Kids Wish Network is a charitable organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children having experienced life-altering situations. Celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year the national Kids Wish Network has been on Icebox MFG’s charitable radar since 2010. Icebox is just a small contributor of the many great organizations and people that volunteer to help the KSN each day. Scott Baker owner of Icebox MFG says “Just sending 3 dozen kids sized hats makes me feel really great. I’m happy to help and provide a warm comfortable hat to these kids that are going through a life altering experience at such a young age.”
What started with the single purpose of granting a wish for a local child suffering with a critical illness, has grown into a national organization that now serves thousands of children each year.
While coping with a family member’s battle against cancer, Kids Wish Network’s founders witnessed firsthand the trauma pediatric cancer patients and their family’s undergo during those painful and debilitating treatments. It was then, gathered around the kitchen table during a conversation about the struggles these families face that Kids Wish Network was born and their first wish was granted.
As KWN worked with doctors and hospitals involved in the lives of our Wish Kids, they saw other young patients struggling with life-altering situations. Recognizing that their need for relief from hospital stays, doctor visits, and painful medical treatments were not being met by any other organization KWN expanded their mission to include additional key programs:
- Courageous kids who overcome difficult circumstances, everything from complicated surgery to debilitating injuries to homelessness and abuse, are honored monthly as Heroes.
- Sick and impoverished kids across the United States experience “Miles of Smiles” through our Project Toy Drop events and feel joy and hope in knowing their community cares.
- When our Wish families face the loss of their child KWN are there for them, devoted to helping our wish families honor their child in a respectful and dignified manner by offering financial assistance towards a proper memorial ceremony through A Child Forever funeral assistance program.
It is only through the generosity and commitment of Kids Wish Network donors that they are able to celebrate 20 years of hope. So very many were right there with us in the beginning and they remain with us today as our treasured Guardian Angels. Caring. Giving. Supporting us in whatever way was needed. 1
1 – https://www.kidswishnetwork.org/about/our-history/ “Kids Wish Network History”