How Wishes Are Granted

Every fulfilled wish represents a unique collaboration between wish families, medical professionals, volunteers and donors. Wish granting truly is a magical, yet comprehensive and dynamic process. Each Make-A-Wish® chapter follows specific policies and guidelines for granting a child’s wish. The physician also plays a major role in determining whether the child’s condition will permit a particular wish to be carried out safely. The Foundation staff works closely with the wish child’s physician and family to determine the most appropriate time to grant the wish, keeping in mind the child’s treatment protocol or other concerns.

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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 wish to play on a warm beach, go on a cruise, visit loved ones, 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 fire fighter, a ballerina, 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.

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There are four steps to granting a wish:

Each step builds on the next to help create the amazing experiences that delight wish kids and their families. A wish experience is frequently a source of inspiration for children undergoing difficult medical treatments and a positive force that helps them overcome their obstacles. A wish experience is often more than a dream come true: it’s the catalyst that rekindles their belief in themselves and the promise of their future.

Step 1: Referral
To protect the privacy of potential wish kids, we only accept referrals from medical professionals, parents and children themselves. Children who have reached the age of 2½ and are under the age of 18 at the time of referral who have not received a wish from another wish-granting organization may be eligible for a wish.

Step 2: Medical Eligibility
We determine a child’s medical eligibility with the help of the treating physician. To receive a wish, the child must be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition – i.e., a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that has placed the child’s life in jeopardy.

Step 3: Finding the true wish
We send two of our magical volunteer wish granters to learn the child’s one true wish. These passionate – and fully trained – volunteers connect with wish children and help explore their imaginations for the experience that will delight and inspire them.

Step 4: Creating joy
Our wish granters create an unforgettable experience that’s enhanced by creativity and magical elements. A wish-come-true enriches not just the lives of the children and their families, but often an entire community.

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Refer a Child

If you are a medical professional, hospital social worker, parent, guardian or the child, you can refer someone to receive a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Oregon. To start the referral process please complete our online referral form.