Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York

Delta Air Lines is helping wish kids like Darrien reach new heights! 🌟   For his wish trip, Darrien wanted to visit New York City, but he had one special request—to fly with Delta Air Lines! After spending a week in New York, Delta Air Lines gave him the VIP experience. He visited the Delta Sky Lounge, received a Delta goodie bag, and even got to sit in the front seat of the cockpit!   "The Delta Sky Club lounge was great. I also got a tour of the flight deck and the cockpit twice. My favorite part was the airport itself. They also gave me a lot of things from Delta, like a Delta backpack and a notebook that I can use as my diary. My absolute favorite is the Delta Air Line aircraft model they gave me. This is my favorite thing I can use." Said wish kid, Darrien!   Wishes would not be possible without the support of our corporate partners. Thank you to Delta Air Lines for helping Darrien's wish take off! ✈️💫 Make-A-Wish America Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area

Wish mom and volunteer Kate S. doesn't just seize opportunities to support Make-A-Wish—she creates them. As Marketing Manager of Insurance and Financial Services at AAA Northeast, Kate constantly finds ways to engage her coworkers and family and wish it forward after her daughter Jane's wish. 🌟 Kate shared that her daughter's wish trip to Disney World came at the end of her treatment for a brain tumor when she was three years old. For her family, Jane's wish represented closure and a fresh start. Kate decided to share her story with AAA's Charitable Giving Committee, which led to Make-A-Wish becoming one of their top charities. She joined the committee herself in 2019 and has since helped keep Make-A-Wish top of mind for those in her circle. One of Kate's core beliefs is that you don't have to have all the answers to get involved—anyone can contribute to making a difference. "Listen to what the needs are and get creative. Maybe you can't donate financially. Maybe time is a factor. So, think 'what else can I do?' Maybe you have a resource that can be used. Staying out there, getting creative, and using your network—you can bridge a path," Kate said. There are countless ways to get involved with Make-A-Wish, and Kate's role as a Long Island Advisory Board Member, wish mom, and AAA Charitable Giving Committee member is proof that impact can look different for every community member. If you're looking to create your own ways to get involved, visit https://bit.ly/4dDyn9I.

Here at Make-A-Wish Metro and Western New York, our mission is to grant life-changing wishes to all eligible children. In a region that speaks 800 languages, we strive to provide families with highly accurate and comprehensive information in their native language. Thanks to our bilingual volunteers like Sami Shaker, we can create an equitable and inclusive Make-A-Wish experience for everyone.   Sami has been a wish volunteer for ten years and has recently added a new role focused on translating Wish Alumni documents from English to Arabic. "I want to help comfort and cheer children and families suffering from critical illness," said Sami. By helping us reach more Arabic-speaking families in the Metro New York area, Sami is excited to help families "create happy, joyful memories together."   This translation project is part of our ongoing efforts to continually improve and better serve our community. Sami is ensuring that our Arabic-speaking families receive the most accurate translated documents, and we need your help to reach our other top languages. When we can communicate in a family’s preferred language, we’re not just granting a wish—we’re fostering trust, breaking down barriers, and ensuring that every child feels seen, heard, and valued. To become a bilingual volunteer and help us connect with more families, visit the link below to get started. https://bit.ly/3Mdf1w2

Calling all wish families and friends! Celebrate the end of summer and back-to-school with CompletePlayground! CompletePlayground is the first nonprofit Inclusive Center for children of all needs and abilities, located in the heart of Lower Manhattan at 30 Broad St. Whether it's developmental programs like Martial Arts, Yoga, Occupational Therapy, Arts and Crafts, or enjoying the sensory play area featuring a multi-level obstacle maze, interactive games, gymnastics areas, a climbing wall, a bouncy house, trampolines, and a LEGO room—this is a playground for all kids of all abilities and backgrounds. Interested in an open play night or hosting your birthday party at CompletePlayground? 💫 Use code WISHPLAY for 50% off Open Play Passes on weekdays. 💫 Use code WISH100 for $100 off Birthday Parties. Codes are valid until September 30th for our followers to explore this amazing Inclusive Center where all kids can play, learn, and thrive! Visit https://bit.ly/3WNTkrj for more information.

Help us grant wishes this summer with the New York Liberty! 🏀🗽✨ In a new partnership with the Barclays Center, we invite you and your network to cheer on the New York Liberty this summer while helping to grant wishes! By using the link https://lnkd.in/dv_8m4D9, $10 from every ticket sale will go back to Make-A-Wish Metro New York. Whether attending with your family, friends, or colleagues, we hope you can make it out to Barclays Center this summer! 

For National Nonprofit Day, we wanted to take a moment and recognize our 58 chapters operating in communities across the U.S. and its territories 💙 These chapters work day in and day out to grant wishes. Through working with local partners, organizing volunteers, or hosting wish families, our chapters are committed to helping us achieve our shared mission – creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Together, we are able to grant wishes every 33 minutes on average. That is something worth celebrating 🤩 Let us know the chapter you volunteer with, support, or work at 🤝

What a day! We can't thank The Brady Hunter Foundation enough for giving three wish alumni the chance to participate in their FAO Schwarz event with The Anthony Rizzo Foundation. A wish kid's Make-A-Wish journey doesn't end when their wish is granted. Through our Wish It Forward Program, we strive to keep our wish families engaged and connected within the alumni community. For more opportunities like this one, wish families can visit https://bit.ly/3YOCyLc to learn how to stay involved!

We are thrilled to continue our partnerships with companies on Long Island to grant wishes for kids with critical illnesses across the Metro New York region. Thank you, COBS Bread for your support in making wishes a reality for children in our community!

Wishing for the perfect back-to-school outfit? Ralph Lauren has you covered with a special Back-to-School Sale this weekend! Stop by the Manhasset, Madison Ave, and East Hampton Polo stores and mention you're shopping for Make-A-Wish - 10% of your purchase will be donated to make life-changing wishes come true! Select locations will also be giving away special back-to-school gear, including notebooks, locker mirrors, and more! We'll see you at a participating Ralph Lauren store this weekend!

Today is #InternationalYouthDay, a day that celebrates young people and their impact on the world. This year's theme focuses on technology and digital development and wish kid Hope is the future of STEM! Hope was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at birth, but despite her health challenges, she has remained focused on her goal of becoming a computer scientist. When asked about her wish, she knew right away that she wanted to develop her own app and visit Apple Headquarters in Cupertino, California. “I was fascinated by the cool gadgets that Apple makes and would like to get an early experience of what it’s like to work as a computer scientist/programmer,” Hope said. At Apple Headquarters, Hope received advice for her future career from Apple executives and left with a handful of Apple products. Wishes like Hope's inspire kids with critical illnesses to look to the future. "[Her wish] has given her even more determination to work towards her goal," said Hope's mom. You can read more impact stories about future leaders like Hope by visiting https://bit.ly/3SHWb3S!