Many don’t know that if you have a diagnosis of mitochondrial disease or even if you are suspected (given strong clinical problems) you qualify for a wish. Many of these organizations do not base whether or not to give a wish upon the diagnosis. They base upon whether or not a doctor believes the problem will be life long and life altering.
*I tried to be sure all these were wish organizations in good standing. I encourage you to do your own research to be certain before giving over personal information.
National Wish Organizations
- Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation
Our programs and services help children with life-threatening illnesses believe in hope, joy and the promise of tomorrow. Our foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for critically ill children and their families through three unique programs. Serving over 38,000 children each year, we have become a national leader in pediatric support services that help to ease pain, reduce loneliness and bring joy to children throughout their treatment process.
- Dream Factory
The Dream Factory grants dreams to children diagnosed with critical or chronic illnesses who are 3 through 18 years of age.
- The Granted Wish Foundation *recently changed*
It’s purpose is “Providing wishes that enrich the lives of physically challenged children and young adults.” (25 & Under)” The foundation is not just for young or terminally ill. It is for anyone who deserves a wish!
- HopeKids
Provides ongoing events & activities and a powerful, unique support community for children with cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions.
- Jason’s Dreams For Kids
The organization is devoted to granting wishes to children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Bringing a little happiness and putting a few smiles on these children’s faces is our goal – and hopefully, their parents faces, too!
- Kids Wish Network
Kids Wish Network grants wishes for children with a life-threatening illness and are between the ages of 3 and 18. Anyone can refer a child, including a family member, friend, nurse, doctor, or social worker.
- Make-a-Wish Foundation of America
This organization which serves all 50 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico grants wishes to children in the United States with terminal illnesses or life-threatening medical conditions that create the probability the children will not survive beyond their 18th year.
- Wishing Well Foundation USA
The Wishing Well Foundation will consider the wish of any child with a life threatening illness from ages 3 to 18. The Wishing Well Foundation receives referrals from doctors, nurses, and people just like you! Many of the wishes are for trips to theme parks or a special day with a special someone . . . perhaps a celebrity or hero. The wish can be most complex or very simple.
Regional (United States)
- A Kid Again – Ohio
Provides continuing support and lasting memories for children and adolescents with life threatening illness and their families.
- Carolina Sunshine For Children – South Carolina
Provides a ray of sunshine for South Carolina children with life-threatening illnesses. When a wish comes true, a child’s beaming smile can be a positive, lasting memory for families going through difficult times.
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They bring comfort and joy to kids and young adults (up to age 30; and their families) who are treated for cancer or bone marrow transplants at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. For more information, please visit Dragonfly.org
- Dreams Come True – Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia
Provides wishes for children battling life-threatening illnesses in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. All children between the ages of two and a half and eighteen who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and either live or are treated in Northeast Florida or Southeast Georgia, including Shands Gainesville, are eligible for a dreams. Children must be referred by their physician and have all activities approved.
Dream Come True—Pennsylvania
Dream Come True seeks to fulfill the dreams of children who are seriously, chronically, and terminally ill and reside in the greater Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania
- Dream Factory of GKC – Greater Kansas City
Grants wishes to seriously or chronically ill children aged 3 to 18 who live in the greater Kansas City area.
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Hang On to the Dream Foundation – Michigan
If you are a kid 17 years of age or younger who is a positive role model for other kids, we may feature you on Fox 2 Detroit as well as present you with needed items, equipment, opportunities or finances that will help you to “Hang On to the Dream!”
Happiness Unlimited– New Jersey
- A unique, one-of-a-kind, wish-fulfillment program for adults with cancer.
High Hopes Foundation of New Hampshire, Inc. – New Hampshire
- Dedicated to granting the wishes of New Hampshire’s severely and chronically ill children between the ages of 3 and 18.
Hopes & Dreams Foundation of Oklahoma – Oklahoma
- A non-profit, volunteer organization which was founded to inspire children who have terminal illnesses, life-threatening medical conditions, or are physically challenged. The main goal of HOPES and DREAMS is to enrich the lives of the children in our foundation by sending them, as often as possible to events in the State of Oklahoma. These events are chosen for our children by our children! HOPES and DREAMS works hard to get tickets, passes, autographed pictures, and personal contacts for our children.
- Indiana Children’s Wish Foundation – Indiana
The Indiana Children’s Wish Fund grants the wishes of special Indiana Children who suffer from a life-threatening illness. These children are between the ages of 3-18.
