Kids for Wish Kids

Ongoing

Kids For Wish Kids is an extremely popular program for kids because it is managed by kids. The children are responsible for forming committees, coming up with fundraising ideas, and carrying them out. Teachers and parents often serve as advisors, but ownership of the group belongs solely to the kids involved.

The Kids For Wish Kids program helps to increase awareness of the Make-A-Wish^® mission and involves more people in helping to grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

But Kids For Wish Kids does much more than that. It fosters the value of community service by providing hands-on experience in helping to grant wishes through Make-A-Wish^®. It also provides a mechanism for building school spirit and creating an additional partnership between children and teachers outside of the classroom.

The opportunities available for fundraising activities through the Kids For Wish Kids program are endless — anything from a bake sale or penny war, to a dance marathon, or student/teacher basketball game. All it takes is imagination.




Please contact our offices for more information on our Kids for Wish Kids program.
Toll Free: 403-228-3666 or email kim.anthony@makeawish.ca.


Young Donors

Make-A-Wish^® relies on the generous support of our donors to help us carry out our mission. And we have noticed that there is a new class of donors out there that is blowing our minds; it’s the Young Donors. We are astounded by the generosity of the younger generation, ages 6 to 10 years old. Their desire to forego receiving birthday gifts in lieu of collecting donations for Make-A-Wish^® touches our hearts like nothing else. These young donors believe that every little bit counts – and it does. Their dedication to their peers, and to their community, is something that should be applauded. We tip our hats to these children helping children, and thank them for inspiring all of us.

Brooklin, 10     

Brooklin Jacobs, age 10 years old from Tsuut'ina Nation, staged a Michael Jackson Memorial Benefit Concert on August 29th, 2010 at the Sarcee 7 Chiefs Sportsplex. Proceeds from donations and ticket sales in the amount of $1000.00 was donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Southern Alberta. Brooklin Jacobs has performed in many talent shows as Michael Jackson. Brooklin is a talented young boy who has sung and danced Michael Jackson’s songs at various events and talent shows on the Tsuut'ina Reserve. Since the age of 7, Brooklin started to sing and dance like Michael Jackson and has always wanted to dance just like him. He has had many comments on how good he performs and dances.









James, 8   

James wanted to have a soccer party to be able to invite his whole class and soccer team, that's a lot of gifts! We sat down and talked about what else we could do. One of James' friends last year asked for donations to charity, and James thought this would be a good idea. We went online and I asked what sort of charity he wanted to support. We looked at many websites and Make-A-Wish Foundation^® really caught his attention. A child being able to help other children. When it came to the party everyone came with their cheques, and his closest friends also brought small gifts. Since then most of his friends have asked for donations, and many for the Make-A-Wish Foundation^®.








Gillian, 7 

Gillian Fung recently celebrated her seventh birthday. Gillian decided that in lieu of birthday gifts she asked her guests to bring donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Gillian and her friends raised $200. Gillian is very proud of herself and her friends for helping to make a difference in other young children's lives.














Maya, 9

My name is Maya and I just turned 9 years old. This year at school we have a new program called "Wings to Fly". Our job was to help someone other than ourselves. I decided to do something for the Make-A-Wish^® Foundation because I wanted to help put a smile on a sick kids face. I teamed up with another girl in school (Ashley) and together we sold hot dogs and Kool-Aid at our school carnival with all the money going to Make-A-Wish. I had a lot of fun selling hot dogs but the real reward was dropping off the money we raised at Make-A-Wish, getting to see the kinds of wishes kids made and knowing we could help make them real.












Aly, 8

Aly turned 8 years old and asked her friends and family to donate money to the Make-A-Wish^® Foundation instead of buying her birthday gifts. All of her family and friends were very generous and because of them Aly was able to make this donation.

This is Aly's second year of collecting donations at her birthday party. She chose the ' Make-A-Wish^® Foundation' this year because she wanted to help make a child's wish come true. Aly goes to church with a little girl who had her wish granted by the Make-A-Wish^® Foundation. This was the inspiration behind her decision to choose this particular venue.

Aly feels really good when she is able to help others and hopes to continue this for a very long time.






Caden

Every year on Caden's birthday, since he was three, he has raised money for Make-A-Wish®. He has done this because our family has been personally affected by serious illness and the struggles that it brings. Both of Caden's grandparents had chronic illnesses and passed away too soon. The best way to honor them was to find a charity that could bring happiness to people. Each year Caden invites his whole class to his birthday party and he asks them to give a gift to Make-A-Wish®. He loves that it brings his friends together for a good cause and he's happy to do something in memory of his grandparents.











