2025 Annual Report
2025 Annual Report
This year, 165 wishes were granted to children in Iowa facing critical illnesses. That's 165 sparks of hope, bursts of joy and moments of magic delivered at a time when these kids and their families needed it most — all creating a memory that can never be taken away. Each wish represents not just a milestone but a turning point — a bright light in the dark tunnel of illness.
Read MoreThis year, 165 wishes were granted to children in Iowa facing critical illnesses. That's 165 sparks of hope, bursts of joy and moments of magic delivered at a time when these kids and their families needed it most — all creating a memory that can never be taken away. Each wish represents not just a milestone but a turning point — a bright light in the dark tunnel of illness.
We are proud of the impact we've made, but our work is far from finished.
For the first time in over a decade, we now have access to national data that reveals something significant: 263 children in our state are newly eligible for a wish each year. That number tells a sobering story. While we celebrate each wish granted, it also underscores the gap — and the opportunity — ahead of us. Every child who qualifies for a wish deserves to experience the power of one.
Our state is second in the nation for cancer diagnoses — a heartbreaking statistic that makes our mission even more urgent. Children fighting cancer and other critical illnesses are not just battling disease; they're fighting fear, exhaustion and uncertainty. At the same time many families will also face poverty and an uncertain future. A wish provides a powerful counterforce — a moment to dream, to hope, to reclaim joy. It's more than a nice experience. For many, it becomes part of their emotional and even physical recovery.
This year, we also took an important step forward as an organization. We completed our five-year strategic plan, going through 2030, laying the foundation to reach more wish kids, grow sustainably and deepen our impact across every corner of our state. This plan is our roadmap — but we cannot follow it alone.
We need you.
Every wish begins with a community — people who give, volunteer, refer, cheer and believe. Whether you've donated time, money, talent or love, you are a vital part of every wish we grant. We cannot do this without you.
Together, let's close the gap between 165 and 263. Every. Single. Year.
Let's be there for every child who needs a wish — because when a child is facing a critical illness, hope isn't a luxury. It's essential.
Thank you for being part of our mission. We are endlessly grateful — and inspired — to keep going, together.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Sara Kurovski
President & CEO
Make-A-Wish Iowa
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
To grant the wish of every eligible child.
165
Wishes
Granted throughout the state in FY25.
17
17
275+
Wishes waiting
The total number of wishes waiting at the end of FY25.
400+
Statewide volunteers
99
Counties served in Iowa
With 11 area volunteer regions: Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Valley, Clinton, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Riverbend, Sioux City
4,919
Total wishes
In the history of Iowa's chapter, we have granted 4,919 wishes.
163
Number of qualified wish kid referrals in FY25
15
Emergency wishes
5
Values
46 wish to have:
106 wish to go:
13 wish to meet:
Make-A-Wish Iowa is dedicated to creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The following wishes were granted in our last fiscal year.
You'll see that some of the children have a superhero icon to represent them, and we think that suits them perfectly. Some wish families choose to share photos of their wishes, and some do not. However, if you want to share your wish photos and experience, fill out the Wish Bio Form by clicking below.
