Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia

A wish experience can be a game-changer for a child with a critical illness. This one belief guides us in everything we do at Make-A-Wish . It's the founding principle of our vision to grant the wish of every eligible child.

Wishes impact everyone involved - wish kids, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals and communities. For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments. Since 1987, we have fulfilled the wishes of over 4,000 children.

We rely on medical professionals, parents and children themselves for referrals. Children who have reached the age of 2½ and are under the age of 18 at the time of referral - and have not received a wish from another wish-granting organization - may be eligible for a wish.

We determine a child’s medical eligibility with the help of the treating physician. To receive a wish, the child must be diagnosed with a critical illness.

We send one of our enthusiastic wish teams to learn the child’s one true wish. These committed volunteers connect with wish children, awaken their imaginations and help them envision an experience with the power to change lives.

Our wish granters create an unforgettable experience driven by the child’s creativity. They strive to personalize each wish and to make it match the wish kid's idea of a perfect day.