Community Provides the Power of Hope to Children with Critical Illnesses

Wish kid Allison writes a letter to Santa during a Macy’s Believe campaign

The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on everyone, particularly children. Everything from online to hybrid learning, canceled activities and sporting events, to mask wearing and delayed vaccines has taken a toll on kids and teens.

No one has felt the impact as much as children battling critical illnesses.

16-year-old wish kid Markus takes the driver’s seat in his new pontoon boat.

Due to their compromised immune systems, these kids have been isolated from many of the people they love and unable to go to their favorite places or enjoy beloved activities.

Even visits to the doctor’s office have become more stressful as encouraging smiles have been replaced by mask-wearing faces.

5-year-old Madison enjoys a new swing during her wish reveal for a backyard play area.

Throughout it all, the community has been a beacon of hope for the wish kids served by Make-A-Wish^® Colorado.

Despite uncertainties with hybrid learning, students at more than 125 schools throughout Colorado planned Wish Week activities during the 2020-21 school year and found creative ways to engage wish kids virtually.

Hundreds of volunteers rallied to support events like Walk For Wishes, the Hope Is Essential fundraising campaign and car parades for wish kids. And employees from corporate partners went out of their way to create and deliver special gifts to wish kids waiting for wishes.

Landrey, aged 7, looks forward to many football games on his backyard field.

All of Make-A-Wish Colorado’s supporters understand the power of a wish. It is the power of imagination, the power of joy, the power of community and most importantly, the power of hope.

As the holiday season approaches, Make-A-Wish Colorado has several ways in which the community can get involved to power even more wishes.

• Kick off the holidays by purchasing a ticket to the 33rd annual Champagne Cascade at the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa on Nov. 21st. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Colorado.
• Schedule a donation for Colorado Gives Day on December 7th. As part of this campaign, eligible nonprofits receive an additional contribution from the $1 Million Incentive Fund based on the percentage of the total donations they receive. 
• Take the family to the Christmas In Color drive-thru animated light show taking place at both Water World and Bandimere Speedway Nov. 19th thru Jan. 2nd. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to Make-A-Wish.
• Write a letter to Santa and send it online or drop it off in-store at a Macy’s red letterbox between Nov. 1st and Dec. 24th. As part of the 14th annual Macy’s Believe campaign, $1 will be donated to Make-A-Wish for every letter to Santa. During National Believe Week, Nov. 28-Dec. 4, Macy’s doubles their donation to $2 per letter, providing up to $2 million throughout the Believe campaign.
• Start an online fundraising page as part of the Families For Wishes holiday campaign, which runs from Nov. 30th to Dec. 31st and celebrates wish families currently waiting for their wish to be granted. 

Join the Make-A-Wish Colorado community and help shine a beacon of hope for children with critical illnesses this holiday season!