Make a Wish Foundation – Charity Matters

Charity Matters Inspiration June 6, 2016

The great one…

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

Muhammad Ali

This weekend we lost a great one. A man born into a family of pre-Civil War era American slaves, who experienced the segregated South first hand and was determined to use his life to help others, which is exactly what he did.

Muhammad Ali devoted his life to helping promote civil rights, cross-cultural understanding, interfaith relations, hunger relief, and world peace. He did this through a variety of actions and causes. According to the National Constitution Center, he has been responsible for providing over 232 million meals to serve the hungry in such countries as Indonesia, Mexico, Cuba, Morocco, and Cote d’Ivoire, to name a few.

In addition, to his work abroad as a Goodwill Ambassador, he also used his fame and success to bring attention to causes such as Make A Wish Foundation, Special Olympics, Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Center and the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

The Muhammad Ali Center’s mission sums up the legend’s life and legacy best, “To promote, respect, hope, and understanding and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be.”

He was great and continues to inspire us all, to do the same.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration April 29, 2015

World Wish Day: Make a Wish Foundation

Today is World Wish Day. World Wish Day is organized by Make-A-Wish to commemorate the anniversary of the wish that inspired the creation of what is now one of the world’s leading children’s charities. Seven-year-old Chris Greicius’ wish to be a police officer was granted in Phoenix, Arizona by volunteers on April 29, 1980.

The Wishes give these children and families something to look forward to, to dream of and a slice of hope. One of my favorite wishes was the little boy from the Bay Area that wanted to be Batman. Never underestimate the power of a wish.

Since Chris’ wish in 1980, more than 300,000 children around the world have had their fondest wishes fulfilled by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Make A Wish Foundation’s mission is to “enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.”

Every 37 minutes, Make-A-Wish grants the wish of a child with a life threatening medical condition somewhere in the world. Today the Make-A-Wish is active in 35 countries. All of this began, with just a simple wish.

Charity Matters.

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Uncategorized April 29, 2013

Make A Wish Day

Welcome to the new look of Charity Matters! We have been working hard behind the scenes to create a fresh, exciting and engaging new platform that we hope continues to inspire you.

As I mentioned on friday, I made a promise or a wish that this day would come and I find it particularly exciting that our new web-site is launching on International Make A Wish Day.

World Wish Day is organized by Make-A-Wish to commemorate the anniversary of the wish that inspired the creation of what is now one of the world’s leading children’s charities. Seven-year-old Chris Greicius’ wish to be a police officer was granted in Phoenix, Arizona by volunteers on April 29, 1980.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtUSTkJxrHQ]

Since Chris’ wish in 1980, more than 300,000 children around the world have had their fondest wishes fulfilled by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Every 23 minutes, Make-A-Wish grants the wish of a child with a life-threatening medical condition somewhere in the world. Make A Wish Foundation’s mission is to “enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.”

My wish has already come true because you are here with me on this journey and I am so grateful to all of who continue to share Charity Matters on Facebook, like us, tweet, follow on Linkedin and everything in between. I am humbled and grateful for each you. Thank you for continuing to be a part of making my wishes come true.

What’s your wish?

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2013 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

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Charity Matters Inspiration May 16, 2012

Dream Big!

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

Harriet Tubman

This is for all the Susan G. Komen’s, The Make A Wish Foundation and the other 1.9 million non-profits in our country. They all started with a dreamer and all of those dreamers have changed the world for the better. What are you dreaming about?

Charity Matters. Dream Big.

Copyright © 2012 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

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Charity Profile April 27, 2012

Can you Make a Wish?

Did you know that April 29th is World Wish Day? It all started with just one wish. One little boy’s wish. All these non-profits started with a dream, a purpose…a wish, and the Make A Wish Foundation began….the exact same way…with just one wish.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® traces its beginning to one boy’s wish, 7-year-old Chris Greicius was being treated for leukemia. Little Chris dreamed of becoming a police officer and on April 29, 1980 a few special people decided to make his wish come true. A police helicopter picked him up and the officers had a custom police uniform made for him and arranged a motorcycle test so he could earn wings to pin on his uniform.

On May 2, Chris was back in the hospital and not well. He asked to arrange the room so he could always see his new police uniform, his motorcycle helmet and his “Smokey Bear”-style hat. DPS motor officer, Frank Shankwitz, presented Chris with his motorcycle wings. He accepted them with a smile that lit up the room.

The following day, Chris passed away, but not before seeing his dream come true and experiencing the hope, strength and joy that came from receiving his wish. The police officers and Chris’s mom thought that if one boy’s wish could create such happiness, maybe they could do the same for other children. They presented the plan to the people who helped grant Chris’ wish. In that moment, the Chris Greicius Make-A-Wish^® Memorial – which later became known as the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® – was born.

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So, on Sunday, April 29th Make a wish and know that dreams do come true everyday…at least every 38 minutes this foundation is granting them. Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

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