Wish Bio Form
I wish to go to Hawaii
Abbas, 18
leukemia
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Adele, 8
leukemia
I wish to meet Luke Bryan
Adira, 9
congenital heart disease
I wish to have a MacBook for video editing
Allisson, 14
kidney transplant
I wish to go on a cruise ship
Asher, 11
neuromuscular disorder
I wish to go to Mall of America and Nickelodeon Universe
Azari, 8
brain tumor
I wish to have a private backyard dance studio
Bailee, 11
cystic fibrosis
I wish to drive to Disneyland® to meet Minnie Mouse
Bianca, 5
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have a movie theater in my basement
Brady, 10
neuromuscular disorder
I wish to go to Hawaii
Breanna, 17
blood disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® and SeaWorld
Brooklynn, 8
respiratory disorder
I wish to go to Hawaii
Cale, 14
lymphoma
I wish to go to the Hot Wheels factory
Caspian, 4
leukemia
I wish to go to the Great Wolf Lodge
Catherine, 4
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to a World Series baseball game
Caycee, 19
cancer
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Claire, 4
cancer
I wish to go on a cruise to the U.S. Virgin Islands
Claire, 18
cancer
I wish to meet Lionel Messi and the an Inter-Miami soccer team
Cole, 18
lymphoma
I wish to meet Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings
Cooper, 12
leukemia
I wish to have a prosthetic eye
Cyrus, 7
cancer
I wish to go on a Disney cruise for my birthday
Damien, 5
brain tumor
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® to meet Mickey Mouse
Dayton, 9
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Declynn, 8
cancer
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Eliana, 5
cancer
I wish to go to North Carolina
Elijah, 7
congenital heart disease
I wish to go to Colorado to stay in a cabin and ride an ATV
Ella, 17
cancer
I wish to have a sleep-safe bed
Emma, 8
respiratory disorder
I wish to meet Dr. Oakley
Emma, 10
blood disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Emma, 16
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to a Golden State Warriors game
Euan, 8
leukemia
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Evelyn, 4
leukemia
I wish to meet Princess Belle at Walt Disney World®
Everleigh, 6
respiratory disorder
I wish to go to South Dakota to visit Mount Rushmore
Felicity, 19
lymphoma
I wish to meet an orchestra
Gideon, 9
congenital heart disease
I wish to go Walt Disney World® and swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove
Gracie, 6
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have a gaming setup
Grayson, 14
leukemia
I wish to have a hot tub
Gwendolyn, 7
metabolic disorder
I wish to go to Hawaii
Harper, 5
metabolic disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® and swim with dolphins
Huxley, 7
congenital heart disease
I wish to go to a Florida Beach and go on a boat
Isabel, 18
brain tumor
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Jaden, 9
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have a travel trailer
Jaxsen, 4
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® to attend Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Jaxson, 8
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Monster Jam
Jett, 3
respiratory disorder
I wish to have a custom gaming computer setup
John, 18
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have an Action Trackchair
Jonathan, 14
neuromuscular disorder
I wish to go to Orlando theme parks
Joshua, 12
kidney transplant
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Kaida, 8
vascular disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Keegan, 4
leukemia
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Kyden, 5
leukemia
I wish to have a vehicle makeover
Kyle, 11
leukemia
I wish to go to Hawaii
Landon, 15
lymphoma
I wish to go to Hawaii
Layna, 5
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® and swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove
Loveah, 6
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Madalynn, 4
cystic fibrosis
I wish to meet Brock Purdy
Major, 10
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Destin, Florida, to Crab Island
Mason, 10
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have a gaming setup for me and my friend
Meshulem, 18
brain tumor
I wish to go to Yellowstone National Park
Michael, 18
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have merry-go-round play equipment installed in the ChildServe courtyard
Mylo, 4
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Nash, 7
respiratory disorder
I wish to go to Hawaii
Nolan, 12
blood disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Nora, 6
lymphoma
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® and swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove
Reo, 13
brain tumor
I wish to have a golf cart
Rushton, 11
leukemia
I wish to have an outdoor playset with a sandbox
Sebastian, 4
leukemia
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Sofia, 4
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Stella, 6
cystic fibrosis
I wish to meet Lionel Messi and the Inter Miami soccer team
Tyler, 11
leukemia
I wish to go to the beach in North Carolina
Vivian, 4
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Wesley, 7
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have a gaming PC and gaming setup
Zachary, 12
cancer
I wish to go to Hawaii
Zackary, 14
heart transplant
I wish to go to New York City during the holiday season
Zoe, 14
leukemia
I wish to go to Hawaii
Adeline, 17
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Hawaii for my birthday
Amanda, 13
leukemia
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Anyla, 7
rare disease
I wish to go to Hawaii
Athena, 6
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go on a Caribbean cruise
Aubrey, 15
cancer
I wish to have a sewing she-shed
Caroline, 14
congenital heart disease
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® and Universal Studios
Carter, 7
heart condition
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® and visit Kennedy Space Center
Charlotte, 7
leukemia
I wish to have a virtual shopping spree
David, 18
respiratory disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Daymon, 11
metabolic disorder
I wish to go to Hawaii
Destiny, 18
lymphoma
I wish to have a room redo, including a space to dance!
