Make A Wish - Orange County and Inland Empire

The Kids for Wish Kids program is intended for anyone under the age of 18, who wants to be involved with the Foundation. This includes preschools, elementary, junior high, high school, community groups, youth groups and individual students.

Kids for Wish Kids volunteers support the Foundation by collecting monetary donations, gift cards, Icebreaker and Backpack items and by donating their time. The students also have fundraisers such as father daughter dances, car washes, coin contests and school mail grams, where all the proceeds go to benefit the Foundation.

The Kids for Wish Kids program is extremely popular because students organize and operate the clubs. They are in charge of recruiting student volunteers, planning fundraisers and then carrying them out. The program provides a unique scenario for students to build leadership skills and to develop a strong connection to their communities.

The Foundation always welcomes new groups to join the Kids for Wish Kids program. If you would like more information, please contact Megan Guild, Youth Development Coordinator at mguild@wishocie.org or 714-573-9474.

Ways To Get Involved:

• Start or join a Kids for Wish Kids Club at your Elementary, Junior High or High School
• Volunteer your youth group
• Have a Make a Wish Sponsored birthday(or other) party

Clubs at the High School level perform a vast range of volunteer services for the Foundation. Clubs tend to primarily focus on fundraising and item collections however many students (18 and older) choose to volunteer at the Wish house during busy times such as holiday drives.

Clubs are generally focused upon the goal of being wish sponsors. Students acquire funds through various fundraisers such as: school garage sales, bake sales, dances or donation drives.

Aside from the satisfaction that comes from contributing to the Foundation, Kids for Wish Kids gain priceless skills that help carry them through life. By being a part of K4WK, students gain self confidence, leadership skills and real life experience in a true embodiment of the idea of giving back.

The Elementary/Junior High School Kids for Wish kids program is designed to allow younger students to get involved with the Foundation through fundraising and collection drives. Elementary School groups are usually led by a teacher and done on a class by class or grade by grade basis.

Popular and successful elementary school projects have been:

• Coin drives (which homeroom/grade can collect the most coins)
• Toy drives
• Make-A-Wish Star Sales

Youth groups function in a way very similar to the High school clubs except that advisors are usually a parent of youth group leader. Meetings are held at homes or at the youth group meeting site. The Kids for Wish Kids programs fosters a deep sense of community and togetherness between volunteers and helps to facilitate higher self esteem, public speaking skills and responsibility for those involved.

Popular events for youth groups are:

• Craft/home made item sales
• Back Pack Item Collections

Younger children can also donate by having a Make-A-Wish Birthday Party. A Make-A-Wish Birthday party or other celebration usually involves children receiving and donating gifts or money for the Foundation in lieu or receiving presents for themselves. Make-A-Wish will provide donation envelopes for the event.