- Wish children and their families have been through so much; to see them smile and laugh melts your heart.Lauren B., Volunteer
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Quick FactsWho can receive a wish? The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Children who have reached the age of 2½ and are under the age of 18 must be referred to the Foundation and determined to be medically eligible for a wish by their physician. The child's treating physician makes the final determination of whether a child's medical condition qualifies him or her for a wish. Once the approval is secured, we will grant a wish for that child. It's that simple! Does a child's condition have to be terminal to qualify for a wish? No. Many of the children who qualify for a wish go on to lead healthy lives. We grant the wishes of medically eligible children (i.e. those diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions - i.e., a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that has placed the child's life in jeopardy). Does the Foundation only fulfill wishes for children with cancer? No. There are a number of medical conditions that qualify a child to receive a wish. Do you grant wishes to adults? The Make-A-Wish Foundation only grants wishes to children who have been referred to the organization and determined to be eligible for a wish before their 18th birthday by their physician. However, there are other wish-granting organizations that grant wishes to adults such as The Dream Foundation. How much does granting a wish cost? The cost associated with coordinating a wish varies depending on the type of wish, but currently the average cost of a wish is $7,500. What are your sources of funding? The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles relies on private donations such as individual contributions, corporate donations, foundation grants, and planned gifts. We also rely on special events and in-kind donations. Does the Make-A-Wish Foundation use telemarketing? The Make-A-Wish Foundation does not, under any circumstances, engage telemarketers to raise money. In fact, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has a nationwide policy against telephone and door-to-door solicitation. There are a number of other sound-alike organizations – some also with "wish" in their names. The Make-A-Wish Foundation has no affiliation with any other wish-granting organization. If you receive a call from someone asking for a donation, ask the caller to send you more information. Is my financial contribution tax deductible? The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. As such, financial contributions may be deductible for federal income tax purposes. Please consult with your financial advisor to determine the extent of tax deductibility. Since fiscal year 2003, the Make-A-Wish Foundation's financial statements are audited by Grant Thornton LLP. View the Foundation's most recent annual report with accompanying financial statements. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles:
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America:
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