Granting Wishes
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Utah provides a wish to all Utah children between 2 1/2 and 17 (at the time of referral) whose physicians affirm that they have a life-threatening condition. A "wish" is a critically ill child's answer to the question, "If you could have anything in the world, go anywhere, be or do anything...what would you choose? What would you do?"

Many Utah children want to visit Walt Disney World. Some want a computer or an animal. Other kids want to meet celebrities like President George W. Bush or meet James Bond on the set of his next movie. Because a wish is limited only by a child's imagination, almost anything is possible. It's our job to ensure the wish is appropriate for the age of the child, and to make an unforgettable dream come true. The Utah chapter grants over 140 wishes a year to Utah children. That's giving hope to a lot of young people and their families.

Wish Assists
We welcome children from all over the world who come here to Utah for a wish experience. Children wish to meet local celebrities...to see the Utah Jazz...to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir...to have a ski vacation or a float trip...to see the snow...to dig for dinosaur bones...to meet the LDS First President. We give each of these children the kind of special attention and care that our own children are given by Make-A-Wish® volunteers all over the world.

One of the great strengths of the Make-A-Wish® model is the presence of volunteers in every conceivable location, both nationally and internationally. We are assisted in our work here by 67 chapters in the U.S. and its territories. They make local arrangements and act as hosts and guides for families on a wish adventure. This collaborative network is one of the most powerful resources available to our children.

Family Activities
The Foundation creates activities, and community organizations donate tickets, for families who have had a wish, or are in the process of a wish. These activities offer a chance for our wish families to enjoy moments of respite and fun and an opportunity to network with other families who have experienced some of the same challenges.

About 3,000 people participated in one activity or another last year. Our annual Wish Family Reunion at Raging Waters, plays donated by Hale Theater, an Easter Egg Hunt, the Nutcracker, the Living Planet Aquarium, Breakfast with Santa parties in Ogden, Provo, SLC and St George, a Halloween Trick or Treat and a variety of similar activities.

More about us
For in-depth information on the Utah chapter, see our annual report.

How it all began
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America began because seven-year-old Chris Greicius dreamed of being a police officer.

For more information on Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America, see www.wish.org