Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana Grants Record 916 Wishes in 2015 for Area Kids

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Make-A-Wish^® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana has broken previous national records by granting 916 wishes this year to kids with life-threatening medical conditions. This marks the greatest number of wishes ever granted in a single year by any of the 62 Make-A-Wish^® chapters in the 35-year history of the national organization. The three-state chapter granted the record-breaking number of wishes during its fiscal year Sept. 1, 2014 to Aug. 31, 2015. 

"A wish granted is strong and powerful medicine for children battling life-threatening conditions," said Doug Kelly, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. "Most families tell us the wish experience was the turning point in their child's recovery. We're grateful for the tireless efforts of our volunteer wish granters, board members, donors, medical partners and staff who make these magical wishes possible."

Make-A-Wish Ohio Kentucky and Indiana attributes the large number of granted wishes to a series of strategic infrastructure investments.

"Our chapter's investments in medical outreach, local awareness and volunteer networks, among others, are helping make more wishes come true faster," said Kelly. "But, we won't stop until we grant the wish of every eligible child. That's our focus."

More than 70 percent of Make-A-Wish Ohio Kentucky and Indiana wishes are travel-related and the most-requested wish of the chapter was a visit to Walt Disney World^® Resort. The limitless imagination of the child creates the wish, and notable recent wishes include:

• 16-year-old Hailey of Columbus, Ohio to meet an Olympic swimming champion
• 17-year-old Burke of Louisville, Ky. visiting Microsoft Studios in Seattle
• 13-year-old Cody of Zionsville, Ind. breaking in his new gaming room with Indiana Pacers basketball rookie Myles Turner. 

Make-A-Wish relies on the support of the community to grant wishes locally. To help make more wishes come true:

• Make a donation online or by calling 877-206-9474
• Make a donation of frequent flier miles
• Become a volunteer
• Coordinate a school fundraising program
• Ask your employer to make a corporate donation or match your own

About Make-A-Wish^® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana
Make-A-Wish^® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Currently, there are 1,700 children in the tri-state area eligible for a wish. For more information on ways to help, visit oki.wish.org, call 1-877-206-9474, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @makeawishohkyin.

SOURCE Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana