Each team member exemplifies our values, which are integrity, child focus, excellence, community and inspiration. Hopefully, you have seen the elements of those throughout this annual report. The side of our work that doesn't always rise to the top of the conversation is the business side of the house. While we are a nonprofit, it is essential that we focus on key metrics, monitor our finances and have long-term projections to ensure we can find and grant the wish of every eligible child in Iowa.
Read MoreThe work behind the mission at Make-A-Wish Iowa is full of heart and energy. Each team member exemplifies our values, which are integrity, child focus, excellence, community and inspiration. Hopefully, you have seen the elements of those throughout this annual report. The side of our work that doesn't always rise to the top of the conversation is the business side of the house. While we are a nonprofit, it is essential that we focus on key metrics, monitor our finances and have long-term projections to ensure we can find and grant the wish of every eligible child in Iowa.
In the fiscal year 2022 (September 1, 2021, through August 31, 2022), I am so proud of the work that our entire team accomplished with the granting of 151 wishes. We had projected that we would be able to grant 150, and we beat it! This might not sound difficult to you, but each child's medical journey needs and wish creation come in a variety of forms and speak to the individual, unique nature of each child. Because of this, several factors, including funding, materials and time, all contribute to the timeline of granting wishes.
An additional layer to the wishes we granted in FY 2022 is that out of the 151 wishes, 15 were emergency wishes. These are the wishes where our team drops everything and works incredibly hard to get the wish granted as soon as possible. A child might move into an emergency category for many reasons such as a change in their medical needs or physical abilities. The medical community that refers the children to us helps keep us informed on the child's needs and how to ensure we can grant a wish that is impactful and timely.
With the insightful coordination of our staff and the incredible support of our statewide volunteers, we have 352 Wishes in Waiting. It truly does take a community-sized effort to see each wish through. You can see the maps further down the page that show both the wishes that were granted in FY 2022, and also the 167 newly eligible children that were introduced to us during that time period.
Simple math will tell you that as an organization we have to flip these numbers around and grant more wishes. Through careful business modeling, statewide census data and historical data, the board has agreed to a strategy that the organization must move to grant 225 wishes annually and sustainably over the next five years. This will not happen overnight; we will be working toward it in FY 2023, by striving to grant nearly 200 wishes.
Please consider joining us on this journey with your time, talent, or treasure to help us make an impact on these children's lives. Every individual can make a direct impact, and we can't do it without you. Each one of us has a responsibility to rise to the occasion and help bring hope to our wish kids when they need it most.
Sincerely,
Sara Kurovski
President & CEO
Make-A-Wish Iowa
91 wish to have:
54 wish to go:
1 wish to be:
1 wish to give:
4 wish to meet:
A child's journey with Make-A-Wish doesn't end when their wish is granted! After their wish has been delivered, they join a community of over 4,000 wish alumni and families across the state. Through this program, wish alumni can build relationships with other alumni and families, participate in unique experiences and express their gratitude by ensuring the next child receives their wish.
Share your story
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.
I wish to have a shopping spree
Ahnna, 7
heart transplant
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Aila, 7
cancer
I wish to go to Hawaii
Alexandria, 20
leukemia
I wish to go to Washington D.C.
