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News Room • Photo Gallery • Mission • National History • Chapter History • Geographic Area Served
Governance • Funding • Wish Granting • Financial Summary Mission
The Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation® is a charitable non-profit organization whose purpose is to fulfill magical wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.
 National History
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® was inspired in 1980 by the love that a family and friends had for a seven-year-old boy named Chris, who had leukemia. Chris dreamed of becoming a police officer for a day, and his family and friends in the state highway patrol made his wish come true - complete with his own helmet, goggles, badge and a regulation uniform tailored especially for him. Chris' mother and those who helped to grant his wish created Make-A-Wish in his memory, enabling his legacy to live on. Make-A-Wish is the largest wish granting organization in the world, with 81 chapters in the United States and 22 international affiliates spanning five continents.
Chapter History
The Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation® was founded in 1984. In its first year, a total of 27 wishes were granted. Now the 6th largest chapter nationwide, the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation® has granted over 2,800 wishes; we expect to grant approximately 300 wishes in fiscal year 2002. While the Foundation follows the policies and guidelines of the National Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation® operates as a separate 501(c)3 organization. All funds raised by the Foundation are used to fulfill our mission in the Bay Area.
Geographic Area Served
The Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation® serves 17 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano and Sonoma.
Governance
A twenty-member, volunteer Board of Directors representing our geographically diverse area governs the Foundation. Board meetings are held every other month, and, in addition, there are ad-hoc task teams and three Board Committees organized around specific areas of the Foundation operations.
Funding
Proceeds from the Make-A-Wish fundraising efforts are used to fulfill children’s dreams and create special memories for the entire family. Over 80% of each dollar raised is spent on wish granting and related program services. Administration and fundraising costs account for less than 20% of money raised.
The average cost of one wish is approximately $9,900 (plus in-kind contributions of approximately $1,200). The Foundation relies on in-kind gifts and services, financial contributions from individuals, corporations, clubs and other groups, special events, and car donations. Our foundation has received enormous community support through special projects, service clubs, fund-raisers and private contributions. Wish Granting
The Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation® serves children between the ages of 21/2 - 18 who meet our guidelines without regard to race, gender, creed, socio-economic, or cultural background. The Foundation is committed to ensuring that it never has to decline a qualified wish referral nor limit the scope of a child's imagination for his/her wish due to the lack of funds.
Financial Summary
The Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation® thanks all of our individual and corporate donors, our event sponsors and our in-kind contributors. Each of these donations whether large or small contribute to making children's dreams come true.
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