Basic Organization Information
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia & Susquehanna Valley
- Physical Address:
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Blue Bell, PA
19422
- EIN:
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22-2755963
- Web URL:
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philadelphia.wish.org
- NTEE Category:
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P Human Services
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P20 Human Service Organizations
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P Human Services
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P30 Children's and Youth Services
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E Health—General & Rehabilitative
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E86 Patient Services - Entertainment, Recreation
- Year Founded:
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1986
- Ruling Year:
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1986
- How This Organization Is Funded:
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Special Events - $1,204,018
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Businesses - $250,743
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Individuals - $700,439
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Mission Statement
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia & Susquehanna Valley grants the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.
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Impact Statement
The Philadelphia & Susquehanna Valley chapter, formed in 1986, serves 10 Counties Surrounding the Philadelphia & Susquehanna Valley Area: Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Delaware, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery, Perry and Philadelphia.
Our chapter has fulfilled over 3900 wishes since its founding. Make-A-Wish is contribution driven; 87.3% of all gifts and grants go directly toward fulfilling children's wishes.
Revenue and Expenses
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Financial Statements
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Chief Executive
Dennis J. Heron
Term:
Since
Feb
1997
Officers for Fiscal Year
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Highest Paid Employees & Their Compensation
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Program:
Wish Granting
- Budget:
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$4,245,350
- Category:
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Human Services
- Population Served:
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Children and Youth (infants - 19 years.)
Program Description:
| Each wish-granting situation is a unique experience for the child, their family, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. However, there is a general process by which a child is referred, qualified, and granted a wish.
First Step — Wish Referral
The Make-A-Wish Foundation accepts wish referrals from one of several potential referral sources:
- The child
- The child's parent(s) or legal guardian(s)
- A medical professional treating the child, such as a doctor, nurse, social worker, or child-life specialist
If the initial call comes from someone other than those listed above, we always ask that the family be notified to call directly on their own behalf.
Second Step — Determining Eligibility
Any child over 2½ or under age 18 with a life-threatening condition may be eligible for a wish. The child's treating physician makes the final determination of whether the child is medically eligible to receive a wish and whether the child is able to participate in the wish. The child cannot have received a prior wish from a wish-granting organization. The child's treating physician makes the final determination of whether the child is medically eligible and able to participate in the wish.
Third Step — Identifying the Wish
After the doctor confirms that the child is medically eligible, the Make-A-Wish Foundation assigns a volunteer wish team to coordinate the wish-granting process. When a wish team first visits with a child, the volunteers begin by asking a simple question: "If you could have one wish, what would it be?"Usually, wishes are limited only by a child's imagination. Most wishes fall into one of four categories: "I want to go to...," "I want to be...," "I want to meet...," or "I want to have..." Once a chapter approves the child's wish, the wish team sets out to make it come true.
Fourth Step — Granting the Wish
After talking with the child, the Make-A-Wish Foundation wish granters set out to create a magical wish experience for the child that will last a lifetime. Every effort is made to include the immediate family in the child's wish. The wish experience often touches dozens, and sometimes hundreds of people who either help coordinate or are directly involved in the wish.
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Program Long-Term Success:
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia & Susquehanna Valley has granted over 4400 wishes since its inception in 1986.
Program Short-Term Success:
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia & Susquehanna Valley granted 309 wishes in FY 2011.
Program Success Monitored by:
Program success is monitored through monthly wish progress reporting. All wishes should be turned around in a 6 month time period or less or there should be a written explanation for the delay that is out of our control - such as medical or family issues.
Program Success Examples:
All wishes currently waiting to be granted (whose timing limits are within our control) are turned around in less than 6 months. We were able to grant 309 wishes in FY2011.
Funding Needs
The true impact of a wish cannot be measured in dollars and cents. Yet, the Make-A-Wish Foundation relies on the generosity of individuals and corporate supporters to provide the funding and in-kind resources necessary to create an amazing wish experience for each and every wish child. Our pledge is to grant every eligible child's wish. With your help, the Make-A-Wish Foundation will continue to reach more of the special children we serve and grant their one favorite wish. The average cost of a wish to $9,212 ($6,127 cash and $3,085 in-kind)
Request for In-Kind Contributions
Several items are needed to make the more than 300 wishes expected this year extra special. Icebreaker toys/gifts, especially those appropriate for teens, would be appreciated. Other donated new items needed include: Party Supplies (themed - Hawaiian, etc.), Sports Equipment, Suitcases, Travel games and activities, Limousine rides, Grocery store gift cards - for cakes and party foods, Beach gear - towels, sunscreen, sun hats, toys, children's sun glasses, Backpacks, Books, Disposable cameras, Crayons, Markers, Colored pencils, Stickers, Frequent Flyer Miles, Hotel Loyalty Points, Hot Tubs/Spas, New Electronic Equipment, and Shopping Sprees.