I will soon be introducing a resolution designating April 29, 2026, as “World Wish Day” in Pennsylvania.

World Wish Day is an annual celebration to mark the anniversary of the first wish, which sparked the start of the organization known as the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As you may know, their mission is to make the wishes of critically ill children come true, and they have collectively granted more than 650,000 wishes worldwide with the help of donors and more than 27,000 volunteers. 

Make-A-Wish was inspired by Christopher James Greicius, a seven-year-old boy who was battling blood cancer and had a wish of becoming a police officer. On April 29, 1980, the Arizona Police Department granted young Christopher his wish, providing him with a uniform, helmet, and badge and taking him for a motorcycle proficiency test and helicopter ride. This honorable and touching event caught the attention of individuals who ultimately decided to form an organization with the main goal of granting wishes to children. A wish can be the spark that helps these children believe that anything is possible and gives them the strength to fight harder against their illnesses. Wishes have far-reaching, positive impacts on families and communities, as well as the children.

Currently, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has 57 chapters in the United States and is found in 50 countries and territories on six continents. Last fiscal year, 686 wishes were granted across Pennsylvania.

Please join me in recognizing April 29, 2026, as “World Wish Day” in Pennsylvania.