Jade, 5

Hello my name is Jade. I am 5 years old. For the past 3 years I have been asking for donations to a charity rather than birthday gifts for my birthday party with friends. I had donated to the zoo in the past this way I could see where my money went. This year my mom suggested we try donating somewhere else. She picked out three different charities for me to choose from. We sat down and looked at all three websites and she explained what they did so I could have a look and see which one I would connect to the most. Right off the bat I knew that the Make-A-Wish^® Foundation® of Southern Alberta was a perfect fit for me. I loved the picture of the little girl dressed up as a princess because I think every little girl deserves to feel like a princess. My hope is that with my help a little kid will get their wish granted.









Ella & Emily, 7

Hi! I am Ella and I am Emily! This year our 7th birthday party was extra special. We decided to have a disco birthday party together. Our parents talked to us about being able to invite all of our friends to the party but also being able to help other children at the same time. We learned that instead of receiving birthday presents we could ask our friends to make a donation to the Make-A-Wish^® Foundation®. We talked to Make-A-Wish^® and found out that some really sick children need our help to make their wishes come true. They told us some wonderful stories of kids our age that had a wish and it came true by donations from kids like us. The two of us along with our friends donated money to help this great cause. The party was lots of fun and giving money to help other kids make their wishes come true was the best birthday gift we could have received. We are proud of ourselves and our friends. Kids helping kids is really great.









Hanna, 10

Hanna is the type of child who is always looking for a way to make a difference. She is the first to rush to a friend's side to help or comfort and she feels deeply when things go wrong in somebody's life. She is inspired by people who have made a difference in the world and, for her age seems to know a lot about them. Terry Fox is one of her heroes and his cause was the inspiration behind her Wish campaign. When she explained why she wanted to shave her head to raise money, she did so in such a way that we knew she understood exactly what she was doing and for all the right reasons. She said to us that she felt lucky that none of her family or friends were suffering from a life threatening illness and that made her feel very fortunate. If one of us ever does become ill, she hopes that someone will step up to help. She leads by example and we are very proud of her. In a way, Hanna feels she has been granted the Wish. The experience was a gift to her as it was to the rest of her family. She hopes her efforts will inspire other children to make a difference, just like she did.









Chloe, 6

My name is Chloe. I am six years old and live with my family in Exshaw, Alberta.

When I was five years old I went to a birthday party where my friend asked for donations to his favorite charity. I asked my mom to explain this to me and then asked if I could do the same thing. I had heard of the ‘Art and Stroke Foundation’ and thought that artists might need help.

My mom and dad made a list of different charities and explained to me what each one does. Some help people and some save the earth. My favorite was the Make-A-Wish^® Foundation. Every kid has a wish and I wanted to help make them all come true.

For my sixth birthday I raised $200. Then this summer my grandpa took me on a walk and I saw two little girls selling lemonade. My grandpa explained that the girls were raising money. We went home and I asked my grandma for a box, cups and juice. I sold lot of it! I asked if I could donate that money to Make-A-Wish^® too.

I went to my other granddad’s house and did the same thing. Raising money for kids is kind of easy. Who wouldn’t want to make a kid’s dream come true if they could?

In September I got to draw with Hanna. Hanna is my hero and has raised lots of money for Make-A-Wish. I want to raise lots of money just like her. My mom and dad said I could shave my head to raise money. I already have my first cheque from a lady who believes in kids and I haven’t even shaved my head yet!

My special wish was to go to Disneyland. I did that. Every kid should get their wish at least once in their lifetime. Now my special wish is to help kids who may not have long to get their wish. I just want to help.





Spencer, 9

Spencer turned 9 this past September. He looks forward to his birthday for months before. For his last birthday he decided to take donations for charity instead of receiving gifts. Spencer decided to do it again this year but was not sure which charity to choose. His mom and dad sat down with him and went over numerous options and of course the Make-A-Wish^® Foundation was mentioned. It didn't take Spencer a minute to decide that helping out kids with life-threatening medical conditions would be a worthy and noble cause. He immediately felt the good effects before he even raised the money. He knew he would be helping change the experience of a child for the better. The day of his birthday he proudly accepted donations from his friends and excitedly counted the money. He looked forward to bringing his donation to Make-A-Wish^® and felt very proud of his accomplishment and grateful to be able to do so. He was made to feel very appreciated which helps instill in him the importance of donating to such a worthy cause.