Each year, thousands of Canadian children between the ages of three and 17 are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Every day more than two of these children will receive a special wish, thanks to the efforts of The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada and its incredible supporters.  The Foundation marks its 25th anniversary in 2009, and will grant its 15,000th wish this summer.

“At Children’s Wish, we’ve had the privilege of granting close to 15,000 children their most heartfelt wish,” says Chris Kotsopoulos, National Executive Director.  “While this is certainly an achievement, we are only able to accomplish this milestone because of the amazing support we continue to receive from thousands of volunteers, as well as individual and corporate donors.”

Established in 1984 on the kitchen table of an inspired and committed volunteer, Children’s Wish has grown into a national organization with chapters in every province.  The Foundation has granted wishes to children from Canadian communities large and small, sometimes within a matter of days. 

In honour of its anniversary, Children’s Wish is distributing a special Public Service Announcement which commemorates one of the first wishes granted by the non-profit organization. The Locket is the moving story of a young girl whose wish was to give her mother a locket so that her mom would have something to remember her by.  Today, nearly 15,000 wishes later, each wish continues to be as unique as the child who makes it.  A wish can range from a personal computer or a home theatre system, to travel or a meeting with a celebrity.

“At Children’s Wish we have never refused a wish to an eligible child, and we never will.  Thank you for enabling us to fill each wish child’s life with a little magic,” adds Kotsopoulos.

Children’s Wish maintains impeccable standards in delivering those wishes to children and their families.  “I honestly believe that these wishes keep children healthy,” says Karen, a wish mom. “It gives them something to look forward to and helps keep them strong.”

When granting a wish, the Foundation has always ensured that the wish involves the entire family, as the parents and siblings usually go through so much during the illness of a young family member.