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It was the thrill of her life-a vacation to Walt Disney World. For any five-year-old, it would have been a
dream come true, but for this particular five-year-old, it was much more.
It was the first time in two months she had been able to leave the Children’s Hospital for more than a
few hours. She met Mickey Mouse, who placed a crown on top of her little bald head. She rode the
spinning teacups, which helped her forget the upcoming bone-marrow transplant. And she stepped
inside Cinderella’s castle, where she felt like a princess, if only for a day.
This little girl’s name is Trisha, and Trisha is my little sister. She has acute lymphoblastic-leukemia, a life-
threatening form of cancer. Trisha was able to visit Disney World because of a remarkable organization,
the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Established in 1980, its mission is to grant “the wishes of children with life-threatening medical
conditions and to enrich them with hope, strength, and joy.” Here is an organization that deserves our
recognition because of its generosity, its selflessness, and its ability to heal through hope.
Seventy percent of the foundation’s revenue comes from donations; the rest comes from business
partners and philanthropists. For children, for families, for those that need hope, Make-A-Wish spends
$140 million a year making dreams come true. That’s generosity.
But the volunteers aren't just politicians and superstars. They’re the people behind the scenes
orchestrating the visits and vacations. They’re the counselors who help these kids identify their most
heartfelt wishes. They’re the office workers who enter data, answer phones, and finalize details. Make-
A-Wish has 25,000 active volunteers who give their time to help kids like my sister. That’s selflessness.
Trisha, my parents, and I will always be grateful to the Make-A-Wish Foundation—for its generosity, its
selflessness, and its ability to heal through hope. Make a wish, because dreams really do come true.
