Make-A-Wish Northeastern & Central California and Northern Nevada

Sacramento, California, 95835-3054 United States

Mission Statement

Make-A-Wish® Northeastern & Central California and Northern Nevada is a charitable nonprofit organization whose purpose is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Make-A-Wish Northeastern & Central California & Northern Nevada was founded in 1983 and has granted more than 9,000 wishes to children in our community. With the help of generous donors, community supporters, and dedicated volunteers, our chapter grants hundreds of wishes each year. While the organization follows the policies and guidelines of Make-A-Wish America, it operates as a separate 501(c)(3) organization. All funds raised by our chapter are used to fulfill our mission in the 45 Northeastern & Central California and Northern Nevada counties we serve.

About This Cause

No parent or family member is ever prepared to face the life-shattering diagnosis of an innocent child. No child with a serious illness can ever understand why he or she has to walk the path they do. Imagine being a child and having a question, with its endless possibilities posed to you: “If you could have one wish, what would it be?” You could go anywhere. You could have anything. You could meet anyone. You could be anything. The children that Make-A-Wish serves have a variety of responses; however, one universal reaction is the smile on their faces. It’s the smile of knowing they have something positive to look forward to during this dark time in their young lives. There are only three simple requirements for participation: The child must be between 2 ½ and 18 years of age; the child’s physician certifies that the child has a critical illness, as determined by medical criteria set forth by Make-A-Wish America; the child has not received a wish from Make-A-Wish or any other wish-granting organization. We’ve known anecdotally about the transformational power of a wish, and now a first-of-its-kind study is opening the door to possibilities of medical and financial benefits. In a first-of-its-kind study, Dr. Anup Patel of Nationwide Children’s Hospital examined quality of life and health care utilization among patients who received a wish and a control group who did not. The study found patients who were granted a wish were more likely to have fewer unplanned hospital and emergency department visits. Research like the Dr. Patel Wish Impact Study can inspire doctors to use a wish as part of their treatment plans for patients, because wishes can give their patients hope, build compliance with care and potentially give their patients a better chance at reducing time spent in the hospital. Wishes have the possibility to give kids the hope and strength they need to fight harder. For children who are battling a critical illness, a wish can give them and their families the chance to believe anything is possible. This study reveals that: • 97% of parents observed a noticeable improvement in their child’s emotional and mental health following the granting of their wish • Physical health improved discernibly in as many as 75% of wish children • 77% of adult former wish kids said that their wish experience gave them direction in life The wish experience offers a much-needed break from hospitals and treatments, marking a positive turning point in the wish child’s battle against their illness. Instead of a world filled with hospital stays, treatments and medical bills, the entire family is enriched by a very special and bonding experience. The resulting smile of a child and encouraging words from a parent speak volumes to the healing effects of a wish come true. A wish reintroduces magic and wonder back into a child’s life. By donating to Make-A-Wish, you're bringing hope for today - and tomorrow!

Make-A-Wish Northeastern & Central California and Northern Nevada
2800 Club Center Drive
Sacramento, California 95835-3054
United States
Phone 916-779-0992
Unique Identifier 680027351