Celebrate World Wish Day
Celebrate World Wish Day with us! Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with a critical illness all around the globe. Children living with critical illnesses have to face a number of challenges that require resilience.
By donating to Make-A-Wish this World Wish Day, you help these children get new-found energy and happiness. Your donation will help us grant the unique wishes of these children, which bring joy and laughter back to their lives.
What is World Wish Day?
The culmination of World Wish Month, World Wish Day is celebrated each year on April 29 to honor the very first wish ever granted by Make-A-Wish. It all began on April 29, 1980, with a seven-year-old boy named Chris Greicius, who was living with leukemia. His greatest wish was to become a police officer. When his community found out, they stepped in. They gave him a custom uniform, a ride in a police helicopter, and swore him in as an honorary officer.
Chris passed away on May 3, 1980, just four days after his heartfelt wish was granted. His wish sparked a movement. That one act of kindness led to the creation of Make-A-Wish. It also led to the granting of hundreds of thousands of life-changing wishes around the world.
Why World Wish Day Matters to Children Worldwide
World Wish Day is important since it gives joy to children living with critical illnesses. This day helps children believe in joy, possibility, and the power of their dreams. Hospitalizations and grueling medical treatments can rob a child of their childhood. By granting the wish of these children through your donations, it helps them regain their childhood and leads to lasting joy and improved wellbeing. A wish can open up a world of possibilities to a child facing a critical illness.
How Make-A-Wish celebrates around the globe
Make-A-Wish volunteers around the world spread the word, raise awareness and collect donations to help grant even more wishes. From big cities to small towns, local communities come together through events, school campaigns and creative fundraisers.
Around the world, iconic landmarks light up in Make-A-Wish blue. Across the nearly 50 countries and territories where wishes are granted, wish stories are shared online, in classrooms or during community gatherings, reminding people everywhere of the joy and happiness a single wish can bring.
No matter where or how it’s celebrated, World Wish Day is a shared moment of connection. It’s a time when people across the globe stand behind one mission: to bring more wishes to life for children with critical illnesses.
Ways You Can Celebrate World Wish Day
There are many ways you can help with celebrating the event. If you know anyone around you who qualifies for a wish but is unaware of it, invite them to apply for their wish to be granted. Others can host charity events to raise funds for the cause. Together, we help create an energy within the wish community.
Another way to celebrate World Wish Day is to reflect on the stories of wish kids who have received their wishes already. Seeing the happiness and joy in the words of these kids brings inspiration and joy.
Fundraise in Your Community
Raising money works best when it’s simple and easy to join. At school, organize a bake sale, a sponsored walk or a coin collection week, where each class fills a jar with spare change. A raffle with donated prizes also works well and gets both students and parents involved.
At work, invite colleagues for a team lunch and ask for a small donation to take part. Place a donation jar in a shared space with a clear message about the goal. Set up a raffle, sell homemade treats during breaks, or plan a team challenge with a fundraising target.
With clear goals and a bit of teamwork, schools and workplaces help bring more wishes to come true.
Share a Wish Story
Know a child who could benefit from the power of a wish? Help by sharing their story. Nominate a child living with a critical illness for a wish, or help raise awareness by sharing a wish story that moved you. One message, one post, one referral. Each one brings us closer to another life-changing moment. Start today by sharing a story, and help bring happiness to where it’s needed most. Get involved!
Sixtine Tabard, Digital Marketing Manager at Make-A-Wish International, joined the organization at the beginning of 2025. With over 9 years of digital marketing & analytics experience in e-commerce, she brings a wealth of expertise. Sixtine is responsible for the website content and SEO, and supports new affiliates in setting up their own website. Additionally, she manages the digital analytics side of the website to improve its efficiency and ensure a smooth donation process for all Make-A-Wish supporters.
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