- Kidd’s Kids — Texas
This is a non profit organization within KHKS-FM Radio which each year takes children with special medical needs on the trip of a lifetime to Walt Disney World! Children selected for the Kidd’s Kids trip are between the ages of 5 and 11, suffer from a chronic, terminal, or traumatic illness, reside in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and demonstrate a financial need.
- The Marty Lyons Foundation
Established to fulfill the special wishes of children aged three to seventeen years old, who have been diagnosed as having a terminal or life threatening illness by providing and arranging special wish requests. The principal office is in New York, but the Foundation also operates chapters in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
- A Special Wish Foundation, Inc. – Mainly Ohio, Indiana, and Chicago
This organization’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for those children/adolescents (under 20 years of age) who have a life-threatening or terminal disorder by allowing their special wish to become reality. It has 21 chapters throughout the U.S. as well as a chapter in Moscow, Russia.
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Sunshine Foundation– NJ, DE, MN, FL, PA, WV Sunshine Foundation’s sole purpose is to answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to financial strain that the child’s illness may cause.
- Wishing Star—Idaho and Eastern Washington State
This organization grants wishes to children age 3-19 with life threatening diseases in Idaho and Eastern Washington State.
- Wish Upon a Star—California
Our assistance is available to children in the state of California. Most often children are referred to our program by medical staff working in the major Children’s and University Hospitals. A statewide network of law enforcement personnel and community volunteers allows Wish Upon A Star to operate quickly, regardless of a child’s location or circumstance.
- A Wish With Wings—Texas
This organization grants wishes to children with life-threatening or catastrophic illness between the ages of 3 and 17, who reside or receive treatment in the State of Texas or out of State with Board Members’ approval.
International & Country Specific
International
- Children’s Wish Foundation International
Children’s Wish will fulfill the favorite wish for any child not expected to reach age 18. Each wish, truly the child’s own, must be completed while the child is healthy enough to fully enjoy it. The immediate family is included in the wish fulfillment, so that the child and family will share in the experience and create happy memories together.
- Starlight Children’s Foundation
This organization is dedicated to brightening the lives of seriously ill children through wish granting and state-of-the-art in-hospital entertainment. It has a network of chapters located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
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Make-a-Wish Foundation of India
This chapter which serves those in India helps children suffering from life threatening diseases realize their heart’s desire.
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Make a Wish Foundation of Australia
To grant the Wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
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Sunshine Foundation of Canada—Canada This foundation allows children with a severe physical disability or life-threatening illness to have a chance to see their once-in-a-lifetime dream come true.
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Tender Wishes—Canada This organization grants wishes to children between the ages of 2 and 18, who have a life-threatening illness, and reside in the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
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Children’s Wish– Canada The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada works with the community to provide children living with high-risk, life threatening illnesses the opportunity to realize their most heartfelt wish.
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Cleaning for Cancer: making a difference at home
This newly formed nonprofit offers free professional housecleaning services to improve the lives of women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Canada
United Kingdom
- Angelwish – Join us and grant a holiday or birthday wish to a child living with Chronic Illness in the United States or United Kingdom through our special Amazon.com wishlists or contribute to the life sustaining needs of children overseas.
- Dial-a-Dream—United Kingdom This organization strives to make Dreams a reality for children suffering a life threatening or debilitating illness, and thereby enabling them to continue their fight against their illness.
- Round Table Children’s Wish – United Kingdom
Grant Wishes to children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.
- Hopes & Dreams – United Kingdom
Has a goal to fulfill the dreams of terminally and chronically ill children and young adults whether it be meeting their favorite singer or band, going to see their chosen football team, and meeting the players, going to see a show, visiting a theme park etc.
- When You Wish Upon A Star—United Kingdom
Aims to fulfill the wishes of children with life threatening and terminal illnesses.
- Willow Foundation—United Kingdom
A charity dedicated to improving the quality of life of seriously ill adults aged 16 to 40 by organising and funding a ‘special day’ of their choice. Special days give young people with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions a chance to escape the difficulties of their daily routine and share quality time with family and friends while pursuing an activity they can all enjoy.
Adult-Focused Wish Organizations
- Adult Wish Foundation
To grant “reasonable” wishes to adults; 18 and above with life-threatening illnesses; while supporting surviving family members. To enrich their lives with respect, love, and hope.
- Deliver the Dream
For families – when a child develops a life-threatening disease, or a parent is diagnosed with a debilitating illness
- Dream Foundation
Dream Foundation is a national wish-granting organization who grants the wishes of terminally ill adults aged 18 to 65.
- Never Too Late
Staffed by a passionate group of volunteers who donate their time and talents to help make the dreams and wishes of the forgotten elderly and terminally ill adults come true.
