – "On this day 44 years ago, a community united to fulfill Chris’s wish of becoming a police officer,” said Jennifer Davis, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. “As we commemorate the 44th anniversary of Make-A-Wish on World Wish Day, let us all reflect on our capacity to grant wishes and bring hope to children battling critical illnesses. Together, we have the power to make dreams a reality and ignite joy in the hearts of children diagnosed with a critical condition.”

President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania & West Virginia, Judith Stone, stated, “We know that wishes are an essential part of a wish child’s medical treatment. This World Wish Day, we encourage the community to join our mission by becoming a volunteer, making a donation or referring a child for a life-changing wish.”

The resolution, introduced by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (27-R), designates April 29th, 2024, as “World Wish Day in Pennsylvania” in honor of the annual celebration sponsored by Make-A-Wish®. World Wish Day is inspired by a story from 1980 of a young boy in Arizona battling leukemia who had one big wish, to become a police officer. The event led to the formation of Make-A-Wish.

Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children living with critical illnesses, believing that wishes have the power to transform the lives of wish kids by bringing hope and the ability to experience life beyond illness. Studies show that 94% of wish alumni felt more joyful, confident, and hopeful for their future after their wish was granted.

In Pennsylvania, the local Make-A-Wish chapters granted 710 wishes during the last fiscal year, with over 800 children currently waiting for their wishes to be fulfilled.

For more information about Sen. Culver, visit SenatorCulver.com. Additional details about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America can be found at Wish.org, and information about the local chapters is available at https://wish.org/greaterpawv and www.wish.org/philadesv.

CONTACT: Betsy Reichenbach 717-787-8928