Elizabet, 9
leukemia
I wish to have a pool
Ellie, 3
cancer
I wish to meet D'Aydrian Harding
Elvin, 13
cancer
I wish to meet Patrick Mahomes
Evan, 8
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Santorini, Greece, see a black sand beach
Evan, 20
leukemia
I wish to go to Super Nintendo World in California
Ezekial, 4
leukemia
I wish to have a shopping spree to buy books
Gay, 16
autoimmune disorder
I wish to go to Hawaii
Gunner, 11
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to the Hershey's chocolate factory
Jaxon, 13
brain tumor
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
JeanCarlos, 14
cancer
I wish to meet the Iowa Hawkeyes football team
Justice, 8
respiratory disorder
I wish to have a virtual shopping spree
Kaitlyn, 17
leukemia
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Katie, 16
lung transplant
I wish to go to Comic Con in California
Kellen, 14
neuromuscular disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Khinley, 5
leukemia
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Kitalynn, 17
brain tumor
I wish to go to Disneyland®
Leo, 8
cancer
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Leslie, 17
leukemia
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Luka, 4
brain tumor
I wish to go to Hawaii
Lydia, 17
lymphoma
I wish to have a bedroom makeover and custom stuffed animals of my cats
Margaret, 13
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Disneyland®
Mauricio, 9
kidney disease
I wish to meet Kane Brown
Olivia, 9
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® and swim with dolphins
Olivia, 17
congenital heart disease
I wish to have a shopping spree
Ozrael, 4
cancer
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Paisley, 4
liver disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® and meet the Disney princesses
Patricia, 5
cancer
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Perseus, 4
leukemia
I wish to go to Aulani resort in Hawaii
Reid, 8
blood disorder
I wish to have a shopping spree at the Mall of America
Rhianna, 13
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have a pool
Riley, 9
brain tumor
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® and meet Mickey Mouse
Robert, 7
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Ronan, 10
lymphoma
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® and Universal Studios
Rylan, 13
genetic disorder
I wish to have a college scholarship
Sarah, 19
leukemia
I wish to have a patio oasis
Taaliyah, 17
cancer
I wish to go to Great Wolf Lodge
Willow, 11
cystic fibrosis
A child's journey continues even after their wish is granted as they join the alumni community! The alumni community is a diverse group of wish kids and their families across the state of Iowa who have all experienced the power of a wish. Through this program, wish families can connect with fellow wish alumni, share their story, attend events and more.
Get InvolvedShare Your Story
Through the power of life-changing donations, time, expertise and in-kind support, Make-A-Wish Iowa has been able to grant 165 wishes in 2025. With each wish granted, we are providing hope, strength and joy for families across Iowa.
Today in Iowa, there are more than 300 children fighting a critical illness waiting for a life-changing wish, and together we can ensure each one receives their wish when it is most needed — forever!
Show MoreMake-A-Wish Iowa is on a mission to ensure that every eligible child across all 99 counties battling a critical illness receives a life-changing wish. By contributing to a Wishes Forever Fund, you're not just giving today — you're creating a legacy of hope that will endure for generations. Endowment funds are permanent, self-sustaining sources of support that grow over time, allowing Make-A-Wish Iowa to grant wishes in perpetuity.
Your gift may also qualify for the Endow Iowa Tax Credit, offering a tax credit and making your giving even more impactful. Whether you choose to support a specific county, honor a loved one or contribute to a general fund, your generosity will directly change lives in your community. For more information about how to make a gift to a Wishes Forever Fund, please visit: Wish.org/iowa/wishes-forever-fund.
To those who have and continue to contribute to a Wishes Forever Fund, thank YOU for ensuring a legacy of hope, strength and joy!
There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of a successful harvest — the reward for months of dedication, resilience and hard work. Each year, your yield nourishes families, strengthens communities and fuels our nation.
Now, it can do even more.
Make-A-Wish Iowa invites you to turn part of your harvest into hope for children facing critical illnesses — children who may live just down the road. Through Harvesting Wishes, your generosity can help grant life-changing wishes that bring strength, joy and healing when it's needed most.
