Corporate Partnership Revives Disney Wishes for Seriously Ill Children
Thanks to a successful corporate partnership, more young people facing life-threatening illnesses will have the chance to experience the magic of Walt Disney World in Florida. The collaboration between Raffle House, a prize draw provider, and the children's charity When You Wish Upon a Star is making this possible, with a significant donation helping to relaunch a key program.
Charity's Mission and Popular Wish
When You Wish Upon a Star, which marked its 35th anniversary last year, specializes in granting wishes to children aged four to 16 who are living with life-threatening or terminal conditions. Eligible children can request any wish within a set budget, and the charity strives to fulfill it. The most sought-after wish is a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. By partnering with the US charity Give Kids The World Village, the organization can offer these trips affordably, despite the typically high costs involved.
Impact of the Pandemic and Program Relaunch
The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the charity's ability to provide these Disney trips, with the regular program only resuming in January of this year. A crucial factor in this restart was a £19,223 donation from Raffle House towards the end of last year. This funding has enabled the charity to commit to sending 20 children and their families to Florida in 2024.
Partnership Details and Growing Support
In 2024, When You Wish Upon a Star entered into a partnership with Raffle House, a company that gives away multimillion-pound homes and other prizes through draws. A portion of each ticket sale goes to charity, and players can choose which charity partner receives their donation. The first full year of this partnership saw increasing player support for When You Wish Upon a Star, indicating that donations for 2025 will be substantially higher than before.
Charity Leadership on Stability and Future Plans
Joe Williamson, CEO of When You Wish Upon a Star, highlighted the challenges of relying on non-recurring revenue from fundraising events and community partners. He stated, "Seeing our partnership with Raffle House grow stronger each year provides stable, increasing income. This allows us to cover at least seven wishes in 2024, with hopes for more." Combined with match funding from another partner, ALB Giving, for 10 Disney wishes in 2026, the charity felt confident to restart granting its most popular wish.
To celebrate the relaunch, £14,000 of the 2025 Raffle House funds was used for a special trip in November, involving two families and ambassadors Ellie Leach and Brooke Vincent. Williamson emphasized the ongoing need, noting, "There are 130,000 eligible children in the UK, and wish-granting charities likely help less than 10% annually. We aim to raise awareness to meet this huge unmet demand."
Expanding Wish Fulfillment and Broader Impact
Last year, the charity granted 83 wishes and targets 100 by 2026. It is currently the only wish-granting charity in the UK accepting applications for trips to Florida theme parks or Disneyland Paris with families. Beyond Disney, popular wishes include meeting celebrities, sports stars, bedroom makeovers, esports setups, and technology for hospital-bound children to connect with friends.
Corporate Perspective on the Partnership
James Mieville, executive director at Raffle House, expressed admiration for the charity's work, saying, "Few charities tug at the heartstrings like When You Wish Upon a Star. Witnessing the impact of each wish on children and families has been eye-opening, and we hope our players continue to support this worthy cause."
