OUR MISSION

Wishes are more than just a nice thing.

A wish experience can be a turning point for a child with a life-threatening medical condition. This one belief guides us in everything we do at Make-A-Wish® East Tennessee. It inspires us to grant wishes that change the lives of the kids we serve. It compels us to be creative in exceeding the expectations of every wish kid. It drives us to make our donated resources go as far as possible.

Most of all, it's the founding principle of our vision to grant the wish of every eligible child.

Wishes are more than just a nice thing, they are a need to have a experience, and they are far more than gifts, or singular events in time. Wishes impact everyone involved - wish kids, wish families, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals and communities. The impact varies. For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments. Parents might finally feel like they can be optimistic. And still others might realize all they have to offer the world through volunteer work or philanthropy.

Whatever the odds, whatever the obstacles ... wishes find a way to make the world better.

”We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.”

 

EAST TENNESSEE CHAPTER

Make-A-Wish East Tennessee began granting wishes in 1988. This year marks 28 years of granting wishes to children in East Tennessee. Over 1,500 wishes have been granted during the past 30 years; those wishes include countless plane tickets, hotel rooms, and memories to last a lifetime for the 1,500+ wish kids and their families. This would not have been possible if not for our generous donors, volunteers, community organizations, wish kids and wish families! We serve 36 counties throughout East Tennessee, including Chattanooga and surrounding areas, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities.

For Make-A-Wish East Tennessee, when we are working towards the milestone of 30 years, we began to reached our wish to reach every eligible child and grant their most heartfelt wish. Our goals are to increase the awareness of Make-A-Wish East Tennessee, provide more unique and engaging fundraising opportunities, and also celebrate and thank those who have helped us get to where we are today.

Your East Tennessee Chapter currently grants approximately 70-80 wishes per year. With help and the building of our East Tennessee communities, Make-A-Wish East Tennessee will be able to reach more families and impact additional lives right here in our backyard.

As an organization, we would be thrilled to have you as part of our team. Without kind and generous people like you, the Make-A-Wish East Tennessee mission would not be possible. Thank you for your interest in Make-A-Wish East Tennessee. We can’t wait to grow with you through the Trailblaze Challenge journey.