Show MoreThe Harvesting Wishes Program is a way for Iowa's agricultural community to transform hard work into life-changing joy. There are three ways you can bring hope to a child with a critical illness in your community.
Direct donations: Show your support for children with critical illnesses with a monetary donation.
Gifts of Grain: Donating a gift from your harvest is an incredible way to make a difference in the life of a child. Growers can work with their local elevator to make a donation of grain, which will in turn allow them to take advantage of tax-deduction opportunities.
Volunteer: Join a community of individuals who volunteer their time to transform lives.
Every eligible child deserves an opportunity for a life-changing wish to give them the strength, resilience and courage they need to fight. Research shows children who have experienced a transformational gift can build the physical and emotional strength they need to overcome their illness. In fact, the 2022 Wish Impact Survey concluded:
No matter your role in the industry, your commitment to Harvesting Wishes can make a big impact. Learn more about how you can join us today at HarvestingWishes.org.
Research shows that the promise of a wish being fulfilled can help children build physical and emotional strength, improving their quality of life and giving them a better chance of recovering. We hear every day from wish kids who view their wish as a turning point and a celebration of their resilience and strength.
Show MoreCircle of Hope sponsored by Hy-Vee honors individuals and corporations who contribute $15,000 or more annually to help grant life-changing wishes for children in Iowa battling critical illnesses. Circle of Hope donors play a vital role in a child's journey toward healing and resilience.
To learn more or to join our Circle of Hope, contact Carol TeBockhorst at ctebockhorst@iowa.wish.org or 515.334.2636.
Sponsored by:
In-kind donations are crucial to the wish-granting process. Supporters can create life-changing experiences for wish kids by donating goods and services. Our organization has seen an increase in gift wishes. In-kind gifts help reduce the costs of a wish experience, allowing for more wishes to be granted.
Show MoreIn-kind donations are crucial to the wish-granting process. Supporters can create life-changing experiences for wish kids by donating goods and services. Our organization has seen an increase in gift wishes. In-kind gifts help reduce the costs of a wish experience, allowing for more wishes to be granted.
ITA Group is a significant in-kind partner for our travel wishes. The company helps us find flight options and waives its service fee for all wishes involving air travel.
"At ITA Group, giving back to the communities we live and work in is a core value. Make-A-Wish holds a special place in our hearts—not only through financial support from the ITA Group Foundation, but also through the expertise of our team members who help make travel seamless for wish families. Our people feel deeply connected to the mission, knowing their skills are helping create joyful, stress-free experiences for children and families during some of their most challenging times." — Sarah Haines, Senior Vice President of Event Solutions
Our organization has seen a growing number of construction-related wishes. These often require coordination with multiple vendors to bring them to life. While they're incredibly rewarding, they can also be complex and time-consuming. We're grateful to community partners like Turner Construction and Beisser Lumber Company, whose support makes it possible to grant these meaningful wishes.
You can grant life-changing wishes by sharing your talents and skills. Your donations help lower the cost of wishes and keep our overhead costs low. Visit Wish.org/iowa/inkind to learn how you can help!
Several community partners worked with wish kid Bailee to make her wish of a private backyard dance studio come to life. Thank you, Turner Construction and Beisser Lumber Company, for making Bailee's heartfelt wish come true!
“Partnering with Make-A-Wish Iowa to help deliver Bailee's dream was an incredibly rewarding experience for our team at Turner Construction. Seeing her joy as she stepped into her new backyard dance studio reminded us all of the power of community, compassion, and collaboration in turning a heartfelt Wish into reality." — Amy Pappoe, Marketing Coordinator at Turner Construction
A wish child's medical needs can present numerous challenges in their everyday life and throughout their wish journey. Make-A-Wish staff is equipped with the experience, resources and compassion required to help families navigate these challenges, ensuring every wish child can safely experience the hope and healing that a wish brings.
Show MoreA wish child's medical needs can present numerous challenges in their everyday life and throughout their wish journey. Make-A-Wish staff is equipped with the experience, resources and compassion required to help families navigate these challenges, ensuring every wish child can safely experience the hope and healing that a wish brings.