Alleigh, 9
cancer
I wish to have a She Shed
Amy, 17
brain tumor
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Angela, 19
leukemia
I wish to have a shopping spree at Mall of America
Anna, 15
brain tumor
I wish to have an online shopping spree
Antonio, 16
cancer
I wish to have a swimming pool
Aurora, 6
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Hawaii
Autumn, 17
kidney transplant
I wish to be a princess at Walt Disney World® Resort
Ava, 9
heart condition
I wish to have a movie room
Ava, 9
blood disorder
I wish to have a travel trailer
Ayden, 3
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have a cabin in the backyard
Benjamin, 12
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have a golf cart
Brady, 7
nervous system disorder
I wish to have technology to become a YouTuber
Brandon, 9
neuromuscular disorder
I wish to go to a reptile zoo and deep sea fishing in the Florida Keys
Brayton, 10
brain tumor
I wish to go to Hawaii
Briahna, 15
heart condition
I wish to have a playset
Brogan, 9
leukemia
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Camden, 8
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Seattle, Washington
Christopher, 18
cancer
I wish to go to a comic book convention San Diego
Clara, 14
cancer
I wish to have a backyard oasis
Cody, 14
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to the Florida theme parks
Cole, 10
leukemia
I wish to have power tools to fill my workshop
Cole, 15
cancer
I wish to go to St. Louis, Missouri
Connor, 10
nervous system disorder
I wish to have a shopping spree
Devin, 11
leukemia
I wish to have a shopping spree at Mall of America
Elijah, 5
leukemia
I wish to have college tuition
Eliot, 18
neuromuscular disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Emma, 10
autoimmune disorder
I wish to have an online shopping spree
Gabriel, 19
cancer
I wish to go on a fishing trip
Gerald, 10
lymphoma
I wish to have a fishing boat
Hallie, 4
cancer
I wish to have a shopping spree
Hannes, 15
lymphoma
I wish to go to Hawaii
Hunter, 21
blood disorder
I wish to go to the Georgia Aquarium
Isaiah, 10
leukemia
I wish to have a travel trailer
Isla, 6
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Jaden, 18
nervous system disorder
I wish to have a shopping spree
Jamaal, 20
lymphoma
I wish to have a travel trailer
Jarin, 15
genetic disorder
I wish to have a hot tub
Javi, 5
nervous system disorder
I wish to have a travel trailer
Jaylee, 4
heart transplant
I wish to have an online shopping spree
Jesse, 17
cancer
I wish to go to Hawaii
Julia, 15
endocrine disorder
I wish to have a travel trailer
Kahrsen, 10
cancer
I wish to go to an award show
Karly, 19
brain tumor
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Kolton, 3
metabolic disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Kyndall, 8
blood disorder
I wish to have a travel trailer
Leah, 9
leukemia
I wish to have a golf cart
Lincoln, 7
nervous system disorder
I wish to have a travel trailer
Lindo, 4
respiratory failure
I wish to have a travel trailer
Logan, 3
genetic disorder
I wish to have a wheelchair accessible golf cart
Madison, 9
nervous system disorder
I wish to have an inclusive play area
Margaret, 5
nervous system disorder
I wish to have a swimming pool
Mason, 11
nervous system disorder
I wish to give a trip to Walt Disney World® Resort to my sister Lexi
Mason, 13
rare disease
I wish to meet my favorite soccer player
Mayla, 15
cancer
I wish to have a Florida beach vacation
McKenzie, 6
leukemia
I wish to have a travel trailer
Meghan, 18
end-stage kidney disease
I wish to have a patio and wheelchair swing
Miles, 7
nervous system disorder
I wish to have a shopping spree
Miracle, 9
cancer
I wish to have an Action Trackchair
Morgan, 8
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Florida to in a beach house
Moses, 8
leukemia
I wish to have a shopping spree
Mykela, 8
genetic disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Nora, 3
brain tumor
I wish to have a playset
Oaklyn, 4
congenital heart disease
I wish to have a golf cart
Owen, 13
cancer
I wish to have a hot tub
Pierce, 11
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Hawaii
Raylin, 19
leukemia
I wish to have a swimming pool
RayShard, 16
autoimmune disorder
I wish to have an online shopping spree
Ross, 17
cancer
I wish to have ghost hunting equipment
Samuel, 15
lymphoma
I wish to go to cheer championship in Orlando
Savannah, 15
leukemia
I wish to go to Universal Studios to see Harry Potter World
Sean, 12
cystic fibrosis
I wish to have a shopping spree at the Mall of America
Sophia, 11
brain tumor
I wish to have a travel trailer
Tobin, 4
nervous system disorder
I wish to have a 3D printer
Trevor, 16
brain tumor
I wish to go to dude ranch in Colorado
Westen, 5
autoimmune disorder
If you want to share your wish photos and experience, fill out the Wish Bio Form.
