Latest news with #WorldWishDay
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bethany community comes together to grant 5-year-old boys Make-A-Wish
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Community members came together Thursday to support a special young boy. Yard Goats, Make-A-Wish celebrate World Wish Day WPLR's Chaz and AJ, Connecticut Make-A-Wish and the Bethany Volunteer Fire Department teamed up to help raise money for 5-year-old Teddy, a Bethany resident who was diagnosed with cancer when he was just eight months old. Teddy loves giraffes, dance parties and Hot Wheels. His one Make-A-Wish wish was to have a backyard race track — a dream that will soon become a reality. Since the beginning of his journey, the outpouring of love and support that we and Teddy has received… we can't even describe,' Cara Hutchinson said. 'We are forever grateful to everybody, the amount of love. It's such a beautiful thing.' 'He is going to have this as not only as something he can remember today,' Tara Navara, chief development officer for Make-A-Wish, said. 'It's a memory that's going to continue for a lifetime, as he experiences his wish in his own backyard.' The $10,000 needed for Teddy's backyard race track wish was raised in less than 30 hours. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Make-a-Wish Kids Get Royal Treatment During First-Ever Disney Week of Wishes
Every year, on April 29, Disney partners with Make-A-Wish to celebrate World Wish Day–where they work to grant wishes for more than 165,000 children worldwide with critical illnesses. Whether it's creating space for a kid to meet their on-screen hero, or opening the door to a once-in-a-lifetime experience, World Wish Day is about making memories that inspire and give hope. This year, Disney took things up a notch by kicking off its first-ever Disney Week of Wishes. Between April 26–May 2, 2025, they shared stories of granting wishes through specially-designed experiences across the company. And we got a look at how some of the wish-granting designs came together. A big component of the week was the granting of Disney Princess wishes, where families were treated with immersive character experiences across the Disney parks and resorts. Some of these princess wish experiences included: immersive story-focused adventures princess breakfasts and boutique transformations baking sessions cruiseline experiences shopping sprees special character meet & greets and photo shoots And kids received their very own princess character costumes to wear during these experiences to make the magic even more real for them. Ariella Hendrix, Product Design Manager at Disney Consumer Products, works directly with the design company Disguise to create these costumes. She spoke with Parents about what went into making these princess wishes special for families this year. How long have you been designing costumes for Week of Wishes, and how does the experience align with what you envisioned? AH: I've been a Costume Designer at Disney Consumer Products for 12 years. I'm so excited that some of the costumes I helped develop, like Elsa & Rapunzel were requested by kids who wished for princess-themed experiences! It was so special to be a small part of developing these costumes, and that children around the world were able to immerse themselves in becoming their favorite characters. Can you speak a bit to the level of detail that goes into the design of the costumes, and how important it is for each one to be character-accurate? AH: The design process in licensed costume development is collaborative. We partner [with Disguise] in ensuring that the designs are authentic to the characters, while also finding meaningful ways to weave details of their stories into the costume designs and their artwork. It is also very important to ensure that the costumes are comfortable for all children. Is there a most-requested Disney Princess costume that you find among wish kids, and are they able to keep the costumes? AH: Costumes from Disney's Frozen are always some of our most popular costume requests, and that was certainly the case this World Wish Day. [And] Yes! The kids (and their siblings) get to keep any costumes and accessories they receive during the princess makeovers as well as any toys, books, and goodies they receive throughout the wish itself. This allows them to bring a piece of the magic home with them, making the wish even more unforgettable. One phase of the Disney Princess wish experience came via the Once Upon A Wish Party–where nearly 50 kids and their families were invited to Walt Disney World to take part in a two-day immersive storybook adventure. During this time, the kids are treated like royalty, as their families were given some inspiration designed to help them through their medical journeys. 4-year-old Lila Tenney was one of the 50 wish kids invited to the party this year. Here's a look at her family's experience: It's easy to get emotional over stories like these, watching families get to experience some joy amidst some challenging times. 'This means everything,' said Lila's dad. 'With this experience that Make-A-Wish and Disney allows us, it puts us at ease and gives us a moment to relax and enjoy.' When discussing what it takes to bring something like this to life for families, Hendrix highlights the attention to detail. "So much goes into making each wish as special as possible," she says. "While every wish is different, we're always putting the same attention to detail and level of care into every wish experience we grant. At Once Upon A Wish Party, each child's experience was tailored to their specific interests and included fun moments. No matter the wish, our products help create a truly unforgettable experience and lasting memories for the kids and their families." As Disney and Make-A-Wish continue their partnership with a yearly week-long focus of granting wishes, the expansion should provide even more opportunities to fill a family's day with magic. Stories like these should also serve as a reminder to create memorable experiences daily with family, no matter what you may be going through. 