May 22, 2015

The Chamber is proud to announce its newest Community Partner, the Challenged Athletes Foundation! Make-A-Wish San Diego grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions in San Diego and Imperial Counties to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Since its inception in 1983, the San Diego chapter has granted more than 3,500 wishes to children in our community. In the coming year, the organization anticipates granting over 200 wishes for children in our community, and hosting over 200 Wish Kids from other states to grant their wish in San Diego. At Make-A-Wish, the goal is simple: to come into a child’s life during a difficult time and provide hope and a much-needed break from the daily challenges they are forced to face. For more information about Make-A-Wish San Diego, visit us online at www.sandiego.wish.org or call us at (858) 707-WISH.

Wishes generally fall into one of these categories:
I wish to have…
I wish to be…
I wish to go…
I wish to meet…

Vision
Make-A-Wish® San Diego believes in the power of a wish®. It is their purpose to provide children and their families with a life-affirming experience in the midst of a very challenging time. A wish has the power to change a child’s mental state, provide desperately-needed respite for a family, and allow the child’s and his/her family to experience a sense of normalcy. The organization’s vision is to grant a wish to every eligible child in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Make-a-Wish serve schildren from all areas of both counties and our demographics span every socio-economic and ethnic demographic. No eligible child is ever turned away, and a family’s financial status, race, or religion has no bearing on whether or not a child will receive a wish.

Wish Referrals
Their vision is that every eligible child will experience a wish come true. If you know a family with a child between the ages of 2 ½-17 battling a life-threatening medical condition, please ask them to visit wish.org/refer or contact the Make-A-Wish office at 858-707-9474. A child can be referred by a parent/guardian, medical professional treating the child or the child themselves.