Editors’ Note

David Williams spent a 10-year career at Habitat for Humanity International, rising to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer before joining the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America in January 2005. The following year, he was appointed to the Helping to Enhance the Livelihood of People (HELP) Around the Globe Commission by President Bush.

Organization Brief

Founded in 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is the nation’s largest wish-granting organization. Today, the foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions in the U.S. every 41 minutes.

What is the history of the Make-A-Wish Foundation?

The foundation started because a young boy named Chris Greicius, who was diagnosed with leukemia, always wanted to be a police officer. So some concerned friends arranged for him to be an honorary Arizona state trooper for the day. He had the opportunity to ride in a motorcycle and a helicopter, and get a uniform. Now, 27 years later, we have granted nearly 150,000 wishes.

How important is the Foundation’s relationship with the NBA?

Since 2000, the NBA, along with its players and teams, have granted more than 250 wishes, including trips to the NBA All-Star Game and the NBA Finals. From an individual player standpoint, we have two who are members of our National Advisory Council – Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic and Chris Webber of the Detroit Pistons. Last year, the NBA’s MVP, Dirk Nowitzki, gave us $25,000 from his foundation, and just last month, I sent a thank-you letter to Kobe Bryant because he just granted his 100th wish, which is just remarkable.

Does the Foundation grant wishes outside of the United States?

Yes. We license an organization called the Make-A-Wish Foundation International, which is in over 30 countries. They are also based in Phoenix, so we work collaboratively with them. If a kid in America wants to attend the World Cup in Germany, we’ll collaborate with the International organization to grant that wish.

Fulfilling these wishes must have an impact on the child’s entire family.

When a child develops a serious illness, it dramatically impacts the entire family – brothers and sisters, moms and dads. The problems the family had prior to that illness pale in comparison. That family’s life is turned upside down as they begin dealing with doctors, hospitals, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgeries, not to mention the exorbitant cost of health care. In the midst of that chaos, we come along and say, “If you could wish to do anything, or go anywhere, or have anything, what would that be?” We help a child be a kid again – to dream, and to think beyond his illness. And that’s a life-changing experience.