Another successful year at Make-A-Wish International

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO 

I am thrilled to share with you another successful year at Make-A-Wish International.

Together with our Affiliates, we have achieved a new record of granting more than 19,500 wishes to children with critical illnesses around the world this fiscal year. This milestone is a testament to our dedication to bringing hope, strength, and joy to those who need it most and represents a great 14.7% growth on the already record fiscal year of 2022. 

In addition to this incredible accomplishment, we crafted our 2030 vision which is based on five pillars: 

1 Geographic expansion 

2 Doubling the financial dimension 

3 Doubling the number of wish granted to 50,000 

4 Making Make-A-Wish International a Great Place to Work 

5 Continuing to inspire our community by walking the talk 

I am pleased also to report on the progress we have made on those pillars for the road to 2030. 

Our first pillar, geographic expansion, has seen us exploring more countries and communities to allow us to grant wishes to children in areas that are currently underserved. This expansion will allow us to touch the lives of even more children and families in need. 

On our second pillar, there has been a significant achievement as well. Through the generosity of our donors and supporters, we have been able to increase our funding and resources, both on the corporate support side as well as on the individual contribution. That has then resulted in additional support to our network with over $9 million USD returned to our Affiliates between cash and in-kind. 

We have also made strides in doubling the number of wishes granted every five years, as outlined in our third pillar. This ambitious goal has pushed us to work harder and more efficiently, ultimately leading to more wishes being granted and more children experiencing the power of a wish come true. We are one step closer to our first milestone of 25,000 wishes by 2025, and working on creating the conditions to double that by 2030. 

Our fourth pillar, obtaining Great Place to Work certification, which we achieved in fall of 2024, shows our commitment to creating a positive and supportive work environment for our staff and volunteers. This recognition has solidified our position as an organization that values and prioritizes the well-being of its team members. 

Finally, our fifth pillar, walking the talk, has been at the core of everything we do. Despite the challenges we have faced from various fronts, we have remained true and authentic to our mission and values, continuing to work tirelessly to support our Affiliates, and to bring hope and happiness to every wish child we serve. 

I am immensely proud of the achievements we have made this past year and the progress we continue to make towards our goals for 2030. None of this would have been possible without the support and dedication of each and every one of our sponsors, donors, supporters and obviously our staff and volunteers both at International and in each and every Affiliate. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of wish children worldwide. 

Thank you to all our supporters, volunteers and partners for your unwavering support and commitment to Make-A-Wish International. 

Warm regards, 

Luciano Manzo, President & CEO, 

Make-A-Wish International