'Creating happiness for the children who need it most is an incredible privilege,' said Tasia Filippatos, President of Disney Consumer Products and Make-A-Wish International Board Member. 'Disney products are a special piece of the Disney wish experience that create lasting memories, spread hope and bring the magic home for wish kids and their families.' Hendrix seconds this notion with, 'Words can't describe how special it feels to know that the work I'm so passionate about is directly helping wish kids around the world. My dream is that everyone has a costume that they feel seen in. Knowing the costumes I design create a more fun and immersive experience for kids in need, seeing the smiles on their faces, that's exactly why I do what I do.' Read the original article on Parents
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
On World Wish Day, 8-year-old cancer patient meets his spirit animal, the capybara
(KRON) — Joshua, and 8-year-old from Santa Cruz, fulfilled his wish to meet a capybara on Tuesday at Nurtured by Nature in San Diego. Diagnosed with a malignant bone neoplasm in 2023, Joshua has undergone chemotherapy and a humerus bone transplant at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. His fascination with capybaras began during his treatment when he watched videos of the world's largest rodent online. 'Once he figured out that the capybara is friends with everybody, he said 'Like me! I want to be friends with everybody too!'' said Joshua's mom, Amelia. South Bay restaurant debuts burger-making robots Joshua's wish is being granted on World Wish Day, which commemorates the day in 1980 when Christopher James Greicius' wish to be a police officer was fulfilled, leading to the founding of Make-A-Wish. This event marks the 300th wish that Nurtured by Nature has partnered with Make-A-Wish to grant for children with critical illnesses. The visit to San Diego was the first for Joshua and his family, providing them with hope and a chance to think beyond the hospital walls. 'The wish gives you an opportunity to think bigger. Think long term. Think of something fun,' Amelia said. 'It brought that sense of wonder back to our conversations—a sense of stepping outside the hospital walls just in our imagination. And that makes a huge difference.' All facts from this article were gathered by KRON4 journalists. The article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KRON4 staff. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Yard Goats, Make-A-Wish celebrate World Wish Day
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Make-A-Wish Connecticut and the Hartford Yard Goats teamed up to celebrate World Wish Day. April 29 commemorates the anniversary of the very first wish granted by Make-A-Wish back in 1980. Since then more than 500,000 wishes have been granted. 'Really at the ballpark, we are in the business of putting smiles on people's faces, and today is just another day,' Yard Goats team president Tim Restall said. 'Just some really, really nice smiles on kids' faces.' Liberty Bank also presented Make-A-Wish with a $200,000 check ahead of the game, which will go towards making wishes come true for another 20 kids. Watch the video in the player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Eschenbaum foundation gives girl ‘trip of a lifetime'
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Make a Wish South Dakota and Montana got a big check Tuesday. It was presented by a man who is no stranger to the non-profit, because back in the day, he too, was a Make a Wish kid. Prison groups wait to weed out possible sites Ty Eschenbaum and his foundation presented Make-A-Wish South Dakota and Montana with a check for $100,000. 'It's moving to us to see children and families go through what they're going through and maintain their faith and positivity and their drive and continue to live their life,' Eschenbaum said. Thanks to his donation today, nine-year-old Bella Knoff, who has epilepsy, will get to go on a trip of a lifetime. 'She is going to Hawaii,' Jim said. Hawaii! Her family, with tears in their eyes, is deeply grateful. 'As a parent, all we ever want is to see our children smile, to see them feel joy, especially when they have to face more than any child should,' Suzy Knoff said. Eschenbaum was a Make A Wish kid himself when he was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 15. As a way to give back, Eschenbaum started his own foundation in memory of his wife Autumn, who passed away in 2019. He raises the money with two big events each year; his annual fishing and golf tournament at Lake Poinsett in the summer, and the annual Earn The Gift Gala in the winter. 'Ty is a very special friend to our Make a Wish chapter, not only was he a Make a Wish kid and battled cancer when he was in high school, he's a model I think for our wish kids to look up to, but he also displays extraordinary generosity,' Make A Wish executive director Sue Salter said. Bella's mom says her journey hasn't been an easy one, but it's also had an impact on the entire family. They are always there at Bella's side no matter what she's going through, good days and bad. 'They have been through tribulations as well, you are not only granting Bella a wish, but you are also brightening three other children's lives as well,' Knoff said. Today is the 45th anniversary of World Wish Day and brings the total amount of money Eschenbaum's foundation has donated to Make a Wish to $315,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
