It's World Wish Day

Make A Wish NJ continues their mission to grant wishes to kids who really need it, and here's how you can help a kid whose family has just received a devastating diagnosis.

Today is World Wish Day and the 40^th anniversary of the Make a Wish Foundation.

Here in our state, Make A Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Because they believe that a child's wish coming true many times gives them more strength and courage to continue fighting for their life, and helps the entire family experience moments of joy. A wish helps kids look past their limitations, families overcome anxiety, and entire communities to feel like they have played a part in helping a child in need.

Make-A-Wish New Jersey was founded in 1983. Serving children in every single town in our state, Make-A-Wish New Jersey has granted over 11,000 wishes since its inception.

(Make A Wish NJ Headquarters in Monroe, Photo by Alan Schindler courtesy of Make A Wish)

If you haven't seen it, the Make A Wish headquarters in Monroe Township is a most-amazing place! 'The Wishing Place' is a magical and whimsical wish-granting castle, and the only one of its kind. It's designed to provide an environment that is free of limitations, confinement, and stress. It stimulates the imagination and reveals to children with critical illnesses the imaginative possibilities of a wish.

During these difficult times, Make-A-Wish faces new challenges. Due to current medical and public concerns, travel-related wishes and wishes that involve large gatherings have been postponed for the well-being of wish kids and families.

Over 80% of wishes granted in New Jersey involve travel, and as a result more than 100 wishes have been put on hold. But Make A Wish wants you to know that wishes will not be cancelled. And hope is not cancelled.

On World Wish Day, Make A Wish wants you to know that they will continue their mission to grant the wish of every eligible child. They are determined to get those wishes fulfilled as soon as it's safe, and with the same quality and passion they have always had.

Because illness does not discriminate and does not go on hold when other world events occur.

In our state, on average, every day two families will go home with test results showing that their child has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Make A Wish is acutely aware of the effects the pandemic has had on the economy, but the organization also knows that they have generous and loyal donors that have come through for them in the past, and Make A Wish knows they will be there again to help these wish kids.

Make A Wish NJ wants you to know that on behalf of their entire team, they hope you are safe and well during these truly unique and difficult times.

For more information about Make-A-Wish New Jersey and how you can play a key role in creating hope for a child's future CLICK HERE. Or you can call 800-252-WISH and find out how you can help transform lives, one wish at a time.