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4/20/2009 - U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) -- For eight years, Academy cadets have been making wishes come true for ill youngsters. They made it happen again April 9 through Saturday when Joe Hayford, 13, became the newest Cadet for a Day through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "His eyes were huge, and he never quit smiling," said Wish volunteer Maggie Appenzeller. Accompanying Joe was his family--brother, Shane, 17, and parents, Chong Mi and Keith for the three-day event sponsored by Cadet Squadron -4. Wish volunteer Peggy Nightingale said the schedule and content are kept secret from Cadets for a Day...

JOHNSON CITY — Faced with a life-threatening condition, 9-year-old Chase Wilson wasn’t concerned about buying much for himself, although it was his “wish” money. Instead, during his shopping spree Monday, he chose a Playstation 3 from the front display window of a gaming store and asked what video games his four siblings would like to have. “Do you have any ‘Dora the Explorer’ games?” Chase asked the Game Stop salesperson as he helped his 3-year-old sister Emma find a game for the new Gameboy she had just chosen. “She likes Dora.” Tracey Saxton, Chase’s mother, was busy making sure he...

FORT HOOD, TEXAS – Five-year-old Gaven Cox was given one wish to do anything he wanted. Instead of asking to go to Sea World or to meet Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Gaven modestly asked for some McDonald's food. The child's parents laughed and told him to make another choice. "He told us he wanted to be an Army soldier," said Melissa Heminger, Gaven's mom. "I was a little bit surprised that he asked for McDonald's, but in reality, he wanted to be a soldier since he was 3." Gaven, who is diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was granted one wish...

FORT HOOD – Five-year-old Gaven Cox was given one wish to do anything he wanted. Instead of asking to go to Sea World or to meet Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Gaven modestly asked for some McDonald's food. The child's parents laughed and told him to make another choice. "He told us he wanted to be an Army soldier," said Melissa Heminger, Gaven's mom. "I was a little bit surprised that he asked for McDonald's, but in reality, he wanted to be a soldier since he was 3." Gaven, who is diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was granted one wish by...

Young Dontay Burton learns about Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques from Marines at Camp Lejeune in May 2007. During a Make-A-Wish Foundation visit in North Carolina, Burton toured Marine Corps Air Stations New River and Cherry Point, Camp Gieger, as well as Camp Lejeune. Dontay Burton learns how to fire an M240 machine gun from Lance Cpl Erich Minnear at the indoor simulated marksmanship trainer at Camp Lejeune, N.C. in May 2007. Burton made a wish to become a Marine through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Dontay Burton and Gunnery Sgt. William C. House watch Marines in a battalion formation...

LANCASTER[California] - One year after making a wish to meet the athlete he idolizes, Marcus Dennis finally got to meet basketball legend Michael Jordan. "It was the greatest thing ever, truly a dream come true for me," Dennis said. With the help of the Make-A-Wish foundation, Dennis, 17, and about five more families were granted their wishes and flown to Chicago to meet the basketball superstar and even attend a Chicago Bulls basketball game Monday. A Lancaster resident for several years, Dennis was just another normal teen until August 2004, when at age 14 he was diagnosed with a life-threatening...

When Andrew thought about what he wanted his Wish to be, the first and only thing he ever considered was going to a Patriots game and meeting Tedy Bruschi. Andrew wanted to meet him not only because he was a Patriot, but because he'd also undergone heart surgery for an undetected congenital heart defect and then returned to the football field. The Make-A-Wish foundation granted Andrew a meeting with Bruschi and a return trip in the fall to attend a Patriots game. Sharing Andrew's excitement was something that seven years ago I never dared dream. You see, "heart parents" don't...

BOISE, Idaho - Most days, 6-year-old Aubrey Matthews spends her energy fighting a brain tumor growing behind her eyes. But the first-grader managed to foil crimes and chase an arch-nemesis through Boise on Friday, serving the city as the superhero "Star" with assistance from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho, The Idaho Statesman reported. When she donned her blue and metallic superhero costume, Star took on the super-powers of X-ray vision, superhuman strength, speed and blowing power _ and a mission: To capture the villain who had stolen a golden star from the Idaho Historical Museum. After Star was alerted by...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 20, 2005) -- Most children grow up playing with trucks and tanks, but few of them have the chance to ever experience riding the “Iron Horse.” Thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Marines of 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, that experience came alive for six-year-old Brandon Rasnick of Lehigh Acres, Fla. Brandon, who was promoted to the rank of sergeant by his fellow Marines, has cystic fibrosis, a genetic lung disorder. Since his one wish was train with Marines and to “save the world,” the Marines of 2nd Tanks arranged a...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 14, 2005) -- From privates first class to sergeants major to lieutenant colonels, all Marines who saw the newly promoted sergeant walking through their work areas were quick to render the appropriate military courtesies. After all, Brandon Rasnick had accomplished what no one else in the 2nd Marine Division had, made the rank of sergeant in one day. It’s a success the Lehigh Acres, Fla., native did not tout as he made his rounds throughout the base. Rather, the Marines and sailors smiled and waved as the shortest noncommissioned officer they had ever...

