The Make-A-Wish Foundation® began with the purest of wishes - that of a small child. The delight of that boy with his wish come true was the inspiration of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. There are now 74 chapters nationally and 28 international affiliates.

The Metro St. Louis Chapter serves eastern Missouri and southern Illinois, covering 48 counties (16 in Missouri and 32 in Illinois).

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro St. Louis was founded in 1986. The chapter was chartered and incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) in Missouri in 1990 (and later in Illinois).

In our first full year of operation, five wishes were granted.  We have averaged 186 wishes each of the last four years.  Today we are up to our 1700th wish!

We are not limited to any one particular condition or group of conditions. We grant wishes to children with heart disease, lung disease, muscular dystrophy, leukemia, cancer, AIDS, etc.

Within our chapter, there are as many as 350 children diagnosed with a life threatening medical condition each year who could qualify for a wish.

We are a volunteer-driven organization with over 450 volunteers.

Dollars raised by this chapter stay in our community to serve area children with life-threatening medical conditions.

We do not receive funding from the United Way.

We do not raise money through telemarketing nor door to door solicitation.

More Facts

To view a printable fact sheet, click here (pdf file - requires Adobe Acrobat to read).