Mission & History

The Mission
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

The Organization
Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 68 chapters in the U.S. and its territories.  With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants more than 12,600 wishes a year and has granted more than 148,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. The Oregon chapter serves children, ages 2 ½ through 17, living in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. 

The Wish
Wishes are determined by each individual child’s dreams and come in all shapes and sizes. They generally fall into four categories: I wish to go… I wish to meet… I wish to be… I wish to have…Whether a child wishes to meet a favorite celebrity, go to Disneyland® Resort, be a firefighter, or have a personal computer, every effort is made to grant this special wish. Visit Wishes for more information or to read about local wish stories. 

The Benefit
Wishes are wonderful experiences for children with life-threatening medical conditions, but they also benefit many more people whose lives are enriched by the wish process. Families share in a magical interlude during difficult times of treatments, financial burdens and hospital stays. Healthcare providers see the remarkable impact of a wish on a child’s response to treatment. Volunteers are challenged and fulfilled by their work to create a wish-come-true. The whole community, through its support, shares in an activity that derives hope from a common purpose.  Visit Ways to Help to learn how you can share the power of a wish®.

History
On April 29, 1980, a 7-year-old boy named Chris Greicius realized his lifelong dream to become a police officer. Many of those responsible for fulfilling Chris’ wish wanted to do the same for other children with life-threatening medical conditions. This led to the formation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon was the fifth chapter to form and started its roots here in 1983.  Our 24th year of serving children and their families is no different than when this chapter granted its first wish. It all started when Sam, who struggled with leukemia, wished to meet Erik Estrada from the hit television show, “CHiPs.” Since then, the Oregon chapter has granted more than 1,600 wishes to children in Oregon and Clark County, Washington.

With 132 wishes completed in 2006, we are excited for our goal of fulfilling more than 150 wishes in the coming year. With referral numbers higher than ever, our purpose is clear and our commitment is strong: to grant a quality wish to every eligible child.