Investigation follows firing of two chapter workers. Some close to case won’t link dismissals and lost money. WILKES-BARRE (PA) – Detectives from the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office launched a criminal investigation last week into disappearance of what officials say is a “substantial amount of money” from the northeast Pennsylvania chapter of the Make-A-Wish foundation. The investigation comes after an internal audit within the charity and the ousting of two high-ranking employees within the organization; however, one Make-A-Wish official and the district attorney refused to equate the missing money and firings. Make-A-Wish President and Chief Executive Officer Jessica Hardy and...

A portion of the U.S. Army Ranger creed states, "Surrender is not a Ranger word." Nor is it an Evan Schneider word. The 9-year-old boy from Murrieta, Calif., developed a heart defect that placed him on a heart-transplant list before he was born. He received the transplant when he was 4 weeks old. Yet, aside from a brief episode of organ rejection, Evan has overcome the potentially deadly defect and moved on to his next goal. This week, the Make-A-Wish Foundation helped Evan achieve that goal, as he became an honorary Ranger on Wednesday. Evan traveled Sunday to Fort Benning...

Breakaway Make-A-Wish supporters said they filed papers Tuesday to start an alternative children's wish group for Minnesota that will have broader eligibility and programs.

The entire board of directors and advisory board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota resigned Monday, citing frustrations with its fading authority to the national organization. Tensions between the Minnesota chapter and the national leadership were first noticed in a public dispute in 1996 over a hunting trip granted by the foundation, which fulfills wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. Since then, the local board feels its control has been evaporating on issues ranging from paying leaders; to donations for families of children who die before their wishes are granted; to limiting the length of board terms. "Philosophical differences the...

The board of directors and the advisory board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota resigned en masse today, citing a dispute with the national organization over local autonomy. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and its local chapters grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. Typical wishes can include trips to Disneyland, family reunions or chances to meet celebrities. Karla Blomberg, who had been president and co-founder of the Minnesota chapter, said tensions had been growing for years and came to a head at a weekend meeting, when the 13 directors and 10 advisory board members decided the differences were irreconcilable....

Honorary Command Sgt. Maj. Philip Shriver renders his best salute. The 7-year-old was Soldier on Fort Riley for a day as a result of having his wish granted by Fort Riley and the Make a Wish Foundation of Kansas. Gary Skidmore Fort Riley grants ill youth wish to be Soldier By Gary Skidmore September 27, 2004 FORT RILEY, Kan. (Army News Service, Sept. 27, 2004) -- Seven-year-old Phillip Shriver has a new guardian angel -- a little bear angel with red, white and blue wings, wearing a helmet. Shriver who has a life threatening illness, leukemia, received the memento during...

I wanted to share with all of you a wonderful experience my family had last week. You see, my daughter Rhiannah was diagnosed with cancer on 1/6/03 at the age of 4. She responded woderfully to 9 months of chemotherapy and by May of 03 the tumor was no longer detectable. Scans on 1/6/04 showed no signs of recurrance. Rhiannah qualified for Make-A-Wish that grants wishes to any child that has faced a life-threatening illness. She choose a trip to Disney World. The following is the e-mail we just sent out today after returning from our trip on Saturday. If...

LEE MCLEOD, Special to The Observer When the Make-A-Wish Foundation visited Hope Stout, she lay on her bed, cuddling her cat Pudge. "If you had your wish," a foundation member asked, "what would it be?" The National Football League blocked Charlotte's plans for a public uptown telecast of today's playoff game between the Panthers and St. Louis Rams.In response Friday, the city canceled its bash at Gateway Village that would have doubled as a Make-A-Wish fund-raiser to honor 12-year-old Hope Stout.Uptown leaders announced the party Tuesday, even though they had never received a formal go-ahead from the NFL.Hope died...

Make-a-Wish hero dies of cancer12-year-old girl spearheaded effort to fulfill desires of others Posted: January 7, 20041:00 a.m. Eastern © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com Hope Stout, the 12-year-old North Carolina cancer victim who chose as her wish the fulfillment of other children's dreams, has died. As WorldNetDaily reported, rather than simply submitting her wish to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, known for fulfilling the desires of children with terminal ailments, Hope instead decided to help raise $1 million, the cost of making the wishes of all 156 children ahead of her on the list come true. Hope Stout Hope, who died Sunday, suffered from Osteosarcoma, an...

Man gives $100,000; family skips trip, donates $5,000. As a 12-year-old with bone cancer fell gravely ill this week, people in the Carolinas rushed to help make her wish come true. One man brought a certified check for $100,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Tuesday. He asked to remain anonymous. Instead of asking for something for herself, Hope Stout asked the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina to grant the wishes of the other 155 children on the agency's list. The organization hopes to raise $1 million by mid-January to grant wishes for the children, who suffer from...