Children’s Wishes Featured on Cumulus Community
Children’s Wishes Executive Director Mary O’Rourke recently joined host Vic Edwards on Cumulus Community, a weekly public affairs program highlighting organizations and issues affecting the local community.
During the interview, Mary discussed the history of Children’s Wishes, the families the organization serves, and the many ways its work extends beyond granting a single wish.
Founded in 2009, Children’s Wishes grants wishes to children between the ages of two and a half and 18 who are facing life-threatening medical conditions. While most of the children served are from Rhode Island, the organization also supports some families from nearby Massachusetts.
Because Children’s Wishes remains locally focused, its team is able to build lasting relationships with wish families.
“We’re still in touch with families right from the very beginning,” Mary explained. “We’re able to offer them that ongoing support.”
Wishes as Unique as Each Child
A wish may be a family trip to Disney, but every child has different interests and dreams. Children’s Wishes has helped create experiences ranging from trips to Hawaii and Google headquarters to a recent visit to WrestleMania in Las Vegas.
Other wishes may happen closer to home. One young man, for example, wished for a home gym.
The process is never rushed. Children and their families are given the time they need to decide what would be most meaningful to them.
“The sky’s the limit,” Mary said. “We meet with the families and try to make these dreams come true for these kids.”
Children’s Wishes has granted 151 wishes, with an additional 33 wishes currently in progress.
Supporting the Entire Family
The interview also highlighted the organization’s extensive family programming. A child’s illness affects parents, siblings and the entire family, so Children’s Wishes works to provide opportunities for families to connect, relax and support one another outside of hospitals and medical appointments.
Programs and resources include:
- The On Par Golf Academy
- Wishing You Wellness
- The Journey Fund
- Words for Wishes
- The Connect Fund
- Brinn’s Closet
- Seasonal family gatherings and picnics
- The returning Starbound Performing Arts Program
These programs give wish children and their siblings opportunities to learn new skills, express themselves and spend time with other families who understand the challenges they are experiencing.
Mary shared the story behind Brinn’s Closet, which provides costumes and dress-up clothing for children. The program was inspired by Brinn, who wore 33 princess dresses during her radiation treatments.
Through partnerships with local organizations, Children’s Wishes also offers activities such as golf lessons, wellness opportunities, performing arts and country line dancing.
Creating Moments of Joy
At the heart of every wish and every program is the opportunity to create joy during an incredibly difficult time.
Seeing a child who has been through so much smile and relax is meaningful not only for that child, but also for parents and siblings.
“There are positive things happening in the midst of all this heartache,” Mary said.
Listen to the full Cumulus Community interview below to learn more about Children’s Wishes, its programs and the families it serves.
To learn more about Children’s Wishes, support a wish or get involved, please explore our website.