- Twilight Wish Foundation
Has a mission is to honor and enrich the lives of deserving seniors through wish granting celebrations connecting Generations.
- Veteran’s Dream Foundation To help fund non profit organizations in support of veteran related projects throughout the United States; To assist disabled veterans and their qualifying dependents family members; To assist and provide transitional and permanent housing for homeless and at risk veterans; To enrich the lives of all veterans and their families
- Willow Foundation—United Kingdom
A charity dedicated to improving the quality of life of seriously ill adults aged 16 to 40 by organizing and funding a ‘special day’ of their choice. Special days give young people with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions a chance to escape the difficulties of their daily routine and share quality time with family and friends while pursuing an activity they can all enjoy.
Diagnosis-Specific
- Sunshine Kids– The Sunshine Kids provides a variety of programs and events, free of charge, for kids who are receiving cancer treatments in hospitals across North America.
- Bryan’s Dream Foundation – Brain Tumor The purpose of the foundation is to fulfill Bryan’s dream by providing hope and support to children with brain tumors as well as their families and to ensure that no child’s life is ended prematurely.
- Silver Lining Foundation – Cancer Among other things, the Silver Lining Foundation provides wishes for children with cancer while they are receiving treatment.
Wish Specific
Hunting / Fishing / Outdoor Adventures
- Benefit4Kids
Primary mission to grant the outdoor wishes of children with life threatening and life limiting illnesses.
- Buckmaster’s Life Hunts
Life Hunts grants hunting trips to critically ill and extremely disabled children and young adults up to age 21.
- Camp Sunshine
Supports children with life threatening illnesses and their families. The camp has the distinction of being the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a life threatening illness on every member of the immediate family—the ill child, the parents, and the siblings. Since its inception, Camp Sunshine has provided a haven for over 30,000 individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Catch-A-Dream
Grants once-in-a-lifetime outdoor experiences to children 18 years old or younger who have a life-threatening illness. Any child, 18 years old or younger, who is a U.S. or Canadian citizen, has a qualifying physician- certified life-threatening illness, and has not had another hunting or fishing grant, is eligible for consideration.
- Hunt Of A Lifetime
A nonprofit organization with a mission to grant hunting & fishing adventures and dreams for children age 21 and under, who have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses. We are doing what we can to make a difference in their life, a dream come true.
- Outdoor Dream Foundation
A non-profit organization that grants outdoor adventures to children who have been diagnosed with terminal or life-threatening illnesses.
- United Special Sportsmen Alliance
A non-profit Christian organization that routinely coordinates with other caring organizations worldwide in fulfilling a dream wish. If you know of a child [or adult] who is terminally ill or disabled and would like to go on a FREE DREAM HUNT, FISHING TRIP AND CAMPING OR CANOEING please contact U.S.S.A and we will try to fulfill their “Dream Wish.” Working with deer, elk, turkey, bear, pheasant farms, and property owners as well as, preserves and ranches has made our hunting, fishing trips and outdoor adventures known nationwide.
Room Makeovers
- Dream a Little Dream
The purpose of Dream A Little Dream was to create a fantasy bedroom for a child who has been affected by an illness, disease, or unfortunate family event.
- Room to Dream Foundation
The mission of the Room to Dream Foundation is to create healing environments in hospitals, communities, and homes for children and adolescents who are facing chronic illnesses. As they recuperate and recover, our hope is that their renovated spaces will improve their quality of life, promote strength, imagination, self-worth, and aid in their recovery processes.
Miscellaneous
- Ride a Wave
Has a mission is to give children with special needs the chance to feel the thrill of riding a wave and experience a safe, fun-filled day at the beach, whether they are physically, developmentally or economically challenged.
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This organization is not a wish-granting organization in the strictest sense. Rather, it works with other wish foundations to send children with life threatening illnesses to the Central Florida area. Every child that comes to Give Kids The World does so with the sponsorship of another wish granting organization. It has served children from all 50 states and more than 45 countries.
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Cleaning for A Reason Foundation Offers free professional housecleaning services to improve the lives of women undergoing treatment for cancer.
The majority of these wish organizations list was put together by a wonderful mito mom J.K. Thank You!!!
WOW! What a list! Thanks for taking time to build it and share!!
My son is 19, he has a degenerative diease and is wanting to make a wish. What do I need to do?
Contact the organization that best fits your needs. Since he is over 18 you will have a limited group to ask but there are wish granters out there. The organization should help you get through the paperwork.
Is there anything for autistic kids?
