Little Wishes

I’m so lucky to serve on the board of Little Wishes, a small, but truly mighty organization that brings moments of joy, comfort, and hope to seriously ill children living through long and difficult hospital stays. Founded by pediatric oncology/PICU nurses, Little Wishes gives children the power to choose something that will brighten their day — often right from their hospital room. These wishes are not just gifts. They are moments of control, celebration, distraction, and light at a time when families need it most. You can see for yourself how meaningful this work is through some of the shared stories on their website: https://lnkd.in/gcGT_5ni What makes this organization even more extraordinary is the scale of its impact. With only a very small team, Little Wishes now serves 51 hospitals across 29 states, with more than 75 hospitals on the waitlist. That is an incredible testament to the need for this work and the passion, discipline, and heart behind this organization. Having worked alongside the Founder and the Little Wishes team, I have seen how deeply meaningful this work is. The impact is immediate, personal, and truly profound. Little Wishes is gearing up for its upcoming fundraising events for 2026 and sponsorships are available. If you or your company are looking for a way to make a very real difference for children and families facing serious illness, I really hope you will consider supporting this extraordinary organization and come join us for the events - I would love to see you there!! We are also looking for great auction items for these events! If you have something you'd like to donate to the auction, please DM me. Thank you so much!! Sponsorship information is here: https://lnkd.in/gf-DFGZ6 And here is a tag to Little Wishes so you can go learn more about the moments of joy they are working hard to create: Little Wishes

Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation Expands Support for Little Wishes, Bringing Joy to Hospitalized Children Across New England The Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation has deepened its commitment to improving the lives of seriously ill, hospitalized children by expanding its support of Little Wishes. Since 2022, the Foundation has partnered with Little Wishes to help create thousands of meaningful moments of joy for children facing extended hospital stays and life-threatening diagnoses. The Foundation has generously committed $180,000 to fund all Little Wishes granted at four hospitals in New England over the next three years. This transformational grant will also allow Little Wishes to launch for the first time at two hospitals previously on the organization’s waitlist, significantly expanding access to joy-filled experiences for children and families in the region. Founded by two pediatric nurses, Little Wishes was created to address the emotional toll of long hospitalizations. While medical care focuses on healing the body, children often face profound emotional isolation as they miss school, birthdays, holidays, and everyday childhood moments. Little Wishes bridges that gap by empowering children to choose a wish every two weeks, restoring a sense of joy, control, and normalcy during an otherwise overwhelming time. Children often spend hours thoughtfully selecting their wishes, transforming fear into anticipation and hope. Wishes are delivered year-round by the child’s own medical team, ensuring that no milestone goes uncelebrated. From birthdays in the ICU and hospital rooms transformed for the holidays to superhero costumes that help a child feel brave before a procedure, Little Wishes ensures that childhood moments are never lost to illness. “As caregivers, we see firsthand how moments of joy can change the entire tone of a hospital room, offering relief, connection, and light when it is needed most,” said Nurse Laura, Founder and President of Little Wishes. “We are beyond grateful to the Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation for deepening our reach and making these moments of joy possible for so many more seriously ill children and the medical teams who care for them every day.” Since its founding in 2003, Little Wishes has granted over 36,000 wishes, expanding its reach to 48 hospitals across 26 states. Beyond the children who receive wishes, the program brings comfort and light to families and uplifts hospital staff who witness the powerful impact of these moments at the bedside. Every wish granted is more than a gift. It is a reminder that even in the darkest times, joy, hope, and magic are still possible. For more information about Little Wishes or to learn how to support its mission, visit www.littlewishes.org