Governor Proclaims World Wish Day 2023

WHEREAS, Make-A-Wish^® was founded by family and friends of 7-year-old Chris Greicius, who received his wish to be a police officer on April 29, 1980; and

WHEREAS, the organization now known as Make-A-Wish has granted more than 500,000 wishes worldwide, operating in every community in the United States and in nearly 50 other countries around the world; and

WHEREAS, the founding members of Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina and Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina brought the mission of creating life-changing wishes for children ages 2 ½ to 18 years old with critical illnesses to our state in 1985; and

WHEREAS, combined, Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina and Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina have granted nearly 10,000 wishes in our state over the last 37 years, delivering hope and joy to children with critical illnesses; and

WHEREAS, Make-A-Wish seeks to bring every eligible child's wish to life; fulfilling a wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey, replacing fear with confidence, anxiety with hope, and sadness with joy; and

WHEREAS, World Wish Day celebrates the day the Make-A-Wish Foundation was created and recognizes the life-changing impact of a granted wish for children and their families, and the work of the local chapters in our region; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 29, 2023, as “WORLD WISH DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.