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Frequently Asked Questions Who can receive a wish? The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation Who can refer a child for a wish? To respect the privacy of children and their families, a child may only be referred by one of these three sources:
If you are not one of these three sources, please contact the potential wish family and have them contact us at their convenience. Does a child's condition have to be terminally ill to qualify for a wish? No. Many of the children who qualify for a wish go on to lead healthy and happy lives. Are there any restrictions on a wish? Each Make-A-Wish Foundation Does the family have to pay for the wish? No. All wish expenses are fully covered, including all travel and spending money when appropriate. The Make-A-Wish Foundation's objective is to create a memorable wish experience for both the child and family that is not clouded by financial concerns. How much does granting a wish cost? The cost associated with coordinating a wish varies depending on the type of wish. The average value of a wish is $6900 and our total operating expenses are about $11,000 per wish. Does the wish family have to meet income qualifications before a child can receive a wish? No. Family income is not a consideration in determining whether a child is eligible to receive a wish. What are the most requested wishes? Most wish requests fall into four major categories: I wish to go Some Make-A-Wish kids want to travel to their favorite theme park, while others want to visit an exotic beach, go on a cruise, see snow for the first time, or attend a major sporting event or concert. I wish to be Children search the depths of their imagination when they wish to be someone for a day - a fireman, a police officer, or a model, for instance. I wish to meet Many want to meet their favorite athlete, recording artist, television personality, movie star, politician, or public figure. I wish to have Children often wish for a special gift, like a computer, a tree house, a shopping spree, or something that they have coveted for a long time. Do you grant wishes to adults? No. The Make-A-Wish Foundation only grants wishes to children who have been referred to the organization and determined to be eligible for a wish before their 18th birthday by their physician. However, there are other wish-granting organizations that grant wishes to adults. What are your sources of funding? The Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Tri-Counties relies on financial contributions, in-kind gifts and services from individuals, corporations, clubs and other groups. The Make-A-Wish Foundation does not solicit contributions over the phone or door-to-door. Does the Make-A-Wish Foundation telemarket? The Make-A-Wish Foundation does not, under any circumstances, engage telemarketers to raise money, despite sometimes being confused with other organizations that do. In fact, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has a nationwide policy against telephone and door-to-door solicitation. There is a number of other sound-alike organizations - some also with "wish" in their names. The Make-A-Wish Foundation has no affiliation with any other wish-granting organization. If you receive a call from someone asking for a donation, ask the caller to send you more information and contact us. Can my financial contribution be tax deductible? Yes. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. As such, financial contributions may be deductible for federal income tax purposes. Please consult with your financial advisor to determine the extent of tax deductibility. To access our financial information, click here.
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is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Children over the age of 2½ and under the age of 18 with a life-threatening medical condition may be referred to the Foundation. The child's treating physician makes the final determination of whether a child's medical condition qualifies him or her for a wish. 
