How is a child referred for a wish?
There are several ways to refer a child to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. You can call 888.857.9474. Referrals can be made using the Online Referral Form on our national site or a referral information packet can be sent to your home by emailing lziske@wishmich.org or mveltema@wishmich.org.
Who can refer a child?
Eligible children can be referred by a parent or legal guardian or by a medical professional involved in their care. We also accept self-referrals by children who contact us directly.
How is eligibility determined?
To be eligible for a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a child must be between the ages of 2½ and 18-years-old at the time of referral and have a life-threatening medical condition that will be verified by their physician. Any child who has already been granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation or another wish-granting organization is not eligible for a second wish.
Is a child who has already received a wish from another organization eligible for a Make-A-Wish Foundation wish?
Children who have had previous wishes granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation or by other wish-granting organizations are not eligible for a second wish.
Does the family's financial status matter?
No. It is only the child's medical condition that determines eligibility for a wish. We understand that even financially comfortable families have neither the time nor the emotional energy to plan their child's wish experience or a dream vacation while meeting the demands of medical treatment schedules and other day-to-day responsibilities of their child's medical condition. And sometimes a child's wish is for something money cannot buy . . . meeting a favorite celebrity, becoming CEO for a day, or carrying the Olympic torch.
Can we count on Make-A-Wish Foundation to protect the child's privacy?
Make-A-Wish Foundation respects the privacy of the children and families it serves. All medical information is considered confidential and is not discussed with outside parties unless it is required for the wish and the child's parent(s) or guardian(s) have given their consent.
