This year a local Destin family was facing the worst news, their 3-year-old daughter Chloe was diagnosed with a brain tumor. When families face critical illnesses with children, it seems like the entire world is falling apart; that’s why Make-A-Wish Foundation® strives to bring hope back to these precious families and especially to the young fighters who are facing countless hospital stays, doctor’s visits, and medical restrictions.
“About 89% of medical professionals believe that a wish can have a positive influence on a child’s physical health,” said Kathleen Hampton, Make-A-Wish® Foundation’s NW Florida Region’s Director of Development. “Just the knowledge that their wish will come true seems to give these young patients a rejuvenated sense of being to fight their illness so they can go on their trip. These Wish experiences are something they hold onto because it helps them forget about their illness for a little while and gives them hope for the future.”
Chloe’s family followed their medical team’s referral and set up a discovery call with Make-A-Wish® to see if her wish to visit Disney World could be made a reality.
“The majority of our wishes are Disney World trips because Disney World is a place that everyone wants to go,” said Kathleen. “Make-A-Wish® has a strong partnership with Disney World and they make special preparations for Wish kids and families providing VIP services and fun for the entire family.”
In early March, Chloe’s Wish came true, as her family visited Disney’s parks for six days and five nights with park hopper passes to Disney's four parks, day passes to Universal Studios and Island of Adventure and a special surprise visit to LEGOLAND.
“Chole’s family also went to Peppa Pig Theme Park within LEGOLAND because that was something she was really interested in,” said Rebecca Make-A-Wish® Foundation’s Wish Coordinator for Central & Northern Florida. “Their family was amazing to work with, they were so kind. Her mom emailed me a ton of photos from the wish, they got matching t-shirts and looked like they had a really good time.”
"We had the most amazing trip!” Chole’s mom said in an email to Make-A-Wish® Central & Northern Florida. “We managed to make it to all seven parks, and we also did a lot of activities at Disney World. We cannot thank you and the Wish Foundation enough. This was the trip of a lifetime that we will never forget! Thank you so much for everything!"
After a wish is granted, the children and their families are welcomed into the Wish Alumni Community and encouraged to stay connected with their chapter post-wish. There are a variety of ways the Wish Alumni become involved, through volunteering, serving as a Wish Ambassador, and wishing it forward by fundraising for future wishes to be granted.
The Central and Northern Florida chapter of Make-A-Wish® Foundation serves children from 45 counties. Last year, this chapter alone granted 306 wishes for kids ages 2 ½ to 18, residing in Central and Northern Florida. This year, the team already has 365 wishes scheduled, one for every day of the calendar year.
Kathleen shared that the average cost for granting a wish is $8,000, including cash and in-kind contributions. There is a need for local donors in the Northwest Florida area, especially for in-kind donations such as hotel stays and experiences families can take part in while visiting the Destin area.
“Make-A-Wish® does not receive any government funding and relies 100-percent on the support of individuals and businesses to fund wishes through monetary contributions and donations of in-kind goods and services,” said Kathleen.
For more information about becoming a local donor or in-kind supporter to Make-A-Wish@ Foundation, email Kathleen Hampton at khampton@cnfl.wish.org.