This article is the result of a partnership between MedCity News and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In the spring of 1980, Make-A-Wish granted its first wish to a 7-year-old boy named Chris Greicus who had been diagnosed with leukemia. His wish to be a police officer “to catch bad guys” was granted thanks to members of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Shortly thereafter, the Make-A-Wish Foundation was formed.
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Today, the organization grants thousands of wishes every year, with more than 330,000 to date. There are 60 local chapters throughout the United States that are responsible for making each wish come true. The non-profit’s national office is based in Phoenix, Arizona, and establishes guidelines for wish-granting standards, provides legal support and manages the overall direction for the organization. Additionally, the national office houses the Corporate Alliances team which is responsible for raising funds at a national level and ensuring the mission and vision can be attained every year. Major sponsors include Disney, American Airlines, Avis, Dave & Buster’s, GameStop, Macy’s, Party City, Southwest Airlines, Subaru, Topgolf, and WWE.
Led by Vice President Holly Thomas, the Corporate Alliances team is made up of more than 20 individuals, with a variety of responsibilities including securing, managing and executing corporate partnership programs that drive significant cash and in-kind revenue for Make-A-Wish America and its 60 chapters.
“I have the privilege of supporting an amazing team of executives across business development and account management to deliver these dynamic and critical revenue partnerships,” said Thomas, vice president of the Corporate Alliances.
Corporate sponsors are vital to providing the financial and in-kind resources needed to grant wishes and to helping Make-A-Wish achieve the vision of serving every eligible child. There’s more to it than that, though.
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“These partners also offer us an invaluable opportunity to share our work with consumers through the reach of their brand, marketing and media assets,” Thomas said. “Wishes are waiting, and the support we receive from the public and from corporations is so essential toward helping us reach every eligible child.”
Corporate sponsors work together
For 12 years, Macy’s and Make-A-Wish have partnered through the Believe campaign, which runs early-November through Christmas Eve and focuses on collecting letters to Santa at Macy’s store locations and online. For every letter submitted, the retailer donates $1 to Make-A-Wish. Macy’s also supports the wish-granting organization throughout the year, helping make wishes come true.
Southwest became a partner of Make-A-Wish in 2011 and plays a key role in transporting many wish families to their wish destinations every year. Since partnering with Make-A-Wish, Southwest has donated more than 15,000 airline tickets and enabled more than 4,000 wishes.
As a team, Make-A-Wish, Southwest and Macy’s joined together to help make 4-year-old Brantley’s wish come true. Diagnosed with congenital heart disease, Make-A-Wish approached him with the opportunity to wish for anything he wanted. He knew exactly what he would do: build a snowman in Colorado.
With help from Macy’s Santa and Southwest Airlines, Macy’s and Make-A-Wish surprised Brantley and his family with the news that his wish to build a snowman is coming true.
Thanks to special help from Macy’s and Southwest, Brantley experienced the trip of a lifetime when Macy’s Santa surprised him at Southwest Headquarters and then joined him at the airport for his departure to Denver. Santa met him in Colorado after Brantley flew on a special Southwest flight with his family. Brantley spent hours in the snow building a snowman with Santa and experiencing the magic of a wish come true.
Because of corporate sponsors like Macy’s and Southwest, more wishes are made possible every year. The Corporate Alliances team seeks out and cultivates these relationships over time, bringing the best opportunities to fruition for the sponsor, Make-A-Wish, and its families.
“It’s so inspiring to see the impact wishes have on our super brave kiddos. They are dealing with really tough circumstances and do so with tremendous courage and spirit, so to see the joy that a wish brings and to hear the stories about the lasting impact it had on the child and family – it is truly transformative.” Thomas said. “I also get to work alongside a wildly talented, generous and committed team at Make-A-Wish America, as well as with our wonderful extended teammates at our corporate partners. I’m constantly in awe of the endless devotion and creativity from so many to make wishes come true!”
To learn more about how you can get involved with Make-A-Wish, visit www.wish.org.