Every wish is tailored to meet the specific needs of the wish child based on their medical diagnosis. For some wish families, a wish may involve traveling for the first time, often with complex medical equipment, which can be overwhelming without support. Make-A-Wish eases these burdens by providing essential support, such as rented medical equipment on a travel wish or a medical addition, such as a lift to an aboveground pool. These accommodations make it possible for the wish child to fully enjoy their wish.
Make-A-Wish ensures the safety of each child during their wish experience by reviewing the child's wish request with their medical provider. This includes evaluating medical devices, prescriptions and any other medical needs to ensure the wish is appropriate and safe. Additionally, Make-A-Wish is supported by our dedicated board of medical advisers, consisting of Iowa pediatric physicians. Medical advisers support our staff in navigating medically complex discussions and considerations while reviewing wish requests. Make-A-Wish recognizes that not all wish experiences are medically appropriate for every wish child. Staff and volunteers work diligently to help brainstorm multiple wish ideas with the wish child to ensure an exciting and meaningful wish is pursued. The Make-A-Wish team prioritizes wish child safety above all else, which allows wish families to focus on enjoying their time together and creating joyful memories.
In addition to being well prepared prior to granting a child's wish, Make-A-Wish Iowa staff provides 24/7 emergency services to all families, addressing any medical emergencies or concerns that arise during the wish.
A wish to have:
A wish to go:
We give our thanks to those who referred children between Sept. 1, 2024–Aug. 31, 2025.
Make-A-Wish Iowa couldn't do the work we do without our incredible volunteers! We have over 275 active volunteers who grant wishes and assist in the wish discovery process. In addition, we have hundreds of volunteers across the state who give countless hours to help support our mission by assisting with special fundraising events, including galas, Wishes on Deck and other events. Volunteers are the backbone of our mission, and we are so grateful for them.
Whether you're new to volunteering or looking to jump back in, we're here to support you every step of the way. If you're interested in learning more about volunteering or need assistance to get back to granting wishes, please reach out to Diane Heckman, our volunteer wish discovery and relations manager, at dheckman@iowa.wish.org.
Diane will provide the tools you need to assist a wish child on their full wish journey. We'll guide you through any necessary paperwork and provide online refresher training. Depending on where you left off, we'll pair you with a mentor volunteer to assist with making it a successful, positive experience. Wish granting is such a powerful way to get hands-on with our mission. These precious kids and families are the strongest people we know. We would absolutely love to have you join us in volunteering!
Do you live in the Riverbend, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids or Sioux City area and want to get more involved? Contact us today at 515-334-2636 to learn how!
Life-changing wishes are funded by everyday people who take action to support children with critical illnesses. Monetary contributions are essential to making sure every eligible child in Iowa can have a transformational wish experience. Every gift, large or small, is crucial to bringing hope, strength, and joy to wish kids fighting their toughest battle.
| Fiscal Year 2024Year ended August 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue* | $4,863,731 |
| Total Expenses | $5,601,709 |
| *includes in-kind support | |
| Operating Expenses | |
|---|---|
| Wishgranting | $3,899,914 |
| Fundraising | $1,193,011 |
| Admin | $508,784 |
Only together can we reach every eligible child who is waiting for a wish in Iowa.
New events are popping up all over the state. Watch our Facebook page and website for events near you. To host an event benefitting Make-A-Wish Iowa, contact Chelsea Koenig at ckoenig@iowa.wish.org.
For more information and to purchase tickets to currently planned events, visit Wish.org/iowa/events.
November 2025
November 2025—January 2026
Des Moines, Iowa
December 2025
Eldridge, Iowa
March 7, 2026
Mason City, Iowa
April 18, 2026
Clinton, IA
April 25, 2026
Bettendorf, IA
May 9, 2026
Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines
Details coming soon
August 2026
DeWitt, Iowa
August 2026
Mason City, Iowa
August 2026
Elk Horn, Iowa
There are many ways to make an immediate impact; our Venmo and Amazon wish list are wonderful ways to participate. Thank you for your support!
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