Wish Bio Form
I wish to go to Hawaii
Abigail, 18
congenital heart disease
I wish to go to Discovery Cove to swim with dolphins
Aiden, 8
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Andrew, 7
genetic disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Austin, 6
brain tumor
I wish to have an online shopping spree
Brenna, 20
leukemia
I wish to go to Hawaii
Brynn, 19
lymphoma
I wish to have a travel trailer
Catelyn, 16
cancer
I wish to go to Legoland in San Diego
Charles, 6
blood disorder
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Charles, 13
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Charlie, 3
metabolic disorder
I wish to have a shopping spree
Christian, 17
nervous system disorder
I wish to have a shopping spree
Deng, 14
leukemia
I wish to have a playset
Dominic, 10
cancer
I wish to have a playset
Elijah, 6
kidney transplant
I wish to go to a national park
Ella, 18
cancer
I wish to have a shopping spree
Farah, 17
cancer
I wish to meet Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World® Resort
Gael, 5
leukemia
I wish to have a kitten
Gracelyn, 9
cancer
I wish to go to Hawaii
Gray, 6
nervous system disorder
I wish to have a travel trailer
Hannah, 8
bone marrow transplant
I wish to have a travel trailer
Harper, 10
cancer
I wish to have a hot tub
Jackson, 5
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Harry Potter World
Jacquelyn, 17
Huntington's disease
I wish to have a playset
Jamisyn, 4
cancer
I wish to have electronics and comfortable seating to spend time with family
Jesco, 3
cancer
I wish to have a cabin
Joey, 17
heart condition
I wish to have a gaming computer
Kaleb, 13
lymphoma
I wish to have an online shopping spree
Kayleeanna, 14
brain tumor
I wish to go to Hawaii
Kiersten, 18
neuromuscular disorder
I wish to have a travel trailer
Leighton, 12
leukemia
I wish to go to Colorado
Liberty, 16
cancer
I wish to have a travel trailer
Mia, 5
leukemia
I wish to have a travel trailer
Natalie, 11
cystic fibrosis
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Olivia, 15
kidney transplant
I wish to have an online shopping spree
Rose, 16
nervous system disorder
I wish to go to Harry Potter World
Taylor, 16
endocrine disorder
I wish to have a UTV
Travis, 21
congenital heart disease
I wish to have a swimming pool
Wesley, 4
leukemia
I wish to go to Walt Disney World®
Westyn, 6
cancer
I wish to meet my favorite singer
Zenab, 20
respiratory disorder
In-kind donations are a vital component of creating life-changing experiences for our wish kids. Since 2020, our organization has seen an increase in gift wishes. In-kind gifts help reduce the costs of wish experience, allowing for more wishes to be granted.
Show MoreIn-kind donations are a vital component of creating life-changing experiences for our wish kids. Since 2020, our organization has seen an increase in gift wishes. In-kind gifts help reduce the costs of wish experience, allowing for more wishes to be granted.
Camping World is a significant in-kind partner for our travel trailer wishes. Patrick Plumley, a salesman with the Cedar Falls location, goes above and beyond on each travel trailer wish. With the help of Make-A-Wish Iowa's Wish Managers, Patrick learns the interests of each child and hunts for the perfect wish enhancements to make their experience that much more special. He takes his time decorating the trailers and has given so many gifts to wish children, like a new bike to wish kid Isla. In addition to sparking joy at reveals, Patrick checks in with families to answer any questions. Thank you, Patrick and Camping World, for your commitment to creating lifelong memories for the children you work with!
Our organization has also seen an increase in construction wishes. While these wishes are extremely rewarding, they can also be complex and time-consuming. We could not grant these wishes without the help of community partners like The Weitz Company.
