Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia

The mission of Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. In fiscal year 2023, Make-A-Wish continued with a moratorium on all international travel and cruise wishes which typically account for about 40 wishes a year. The chapter continues to recover from wish stoppages that were in place during the pandemic,but was able to grant 521 wishes in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023. Wishes included 70 gift wishes, 53 shopping sprees, 260 trips to Walt Disney World, 20 play sets or playhouses and 3 swimming pools. Unique wishes include Allison's wish for a Hello Kitty-themed golf cart, Josiah's wish to visit Denali National Park, Brier's wish to visit the Nike headquarters, Anna's wish for a gazebo, Ethan's wish to be a zoologist and Emma's wish for a manual sewing machine. Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia has met or exceeded all benchmarks of excellence set forth by its national organization, Make-A-Wish America. These include liquidity, wish growth, wish turnaround, cost per dollar raised and public support growth. The chapter has placed at the top of chapter performance for the last 15+ years. Because of its management excellence, the chapter has been given five additional territories to manage by Make-A-Wish America, the first in 2000. The Chapter is now helping to plan and finance wishes at other chapters with large wish pipelines to help reduce the wait time for wish children and their families.