Make-A-Wish Colorado partners with local high schools to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Their mission is to grant the wish of every child diagnosed with a critical illness.
High schools around the county recently hosted “Wish Weeks” to raise money for children in the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In this beautiful community effort, the high schools host talent shows, dodgeball tournaments, school assemblies, and more to charge ticket fees, ask for donations, and raise funds that go toward this worthy cause. The week is filled with kindness and service.
Wishes are more than just a nice thing. And they are far more than gifts, or singular events in time. Wishes impact everyone involved - wish kids, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals and communities. For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments. Parents might finally feel like they can be optimistic. And still others might realize all they have to offer the world through volunteer work or philanthropy.
Make-A-Wish traces its inspiration to Christopher James Greicius, an energetic 7-year-old boy battling leukemia who wished to be a police officer. In 1980, his Phoenix community came together to make his wish come true. Little did Chris know that his wish would create a movement that would transform millions of lives.
Today, Make-A-Wish has granted hundreds of thousands of life- changing wishes to children battling critical illnesses. Wishes that give families hope through dark times, strength to persevere and experiences that forever change their lives.
Ponderosa High School raised money this year to help Kennadie, a young girl who suffers from a rare form of liver disease and is in need of a liver transplant. She loves all things Disney and the events were Disney-themed. In this incredible community response, over $35,000 was raised to help Kennadie to achieve her wish of going to Disneyworld and to help the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Teagan, a sophomore at Ponderosa, decided to have his head shaved in an act of selflessness to help raise extra money for Kennadie. He said, “I decided to shave my head in the assembly because I thought I needed a change to my hair and when I heard that we could raise a lot of money for Kennedie, I thought why not?
During the assembly, I was really excited! I wasn't even nervous! I was excited and exhilarated! I honestly did not think we would make that much, so when I found out we made over $1,800, I was flabbergasted! While I was getting my hair shaved, people were screaming my name and I was so excited! Afterwards, I felt excited for Kennedie and I couldn't believe that it actually happened! My hair is growing back quickly and I was honored to participate in making Kennedie's wish come true!”
