When a child is dealing with a life threatening illness, even with a strong support team, the battle can feel like an unfathomable and lonely task, with any ray of hope a godsend. Enter A Wish Come True, a RI-based service that grants wishes for kids ages 3 to 18 who are dealing with a life threatening illness, to give those kids and their family a cherished memory and a respite from thinking about their disease.
A Wish Come True, a 501 (c) (3) organization, was founded in 1982 and is the oldest wish granting organization in Rhode Island. “We exist to grant that ‘one memorable wish’ for medically qualified children,” Wish Coordinator Beverly Molles explains.
Chosen wishes include vacations (with Disney being the most popular), shopping sprees, attending a sporting event and meeting a celebrity. Some children know what they want right away while others need some time to think about it, so volunteer wish granters visit the child to discuss the chosen wish or guide the child in choosing one. Once a decision is made, Molles carefully plans a wonderful and unforgettable experience.
Families don’t have to pay a penny for their experience, so to fund their wishes, the agency relies on fundraising events, wish sponsors, donations and grants, as well as the United Way and Combined Federal campaigns. Annual events A Wish Come True host include the Polar Plunge (at noon on New Year’s Day at Easton’s Beach in Newport) and a charity ball.
A Wish Come True has a strong presence on Facebook, which they use to build a pool of volunteers. Volunteers help with fundraising, office work and wish granting. They are passionate about their mission. “The fruits of our labor are always seen with the smiles we see on the photos of the wish children who have returned from their wish,” Molles says. “It brings us great joy knowing that we have made an impact.”
A Wish Come True is located at 1010 Warwick Ave in Warwick. Call 401-781-9199 or email awish@awishcometrue.org for more information or check out their website at awish.org and their Facebook page at facebook.com/awishcometrueAWCT
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