Over the past 40 years, Make-A-Wish has changed the lives of more than half a million families—more than 7,000 of which were located in Central and Northern Florida.
Regardless of the size of each wish, we rely on support from the community to fulfill our mission to “create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.”
Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida® is always in need of individuals with a desire to make a difference. Whether you’re interested in volunteering, becoming a donor, or attending one of our events, here’s how to support Make-A-Wish and transform lives.
Why Support Make-A-Wish?
While every family deals with their own set of struggles, day-to-day life is much more challenging for those with critically ill children. In addition to dealing with typical parenting issues, these families are also battling life-threatening conditions, doctor’s appointments, hospital stays, and debilitating side effects.
By granting a wish, Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida is able to give back to these deserving children, giving them hope, joy, purpose, and the strength to fight.
For these children, granted wishes offer so much more than a room makeover, family trip, or shopping spree. Studies have shown that wishes have a remarkable impact on a child’s mental health. In fact, doctors frequently report that granted wishes make children more compliant with treatment and even increase their chances of survival.
Plus, when you lend your support to this worthy cause, you’re also making a valuable contribution to your local community. Whether you volunteer or attend an event, you’re helping connect deserving families with those in the community who have the power to change their lives.
How To Support Make-A-Wish Jacksonville
One of the best things about supporting Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida is that there are so many ways to help!
Whether you’re a corporation, sorority or fraternity, or just an individual with a heart for making a difference, here are 5 ways you can support Make-A-Wish.
1. Donate
One of the easiest ways to support Make-A-Wish is by making a one-time or monthly donation. Any amount is helpful and appreciated!
You can even ask that your contribution be used locally, to benefit the Central and Northern regions of Florida.
However, did you know that we also accept in-kind donations? Make-A-Wish accepts stocks, airline miles, hotel loyalty points, vehicles, building materials, and more.
You can also become a corporate sponsor through our Champions of Hope program.
2. Start a Fundraiser
When it comes to starting a Make-A-Wish fundraiser, the only limit is your imagination!
Set up a lemonade stand, start a bake sale, or ask for donations in lieu of gifts for an upcoming birthday or wedding. Make-A-Wish will provide the website to make contributions simple and secure.
Create even more buzz by hosting your own event. Use your existing social media following by hosting a charity stream. You can even Adopt-a-Wish to choose exactly how your donation is used.
3. Purchase From Our Partners
Another easy way to support Make-A-Wish is by making purchases through some of our corporate partners.
These companies make donations to Make-A-Wish when you purchase certain products. It’s an easy way to put that shopping experience to good use. And if you want to share a love for Disney while supporting Make-A-Wish, consider purchasing a Disney specialty license plate.
Follow us on Facebook for more information about local promotions.
4. Attend an Event
At Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida, our events allow us to build awareness, raise money, and—most importantly—celebrate our incredible Wish Kids!
While there are multiple externally hosted events throughout the year, the Jacksonville Walk For Wishes and the Wishmaker’s Ball are our keystone events, helping raise more than $1 million every year.
The Walk For Wishes is a fun event perfect for the family, while our signature gala, the Wishmaker’s Ball is an excellent way to go out while giving back.
5. Volunteer
For those who are looking for a more “hands on” approach, consider one of our many volunteer opportunities!
- Welcome Caller – Welcome children into the Make-A-Wish program with a welcome call.
- Wish Discovery Volunteer – Help critically ill children determine their wish and complete the relevant paperwork.
- Wish Enhancement Volunteer – Help reveal the selected wish to the child with a party.
- Events Volunteer – Help at events and assist with granting wishes.
- Office Volunteer – Assist with various office-related tasks, such as filing or writing notes to Wish Families.
- Skills Based Volunteer – We grant a wide range of wishes and are always looking for qualified volunteers to offer building, graphic design, photography, and more.
Help Us Spark Joy
Sometimes, it takes a community to change one life. By donating, starting a fundraiser, attending an event, or volunteering, you can play a part in granting a wish for a critically ill child in Jacksonville.
Wishes don’t just act as a distraction, they provide noticeable mental health benefits for our Wish Kids and their families.
If you’re looking for a way to support a great cause such as Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida, we’d love to hear from you! Visit our website for more information.