Please note that The Granted Wish Foundation’s mission changed on 5/1/13. Our mission is “Providing wishes that enrich the lives of physically challenged children and young adults.” (25 & Under)
Thank You
I’m chronically ill and 26 years old. I’m looking for a college grant or a grant to help me finish college. I have a year left. I have already had pell grant.
Thank you
I am a hospice nurse and in the process of writing a book. I had no idea there were organizations for adults. This list is amazing.
Thank you
I’m impressed to see this list compiled. I know it’s a long shot, but if any organizers read this, I’d like to see charities that grant wishes to kids with mental illness (both neuropsychiatric and psychological). It’s personal for me. I developed severe depression at a very young age, and the first time I remember becoming suicidal, I was eight. Once it got out, I pretty much got pushed under the rug as a human being. That was a long time ago, but not long enough.
Psych kids have wishes and dreams, and deserve to be recognized for their strength and bravery, too. Not many people have been under depression’s stranglehold long enough to really understand how life-threatening it is, and that doesn’t even touch on the rest of the DSM.
Thank you!
What about adults with developmental disabilities is there a wish foundation for that as I am an adult with a developmental disability
I have a 28 yr. old daughter whose name is Kellie. Our sweet daughter was born with a tumor disorder called Neurofibromatosis. Kellie is developmentally delay and is more like a teenager. A parents worst nightmare became reality a couple of weeks ago when due to severe headaches Kellie kept having, an MRI done and showed a brain tumor. From that test another MRI showed tumor growing rapidly and brain surgery performed to remove it. Next, was to visit an Oncologist we were sent to knowing this wasn’t good. On the visit with teo Dr’s and a Social worker we were told our baby has aggressive, malignant brain cancer. Medical term is Glioblastoma Multiforme 1V…. Kellie will start Radiation and Chemo..We are devastated as any parent can be. Is there somewhere to grant a wish for our Angel?
I am so sorry to hear. I know as a parent of a child with a life threatening disease you know this day might come but you are never ready. Let’s turn this into a dream for your daughter. Several of the wish granting organizations allow for adults as well. In this list there are several adult wish granting organizations like •Dream Foundation. I will be praying for you.
God bless
Heather
Hi my partner has termanal brain cancer and I would love to find a charity to help me to forfull his dream he was told he had a tumor back in september last year and has had treatment but the cancer is termanal and ill never go away I would love to just put a smaile on his face if only for a while please can you or anyone help me to do this
The Dragonfly Foundation brings comfort and joy to kids and young adults (up to age 30; and their families) who are treated for cancer or bone marrow transplants at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. For more information, please visit Dragonfly.org.
I am seeking organizations that either build homes for persons like move that bus show with Ty something very much like that. Also I am seeking a organization that would help me with my medical surgery also needed. In addition I am hoping for reunion with my grown children in a non-hostle place that is private warm and welcoming since because of the conditions in the past medical and other life threating conditions I have had to be away from my family. Also seeking a partner for potencial business arrangement . Information on any of these would be greatly appreciated,starting with seeing my children and surgery. Sincerely, Susan
I am trying to get my son into organization that takes NF1 he just turned 7. In my area or my state just to talk to, even to focus on something else that is not NF1. …
I agree, there needs to be a wish foundation for children with mental health issues and those on the Autism spectrum. Regardless of class of functioning, these kids all suffer from social issues and stigmas. To feel special enough to qualify for a dream would be quite an uplifting moment. Please advise if there is such a thing. Thank-you
I am in need of help but I am 47 suffering from anoxic brain injury
I am a nurse who works with a beautiful little girl-5hrs old. Last Christmas, (2014l, this little girl got sick, which then triggered a Mitochondrial disease, (Leigh’s Disease ). This devastate disease, has turned this family upside down. This little girl was walking, talking, and doing everything else that a typical 4yr old girl would do. Now, the family struggles daily with this disease, as they watch helplessly, day after day, as their daughter lays in a bed, unable to walk, talk or eat. She is on a ventilator/trached, tube feedings, and unable to communicate with her family. This family is remarkable and loving, and their heart breaks everyday for the loss of the little girl they once knew.
Please help by letting me know how we can “grant a wish” to this little girl and let her family know that someone really does care about her and her family. Let them know they are not alone and people really do care!
I’m trying to get tickets for my daughter Catherine Mary to see Justin Bieber in Houston Tx.on April 9 2016 she is a huge fan and I’ve contacted a few organizations with no luck because she is not terminal.She has a really rare Chromosone 17 deletion and recently diagnosed EDS and a PFO &PDA. If anyone knows any other way to go about it please let me know shes 16 and missed his concert a few years ago because she had pneumonia.
Is there a place I can go to to get help getting a van with a lift?