Make-A-Wish New Jersey

This weekend, our National Corporate Partner, Kendra Scott, will be celebrating the Grand Opening of their newest location in the Cherry Hill Mall! From Friday, November 2nd to Sunday, November 4th, 20% of sales in store and online (use code GIVEBACK-MAWNJ at checkout) will come back to Make-A-Wish New Jersey in support of our mission and granting wishes to every eligible child. There will be an in-store celebration on Saturday, November 3rd from 1:00pm – 4:00pm with light refreshments, music and Make-A-Wish representatives. Come celebrate with us and check out our signature collection!

Happy Diwali from all of us at Make-A-Wish New Jersey! 🪔✨ As we celebrate the festival of lights, we are reminded of the power of hope, joy, and new beginnings. Just as Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, our wish kids and their families experience moments of light and strength through the wishes we grant. This Diwali, let's come together to shine even brighter, bringing more hope and happiness to children facing critical illnesses. Every wish granted is a beacon of hope that inspires dreams and changes lives. Wishing you a joyous and prosperous Diwali filled with love, laughter, and light.

Happy Halloween! 🎃 Tell us: if you could wish “to be” anything, what would you choose? 🤔❓ Wish kids love to imagine the possibilities – and we believe the hope and joy of a wish gives them an edge in fighting their critical illnesses.

Upon returning from her wish trip to Disney, Alice told us that she couldn’t be happier and felt blessed to have been able to create all the memories she and her family made. Alice loved having breakfast in Give Kids the World Village and said her favorite experiences were meeting the dinosaur in Jurassic Park, the Animal Kingdom Safari ride, the Pandora ride and the fireworks in Epcot.

For her wish, Grace spent her18th birthday in Hawaii with her family, happy to move on from a year that was filled with medical treatments, to now making memories that would last a lifetime. Grace's favorite part of her wish was seeing dolphins as she wants to work with animals when she grows up. Grace loved the birthday cake that was given to her at her own luau along with her days spent hiking, swimming at a waterfall, ziplining, and parasailing.

Planning your fall activities? Athletic events? Bake stands with cider donuts? A birthday fundraiser? They are all great ways to make wishes come true for kids like Ethan! Set up your online fundraiser today at nj.wish.org/wishyourway.

Today is Spina Bifida Awareness Day. According to the CDC's National Spina Bifida Patient Registry, 21% of people with spina bifida are between the ages of 13 and 18. If you know a child diagnosed with Spina Bifida, they may be eligible to receive a life-changing wish. Visit wish.org/refer to learn more.

Meet Kale, a cancer fighter who hopes to be a diplomat one day. For his wish, Kale knew he wanted to go to New York and visit the United Nations Building. “Going through chemotherapy gets very dark at times,” Kale said. His wish was a “beacon of hope.” Kale received a behind-the-scenes tour and even recorded an interview with a staff member. When asked to share a message with peers, Kale said: “Be in service of others, be helpful and be kind.” Visit wish.org for more hope-filled stories. @Make-A-Wish America @Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties

Lights, camera, action! Wish Kid Ariella and her dad walked down the iconic Shark Tank hallway and met the Sharks to practice-pitch Ariella’s children’s book written about auto immune diseases “written by a kid for a kid.” A great idea! Ariella communicated how she found a market that was untapped. All books on auto immune diseases were medical text that a child couldn’t understand. Ariella’s goal is that her book will help kids understand medical terms and procedures better, empowering them to have a bigger voice in their medical journey. The Sharks loved it! Especially, when Ariella’s attention grabber was an ode to Shark, Mark Cuban’s, basketball team The Mavericks. She even got a standing ovation from Mark after that one. Ariella said multiple times throughout the day that this was “the best day of her life!” She and her whole family were very grateful for the experience.

Did you know that it’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week? Right now, is a great time to create or revise your estate plan, to build a foundation for loved ones that stands in solidarity with the charitable missions closest to your heart. At Make-A-Wish New Jersey, we believe that a wish granted is a catalyst for renewed hope, strength, and joy. Consider consulting your trusted advisor or visiting our partners at FreeWill (https://bit.ly/mawnj_nepaw) to create a legacy that offers hope and healing to children with critical illnesses in the years to come!