About

The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Sacramento and Northeastern California is a charitable nonprofit organization whose purpose is to grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Our chapter serves 24 Nothern California Counties: Alpine, Modoc, Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, Tehama, Plumas, Glenn, Butte, Sierra, Nevada, Colusa, Yuba, Sutter, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sacramento, Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Mono.

Through the last few years, we’ve seen tremendous growth in the number of wishes granted. Current wish cash costs average $5,000.

How many wishes are granted?
This year, our chapter will grant approximately 230 wishes. Approximately 100 of these wishes are funded through our Annual Winter Wine & Food Fest. We also host additional wishes for children from other states visiting Northern California for a special wish experience. Nationwide, more than 161,000 wishes have been granted.

What is your vision?
The vision of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® is that people everywhere will “share the power of a wish®.”

How did Make-A-Wish begin?

In 1980, a 7-year-old Phoenix boy named Chris who had leukemia inspired the founding of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. A group of officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety granted his wish to be a police officer by giving him a custom-made uniform, helmet, badge — even a helicopter ride! The young boy’s delight in having his wish granted inspired his family and friends to form an organization which would grant special wishes of other children.

How are you structured?
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America was founded to charter local chapters throughout the United States and its territories. Today, there are 67 U.S. chapters and we can be found in 30 countries on five continents. Each chapter raises and spends its own funds, serving the children in its own territory. Chapters also host families from other states.

When did your chapter start?
The Sacramento & Northeastern California chapter was incorporated in 1983. It serves 24 counties in Northeastern California, from Modoc County to Stanislaus County.

Who is eligible?
We grant the wishes of medically eligible children who:

• have been diagnosed with a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that has placed the child’s life in jeopardy;
• are older than 2½ and younger than 18 (at the time of referral);
• haven’t received a wish from another wish-granting organization.

The child’s physician determines whether a child is medically eligible to receive a wish.

Who makes a wish referral?
A child may be referred by a healthcare professional, a parent or guardian or the child himself/herself. If the initial call comes from someone other than the parents or guardians, we ask that the parents or guardians be encouraged to call directly on behalf of their own child.

How does someone make a wish referral?
To refer a child, call our office at (888)828-9474 or (916)437-0206 or visit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America web site at www.wish.org.

Does the family’s financial status matter?
No, economic background does not affect whether a child is eligible for a wish.

What if a family does not want publicity?
We respect and protect a child’s and family’s right to privacy. Publicity will never be sought without permission, and a family may decline publicity at any time.

Chapter History
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Sacramento & Northeastern California was founded in 1983.  Since that time, the chapter has granted more than 3,500 wishes. While the Foundation follows the policies and guidelines of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America, it operates as a separate 501 (c) 3 organization. All funds raised by our chapter are used to fulfill our mission in the 24 Northeastern California counties we serve.

Chapter General Information
The Sacramento & Northeastern California chapter’s fiscal year is September 1 – August 31. Incorporated in the state of California, the chapter’s Board of Directors governs the Foundation while day-to-day operations are supervised by the CEO and staff. Each year, the Board sets strategic goals and objectives and completes a Business Plan to map future growth.