PHOENIX -- (BUSINESS WIRE) --
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® has today launched a new digital platform, worldwishday.org, to support the first-ever World Wish DaySM on 29 April 2010. The new interactive experience will give visitors from all around the world the opportunity to donate by tossing a "coin" into a virtual fountain and see wishes around the world.
In honor of this global celebration of wish granting, every Make-A-Wish® affiliate and chapter around the world will grant and publicly dedicate at least one wish on 29 April to World Wish Day, representing a wish being granted in over 35 countries on this special day.
This inaugural global day of wish granting will also mark the 30th anniversary of the wish that inspired the creation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to a boy named Chris, who wished to be a police officer. The day aims to support the organization in its central mission of granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wish of a child with a life-threatening medical condition every 25 minutes. The Foundation is now in over 35 countries around the world and has granted over 240,000 wishes since 1980.
Jon Stettner, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Foundation International, says, "We want to encourage a global movement on World Wish Day and our new digital platform is the first step in making this happen. This interactive experience helps to demonstrate the positive impact that we can have on the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Supporters can donate, refer a child, and spread the word to help us grant as many wishes as possible. Our aim is to bring the promise of tomorrow to these children all around the world and we encourage people to start this journey with us at worldwishday.org."
You can help the Foundation bring even more joy to children by showing your support of the first World Wish Day and making a donation in the virtual fountain at worldwishday.org.
About the Make-A-Wish Foundation®
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world. With the help of generous donors and more than 30,000 volunteers worldwide, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 240,000 wishes worldwide since its inception. For more information about Make-A-Wish Foundation International visit worldwish.org and for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, visit wish.org.
CONTACT:
Make-A-Wish Foundation International
Sioban Kerr, +1 602-230-9900
skerr@worldwish.org