Make-A-Wish® will soon be sending a team of fans to the New York City-area in the form of 13 kids with life-threatening medical conditions who wished to attend Super Bowl XLVIII. The wishes are made possible through the generous support of the NFL and others.
The young football fans and their families are traveling from ten states and will arrive in New Jersey and New York on Wednesday, Jan. 29. They will enjoy a welcome reception and a weekend of visiting Super Bowl Boulevard and other activities before the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos face off in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 2.
“Our wish kids and their families will have the time of their life as they take part in a weekend of experiences and memories that they can reflect upon long into the future,” said David A. Williams, president and chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish America. “Through these wishes, the NFL is helping us change the lives of kids with life-threatening medical conditions and everyone involved in the wishes, forever.”
Wishing to attend the Super Bowl is a wish that continues to transcend generations. This year marks the 32nd consecutive year that a wish kid will be present at the Super Bowl. For the wish kids who will be in attendance, attending the Super Bowl represents their one, heartfelt wish; however, the positive impact of a wish-come-true begins long before kickoff. Wish kids often say the anticipation of their wish helps them find strength to continue medical treatments and the memories of the experience itself serve as a constant source of hope and joy. The NFL, by continuously demonstrating support for Make-A-Wish, helps to make these long-lasting, impactful experiences possible.
Make-A-Wish, the NFL, and Super Bowl wishes have a long history. In 1982, the NFL helped Make-A-Wish grant its first Super Bowl wish to a 12-year-old Arizona boy at Super Bowl XVI in Pontiac, Mich., the 9th wish in the organization’s young history. Since then, every Super Bowl has been attended by at least one wish kid; more than 130 Super Bowl wishes have been fulfilled in the last 10 years alone.
About Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true can have positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illnesses, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Based in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 38 minutes. It has granted more than 240,000 wishes since its inception in 1980; nearly 14,000 in 2013 alone. Visit Make-A-Wish at wish.org to learn more.
Editor’s Note: Interviews with wish kids and their families prior-to and during their wish may be arranged by contacting Josh deBerge, national communications manager, at or (602) 451-4636. Some user-generated-content, such as photos, from the wish families highlighting their experiences in the New York City-area may also be available. Advanced notice is requested.
Contact:
Josh deBerge, National Communications Manager
(602) 451-4636
SOURCE: Make a Wish
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