For the Gazette

What started as granting a wish to 7-year-old Chris Greicius has become the world-wide Make-A-Wish foundation. Greicius, who had leukemia, yearned to be a Police Officer to catch ‘bad guys’ in Arizona.

Greicius passed away before his 8 birthday, but US Customs Agent Tommy Austin and Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer Ron Cox worked through the bureaucratic ‘red-tape’ to grant Greicius his wish in time.

Greicius got a DPS uniform, and earned his motorcycle enforcement wings shortly before he succumbed to the disease.

“It’s been more than 30 years since my son Chris received his wish, and I am still amazed and inspired how one little boy’s dream to be a policeman has touched the lives of so many thousands of people.” Linda Pauling, mother of Chris, states on the Make-A-Wish website.

The wish of a young man to become a Police Officer inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish.

Over 270,000 children in the United States and its territories have benefited by having wish’s granted. Since 1984, Make-A-Wish Michigan has granted 54 wishes to kids residing in the four western Upper Peninsula counties Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon.

According to Christy Hammond-Schulte, the Communications and Public Relations Manager for Make-A-Wish Michigan, 3 of the 54 wishes granted in the area were to meet a Celebrity, and 2 of the wishes was to go to the Super Bowl.

Of the 54 wishes granted in those 4 counties, 22 were to go to Walt Disney World Resort. 14 were for an object, such as a Playstation, above ground pool, etc.. 8 were to travel, while 5 were for a Shopping Spree.

One of the recent wishes granted came from Anna Wiseman of Ontonagon. Wiseman, along with her parents, Noah and Angie Arble, and Anna’s sister, Abby, went to Walt Disney World in 2011. Anna was 9 years old at the time her wish was granted.

“We had a great time! Give The Kids The World Village was an absolute blast! Anna also got to go to Daytona Beach, Sea World and Disney World,” stated Anna’s mother, Angie Arble.

Make-A-Wish Michigan is one of 62 chapters across the country. Although headquartered in Brighton, they cover all 83 counties throughout the state. An eligible wish child must be referred between the ages of 2 and 18 and live in Michigan. Additionally, the child’s life-threatening medical condition must be confirmed in writing by his or her primary care physician. Finally, the child cannot have received a previous wish from any wish-granting organization. The wish child can bring two adults as well as all siblings under the age of 18 living in the home with them for their wish.

“Children who may be eligible to receive a wish can be referred by one of four sources: Medical professionals, typically a doctor, nurse, social worker or child-life specialist. Parents/legal guardians of the potential wish kid; the potential wish kids; or a family member with detailed knowledge of the child’s current medical condition. We have staff in our Brighton office who can take a referral right over the phone too!” said Hammond-Schulte.

The referral website is michigan.wish.org/refer-a-child.

The Michigan Chapter of Make-A-Wish is looking for volunteers from the Western UP.

“Make-A-Wish Michigan volunteers are vital to our mission and helping us grant wishes. We have more than 550 wish-granting volunteers, who help us share the power of a wish throughout the state. We need more wish-granting volunteers in the western UP to help us grant wishes in your local community. Our wish-granting volunteers have the incredible opportunity to meet with the wish child and family in person to discover what the child’s one heartfelt wish is. Once the wish has been determined, our volunteers find ways to help enhance the wish during the planning process,” said Hammond-Schulte.

Volunteers do not necessarily need a medical background.

“Although we do have some volunteers who have a medical background, our volunteers come from a variety of professional backgrounds, and they do not have to work in the medical field. We do have our wish-granting volunteers go through a special training to prepare them for the wish interview and planning process,” saidd Hammond-Schulte.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can submit our application online by visiting the website at michigan.wish.org/volunteer.