Faces of children and families radiate, holding possibly their first smiles in months, in photos as they surf Hawaiian waves and snuggle baby kangaroos. Smiles such as these are made possible through funding provided to the Make-A-Wish Foundation by private donors, businesses, foundation grants, memorials, gifts-in-kind and events held by clubs, schools and service organizations. Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida grants the heartfelt wish of any child over the age of 2½ and under 18 (at the time of referral) who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition.

 

After determining the child’s medical eligibility through their doctor or care team, a Volunteer Wish Team visits the child and family to determine the child’s wish, approves the wish and sets to work to make magic happen. “When we meet each family, we learn of the emotional stress they’ve dealt with then learn of the child’s biggest wish,” said Kathleen Hampton, director of development for the Northwest Florida region. “Afterward, we get to witness how the experience brought the family back together to bond, to forget their troubles and to make memories in a happy environment. Then, we get to share with our donors what their investment was able to provide for a child and their loved ones.”

 

Last year, 35 wishes were granted to children in the Northwest Florida chapter’s 18 counties. The goal is to increase that number to 40 wishes in 2024. On average, each wish costs $8,000. To obtain this goal, Make-A-Wish depends on the gracious giving of individuals and companies, many of whom host fundraisers and events such as silent auctions, 5K races, fishing tournaments, contests, online contributions and more. Other companies make service donations, such as a pool company that provided the materials and labor for a backyard pool or a construction company that custom-designed a playground utilizing Braille to meet the child’s unique needs.

 

Hampton shared that 89% of healthcare workers agree in seeing a positive influence on health experienced by children looking forward to their wish coming true. “Knowing and then having their wish come true often changes the trajectory of their treatment,” said Hampton. “Hope gives children and families the strength they need to keep going.” To get connected with Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida, visit their website at wish.org/cnfl/tallahassee or contact Kathleen Hampton at (407) 622-4673 (ext. 201).