Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island

We granted 41 wishes during April—the most wishes in a month so far in 2025! From travel to shopping sprees and more, our wish kids had joyful experiences and made lasting memories during World Wish Month. Wishes granted in April include: 🥳 To have a birthday party 🏖️ To go to St. Thomas 🛥️ To go on a cruise 🛝 To have a playset 🐠 To go to the Mystic Aquarium 🛍️ 5 wishes to have a shopping spree 🏰 20 wishes to go to Walt Disney World Resort...AND MORE! As we head into our busy summer months of wish granting, join us as a Make-A-Wish volunteer. Visit https://lnkd.in/dyA-HBEa to learn more and to sign up for a volunteer training. Upcoming dates: June 10 - Noon-2:00 pm (Tuesday) June 21 - 9:00-11:00 am (Saturday) July 17 - 1:00-3:00 pm (Thursday) July 26 - 9:00 -11:00 am (Saturday) 

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and guests, the funds raised through Wine & Wishes Boston will help us grant six wishes this summer for local children battling critical illnesses.   Guests heard from our incredible wish kid speaker, Aileen, who shared how wishes give children the opportunity to CHOOSE, which is empowering and transformative. Wish recipient Colby helped lead the program and dispelled common misconceptions people have about Make-A-Wish. Thank you to all of our tasting partners, sponsors, in-kind supporters, volunteers, venue host PwC, and program participants for pouring so much joy into the event! Didn't get to attend? Wine and Wishes Rhode Island is on June 5 at The Guild in Pawtucket. Get your tickets: https://lnkd.in/eeUUG6Eg.

⭐ Leadership opportunity for high school students ⭐ We’re recruiting high school students for our Youth Leadership Council! Applications are due by May 25 to be considered for the 2025-26 academic year. WHO:  We’re seeking enthusiastic individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities, a strong sense of responsibility, and a deep passion for making a positive impact in their communities. WHAT: Our Youth Leadership Council (YLC) empowers high school students to become leaders. The program provides a platform for students to lead Make-A-Wish awareness campaigns, engage with their communities, and support local wish children. LINK TO APPLY: https://lnkd.in/gvwrTjjW This year, our YLC students have raised over $23,000 and have collectively completed hundreds of service hours, all in support of our mission of granting life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

We are honored to have partnered with Tombs Group LLC for the 2025 Jersey Mike's Subs Month of Giving campaign. Under the leadership of Tyler Tombs and his fantastic team, seven stores across Metro and Central Massachusetts raised nearly $80,000 in collaboration with customers to help bring hope, strength, and joy to wish children. We're so grateful for this enthusiastic support of our mission and look forward to eating more subs and granting more wishes together in the future! #EatASubGrantAWish

Nurses are central to the medical journey of a child fighting a critical illness – and they sometimes even inspire wish kids to become nurses themselves! Emily, a wish alum who battled leukemia as a child, works as a pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant nurse. While in college, “it was clear that my desire to be at the bedside with kids going through diagnoses and treatment that resembled what I had been through was becoming more real.” #NationalNursesWeek is May 6-12 and we thank all the nurses who work so hard to support children with critical illnesses in their medical journeys – and their wish journeys. #NursesWeek

Congratulation to all of our tenacious #TeamMakeAWish runners for completing the 129th #BostonMarathon! Their hard work, training, and commitment to our mission was evident in their training and fundraising. This team of 12 raised enough to grant the wishes of 18 children — an incredible accomplishment! Thank you WishMakers Alexa, Alexys, Aristotelis, Benjamin, Callie, Cynthia, George, Jana, Jason, Jon, Maggie, and Matty for making an inspiring impact on children with critical illnesses. Thank you to the Bank of America Official Charity program for the opportunity for Team Make-A-Wish to participate in the 129th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. We're also grateful to our team sponsors Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation Bill Murphy, Zelis, and Marty Walsh; and our singlet sponsor New Balance. #Boston129

#WishMomTakeover Hi everyone, my name is Sharon and I am the proud mother of wish kid Wendo. The Wish experience—wow! It came at such a much-needed time. Wendo was diagnosed with leukemia at just two and a half years old, and treatment turned our world upside down. Hospital stays, ER visits, and weeks of isolation became our norm. We love traveling, but that part of our lives was on pause. Once we started the Make-A-Wish process it really helped us focus on something other than treatment: something exciting to look forward to.   Wendo chose Disney World because of her love for princesses and to get sunshine in the middle of winter. She still says her favorite part was “being on the airplane and hugging princesses!” Our volunteers Amy and Jackie were so kind, and every detail of our trip was handled with care. We were able to just breathe, reconnect with friends in Florida, and have fun. Words are not enough to express how we feel. We are honored to be part of such an amazing community that helps children and families through their medical journeys. We honestly cannot thank Make-A-Wish enough for what they do.

Tonight is Wine and Wishes Rhode Island! Thank you to our sponsors for generously supporting wishes through the event. We look forward to a memorable night of mission moments, good company, and delicious tastings courtesy of our fantastic tasting partners.

As World Wish Month comes to a close, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible support shown by our community. Over the past few weeks, we've seen the magic of our supporters in action and it’s all thanks to you, our local WishMakers, whose passion and generosity fuel our mission every day. Throughout the month, we saw our local WishMakers show up in so many meaningful ways—gathering together to Walk & Roll For Wishes; joining special activations at businesses, big and small; flowing through Pups & Yoga sessions; celebrating the heart of our mission during National Volunteer Week; and so much more. Your support brings wishes to life, inspires strength, and reminds every child waiting for their wish that they are surrounded by a community that cares. While World Wish Month may be over, the need for support stands strong. Your involvement makes an extraordinary difference, not just in April, but every day of the year. 💙 Thank you, WishMakers! 💙

Today is #WorldWishDay, marking the anniversary of the wish that inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish. In honor of this and as #WorldWishMonth wraps up, landmarks around our region will be lit blue tonight in celebration of the Make-A-Wish mission of creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. If you’re local to any of these, plan to catch a glimpse and snap a photo to share! We thank all who collaborated to make these special lightings possible to help raise awareness of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. RHODE ISLAND: ⭐ Rhode Island State House Dome, Providence ⭐ Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel MASSACHUSETTS: ⭐ Boston City Hall and Center Plaza (across from City Hall) ⭐ Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, Boston/Charlestown ⭐ Longfellow Bridge, Cambridge/Boston ⭐ Burns Bridge, Worcester/Shrewsbury ⭐ Fore River Bridge, Quincy/Weymouth