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The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that grants wishes to children (2.5 years to 18 years old)^{[citation needed]} with life-threatening medical conditions.

Make-A-Wish originated in Phoenix, Arizona in 1980, where a seven year old boy, Chris Greicius was hospitalized with leukemia. The Arizona Department of Public Safety, hospital workers and members of the community teamed up and were able to grant his 'wish': to become a police officer for one day. Ample media coverage led to the founding of a permanent charity organization, using Greicius's case as a model.

Originally based in the United States of America, a chapter in Canada, called Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada, was created in 1983 by Nigel Brown & Robb Lucy. The first Canadian wish was granted in 1983. It was a wish for a girl named Debbie who wanted to visit her parents in Germany. She got to visit them in August 1983. She died in October 1983. In addition a non-profit umbrella organization called Make-A-Wish Foundation International, licensed by Make-a-Wish in 1993, fosters the growth of affiliated Make-A-Wish organizations worldwide. More than 30 countries were affiliated in 2005.

In 2006, the foundation formed a partnership with ESPN, a television network, to grant 10 of its clients wishes related to sports and athletes. The segments were televised on SportsCenter in a series called "My Wish".

Make-A-Wish foundation also supports a Annual European Charity Band under the direction of current international director Danny Lieberman that sends students to Europe to play music for children in hospitals and to grant wishes.

On April 9, 2007 Make-A-Wish was also seen on WWE's RAW when Mick Foley granted the wish of Michael Peña, who became General Manager for the night. Linda McMahon and Vince McMahon, the owners of WWE, are on the National Advisory Council of the Foundation.

The foundation has also created the "Tyler the Great Warrior" Yu-Gi-Oh! card due to the wish of 14-year old Tyler Gressle.

Until a certain time, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted hunting trips and caused considerable outcry. The Make-A-Wish Foundation halted hunting trips, citing that guns were not safe. In response, hunter organizations formed a similar organization called Hunt of a Lifetime that arranged hunting trips to terminally ill children. [1]

• The Make-A-Wish Foundation was featured in an episode of Spider-Man: The Animated Series as the Wish-Come-True Foundation, where a terminally ill girl got her wish granted to meet her hero, and was instrumental in helping him defeat Doctor Octopus.
• It was spoofed in the Family Guy episode If I'm Dying, I'm Lying as the Grant-A-Dream Foundation, where Peter pretends his son is dying, in order to get the foundation to bring back a cancelled TV show.
• In the game Portal The Aperture Science Corporation has a "Take a Wish" Tier of Research and Development.

• Disney Worldwide Outreach Program

• Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada
• Make-A-Wish Foundation in the UK
• Make-A-Wish Australia
• Make-A-Wish Foundation Vlaanderen - Belgium
• Reach For A Dream, a similar organization in South Africa.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation at Retsambew Dash Klat for Charity
  • Contact information and web links of local chapters
• Make-A-Wish Foundation International
  • Contact information and web links of international affiliates
• Ben's Game — cancer fighting video game