MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF THE MID-ATLANTIC INC

MAKE-A-WISH MID-ATLANTIC'S MISSION IS SIMPLE: TO CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES. EVERY YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 450 CHILDREN (BETWEEN THE AGES OF 2.5 AND 18) IN MARYLAND, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA RECEIVE A DIAGNOSIS THAT QUALIFIES THEM FOR MAKE-A-WISH AND EVERY ONE OF THEIR WISHES WILL COME TRUE. THE ORGANIZATION GRANTED 376 LIFE-CHANGING WISHES IN FY2024 (YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2024). THE TOTAL COST FOR THE WISHES GRANTED IN FY2024 WAS $5,967,870. OF THIS AMOUNT, $895,323 WAS CONTRIBUTED BY VARIOUS VENDORS WHO PROVIDED IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS SUCH AS TRAVEL AND TRAVEL SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER SERVICES AND USE OF FACILITIES FOR FULFILL A CHILD'S WISH. FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENT PURPOSES, THESE AMOUNTS ARE INCLUDED AS CONTRIBUTION REVENUE AND GRANTED WISH EXPENSE. FOR FORM 990, HOWEVER, THE IRS REQUIRES THIS AMOUNT BE EXCLUDED FROM REVENUE AND EXPENSE. A WISH PROVIDES A CHILD AND THEIR FAMILY WITH HOPE, STRENGTH, AND JOY DURING THEIR MOST CHALLENGING TIMES. A WISH ISN'T JUST NICE; IT'S NECESSARY. 98% OF MEDICAL PROVIDERS SAY A WISH IMPROVES A CHILD'S EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. FOR CHILDREN WITH A CRITICAL ILLNESS, DAYS FILLED WITH CHILDHOOD JOYS ARE TRADED FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND HOSPITAL STAYS. THEY MISS OUT ON TIME WITH FAMILY, SIBLINGS AND FRIENDS. FOR THESE CHILDREN A WISH IS A GAME-CHANGER. A WISH CAN BE THAT SPARK THAT HELPS THEM BELIEVE THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AND GIVES THEM THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT HARDER AGAINST THEIR ILLNESSES. WISHES WE GRANT FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES ARE NOT FLEETING GIFTS. IT'S MORE THAN THE TRIP, THE BOAT OR MEETING A CELEBRITY THAT MATTER MOST. IT'S THE LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT. EACH WISH IS A PIVOTAL EXPERIENCE DURING A CHILD'S MEDICAL JOURNEY THAT OFTEN IMPROVES THEIR HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND ALWAYS BRINGS HOPE AND JOY. MAKE-A-WISH MID-ATLANTIC IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING ALL ELIGIBLE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO AN IMPACTFUL AND EQUITABLE WISH REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, GENDER, ABILITIES, VALUES, BELIEFS, EXPERIENCES, BACKGROUNDS, PREFERENCES, BEHAVIORS, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION/IDENTITY, AND MORE.