Make-A-Wish® Wyoming Grants 500th Wish For Wyoming Children

Evansville wish child Elizabel celebrates the granting of her wish to go to Hawaii. Elizabel is the 500th child to have a wish granted by Make-A-Wish Wyoming since 1985.

CASPER – Make-A-Wish® Wyoming recently granted its 500th wish of children who are battling life-threatening medical conditions.

Make-A-Wish held a send-off party last weekend for 13-year-old Elizabel of Evansville, who was diagnosed with a carcinoid tumor. Her wish is to visit Hawaii and see the volcanoes.

Elizabel is the 500th child to receive a wish from the organization, which granted its first wish in 1985 when 10-year-old Brian of Gillette wished for a BMX bike.

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During the last 30 years, Make-A-Wish Wyoming has granted a variety of wishes for children around the state including wishes to:

Have a playset, hockey rink, computer equipment, bedroom makeover, shopping spree, hairless cat, camper, race car bed and a birthday party

Be a pop star, cowboy, zookeeper and a Colorado Rockie

Meet the Pope, Will Ferrell, Blake Shelton, Garth Brooks, Kool and the Gang, a child’s grandparents

Go to Hawaii, Paris, London, a variety of Disney® resorts, an Alaskan fishing trip, the Kentucky Derby, Ochos Rios and the Galapagos Islands

Give back by hosting a concert for others at a children’s hospital

“To know we have had a positive impact on the lives of 500 Wyoming children and their families over the last 30 years is humbling and inspiring.”           – Morgan Legerski, Make-A-Wish Wyoming CEO.

“Our staff has certainly not done this alone. It has taken a network of supporters around the state to make reaching this milestone possible. We simply could not make wishes come true without the many volunteers, donors, referral sources, staff and others who have believed in our mission through the years.” 

To achieve its goal of granting the wish of every medically eligible child in the state, Make-A-Wish Wyoming calculated it has taken about 136 volunteers, 408 referral sources, 8,516 donors and 78 high schools participating in the Kids for Wish Kids program, as well as many staff and board members.

Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children who are between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 years old and battling life-threatening medical conditions. Illnesses are defined as those that are progressive, degenerative or malignant. It is a common misconception that the organization solely grants the wishes of children with terminal illnesses.

On average, Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of about 30 Wyoming children each year. However, Legerski said statistics show that for every medically eligible child referred to the organization there is at least one who is not.

“We don’t want to miss the opportunity to provide a little magic and hope for every medically eligible child in the state,” said Legerski. “To do this, we must have children referred to us. We encourage anyone who may know of an eligible child to contact our office. Having their one true wish granted can be just want a child and their family need during a dark and uncertain time.”

The number of wishes granted in communities around the state includes:

Afton, 10; Albin, 2; Alpine, 2; Alta, 1; Arapahoe, 1; Baggs, 1; Bar Nunn, 2; Basin, 1; Beulah, 1; Big Piney, 1; Bosler, 1; Buffalo, 3; Burns, 2; Casper, 78; Cheyenne, 75; Chugwater, 1; Clearmont, 1; Cody, 18; Cokeville, 2; Cowley, 1; Crowheart, 1; Daniel, 1; Diamondville, 1; Dixon, 1; Douglas, 9; Dubois, 4; Ethete, 2; Evanston, 19; Evansville, 1; Ft. Washakie, 3; Gillette, 44; Glendo, 1; Glenrock, 3; Green River, 10; Greybull, 3; Hillsdale, 1; Hulette, 3; Jackson, 16; Kemmerer, 1; LaBarge, 1; Lander, 10; Laramie, 21; Lingle, 1; Lovell, 1; Lusk, 2; Lyman, 5; Mammoth, 1; Manderson, 1; Mills, 1; Moorcroft, 1; Mountain View, 1; Newcastle, 5; Pine Bluffs, 1; Pinedale, 3; Point of Rocks, 1; Powell, 10; Ranchester, 2; Rawlins, 3; Riverton, 17; Rock Springs, 35; Rozet, 2; Sheridan, 17; Story, 1; Thayne, 2; Thermopolis, 2; Torrington, 8; Upton, 1; Wheatland, 6; Worland, 8; Wright, 2.

In 1985, Make-A-Wish Wyoming granted its first wish to 10-year-old Brian of Gillette, who dreamed of owning a BMX bike.