Make-A-Wish is the world’s largest wish-granting organization. It serves every local community in the United States and has chapters in the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. The Guam Chapter services the islands of Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. Make-A-Wish Guam & CNMI was established as a non-profit corporation since 1988. Wishes are categorized into 4 types: I Wish to Be, I Wish to Go, I Wish to Meet, I Wish to Have.  A fifth category is emerging with children often expressing that their wish is “to give”. Most Guam and CNMI Wishes involve travel and consequently cost more than other Wishes from other chapters. The Guam Chapter does not receive any government funds and operates solely through private donations, fundraising events and corporate contributions.

Make-A-Wish Guam uses every dollar the chapter receives to help them in their mission to grant wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.  It manages and safeguards the generous contributions it receives from individual donors, corporations and other organizations. Their fundraising efforts, fiscal practices, and business operations are all designed to support a single purpose: to grant wishes that change lives.

MAKE-A-WISH PROCESS:

Step One: The Wish Referral

Out of respect for the privacy of the children and families the Make-A-Wish Foundation serves, a child can be referred for a wish by a number of sources: A medical professional treating the child (doctor, nurse, social worker, or child-specialist), the child’s parents or legal guardians, the potential wish child, and family members, provided family is aware of the referral. **Referrals can be made online through our website at http://www.wish.org/guamcnmi

Step Two: Determining the Child’s Eligibility

We rely on the expertise of the pediatricians and pediatric specialists who are part of our National Medical Advisory Council and more than 200 chapter-specific medical advisors that help guide us with eligibility and wish safety precautions.
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Step Three: Choosing a Wish

After eligibility is determined, the chapter will meet with the wish child and family during what is called a Wish Discovery.    During the team’s visit, a memorable experience is created to get to know the wish child and discover what their one true wish is.

Step Four: Making a Wish Come True

After the child has determined his or her wish, the child’s wish granters and local Make-A-Wish professionals work to create it. Every effort is made to involve each member of the child’s immediate family in the wish experience. Quite often, the impact of a wish experience will touch the lives of dozens, sometimes hundreds of people who help to fulfill a child’s wish.


**Updated as of 11/10/2025**