60 ill children lose out on wish as cash dries up
The Make A Wish charity says it is suffering the fallout from the controversies which rocked the charity sector over the past year, with public trust and donations taking a hammering as a result.
“Our fundraising is down 30% this year,” said CEO Susan O’Dwyer.
“We granted 210 wishes last year but we have a target of 150 this year and we now have more than 200 children on our waiting list.”
The charity, which has been working in Ireland for 21 years, yesterday published its first annual report in an effort to show its commitment to transparency and invite the public to scrutinise its finances.
“We can survive overseas crises, we can survive downturns in the economy, but the one thing that is a very big challenge for the sector is the lack of public trust and that needs to be re-established,” said Ms O’Dwyer.
While fundraising is becoming ever more sophisticated and fundraising events more elaborate, the time-honoured cake sale and pub quiz are still crucial to the charity and it is here the fall-off in donations is most notable.
“We have seen a severe decline in this area and that is something that really is directly attributed to the lack of trust from the public in relation to the entire sector,” said Ms O’Dwyer.
“What I would urge the public today is to realise that they can trust Make A Wish and we would urge that you would continue to support this wonderful charity.
“We have over 200 children on our waiting list at the moment. These are children who need to have their wish granted in order that their whole family can experience that moment in time, that magic, and create those wonderful memories that are so badly needed.”
The charity raised €1.7m last year but spent €1.83m, which meant dipping into its cash reserves. It has reduced its average employee numbers from 12 a month to 11this year, but will have to use cash reserves once again for the 150 wishes it hopes to grant.
Since 1992, Make A Wish has granted more than 1,600 wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses who asked for everything from having a treehouse to a ride in a Ferrari.
“No two wishes are ever the same,” said Ms O’Dwyer. “When our volunteers go to meet our wish families, they find out not only about the child’s wish but the child’s favourite colour, favourite drink, favourite music, so that absolutely everything to do with the wish is specific and unique to that child.”
Basil Elnazir, consultant paediatrician at the National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght, said he and his colleagues fully supported the charity’s work.
“We believe in the difference a wish makes,” said Dr Elnazir. “It brings a smile to our children’s faces and gives them something to look forward to.”
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