“The Make-A-Wish experience gives more back to our team than we will ever be able to give the kids. Being able to use our building skills to bring their vision to life is a rewarding task to give some levity to families facing overwhelming barriers,” said Vince Ward, Business Development Director at The Weitz Company.
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!
The Weitz Company worked with Ben to make his wish of a dragon lair come to life! “These families are going through a lot of challenges daily. It is great to know we can provide an escape right in their backyard to have some fun in the playhouses we have built.” Troy Randolph, Senior Project Superintendent, The Weitz Company.
Everyone went above and beyond to make the day so special for her. The new bike, the helmet, the barbie camper, and the actual camper. It was all amazing!! And she also did not hardly take the helmet off for the entire rest of the day/night.
For a child that has had to deal with hospitalizations, doctors' appointments, daily treatments, and an insane amount of medications since she was two weeks old, this was such a wonderful thing to have for her and let her know that she is special and deserving of having a wish. A smile was on her face from the moment we woke up and she knew it was her wish day. She could not wait to get to Camping World and get her camper! We do a family campout every year and she has had to stay with Grandma and Grandpa because she needed the hookups and electricity for her equipment. Now we can go on our own as a family when we want and meet up with the whole family!
She can't wait for all the future adventures we can have as a family thanks to all of you. Thank you for making our girl feel so special and taking her mind off of cystic fibrosis for the day. Thank you for the smiles and memories that will last a lifetime. This experience was beyond amazing. Please know how amazing you all are for being a part of it!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”
Every child fighting a critical illness in Iowa should have the opportunity to find hope, strength and joy through a wish. With more children waiting in our state than ever before, we need your help to fulfill this mission.
Show MoreEvery child fighting a critical illness in Iowa should have the opportunity to find hope, strength and joy through a wish. With more children waiting in our state than ever before, we need your help to fulfill this mission.
Making a gift to one of our Wishes Forever Funds will ensure our vision lives on in perpetuity. Once the fund reaches $300,000, it will generate approximately a $15,000 drawdown every year to fund a wish for a child in Iowa. State endowment tax credits are available when donating to this local fund.
We are growing community endowment funds across the state of Iowa including the Humboldt County Community Foundation, Marion Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and Quad Cities Community Foundation.
Thank you to all who have contributed to these funds to support life-changing wishes.
For more information about how to make a gift to a Wishes Forever Fund, please visit: wish.org/iowa/wishes-forever-fund
There is a true feeling of satisfaction and relief when your hard work in the field turns into a bountiful harvest. The ways and means by which each year's yield benefits your family, community and nation are limitless. And now, Make-A-Wish Iowa is offering one more way you can make an impact on the children fighting critical illnesses — one of these children could be your neighbor.
Show MoreYour harvest yields their wishes.
Make-A-Wish® Iowa is proud to introduce Harvesting Wishes.
There is a true feeling of satisfaction and relief when your hard work in the field turns into a bountiful harvest. The ways and means by which each year's yield benefits your family, community and nation are limitless. And now, Make-A-Wish Iowa is offering one more way you can make an impact on the children fighting critical illnesses — one of these children could be your neighbor.
Introducing Harvesting Wishes — a new way for you to fuel hope to the nearly 400 kids waiting for a wish in Iowa.
Every eligible child deserves an opportunity for a life-changing wish to give them the strength, resilience and courage they need to fight harder. The recently released 2022 Wish Impact Study provided quantitative data that shows how wish fulfillment promotes mental and emotional well-being for children and their families. Now, your harvest can not only be fuel for our bodies as well as other energy sources — it can fuel hope.
A wish experience is more than a moment in time and of those surveyed, 94% of parents recalled seeing improvements in their child's emotional well-being, so much so that 91% of parents reported the wish gave their child a better chance of surviving their illness. Through Harvesting Wishes, we ask you to consider donating an amount of your harvest, to a wish that is waiting in your community. The process is simple when working with your local elevator and you can take advantage of tax opportunities as well. Learn more about this process by visiting www.wish.org/iowa/harvestingwishes.
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
