Travis Chandler

January 12, 2010

Travis Chandler is in the enviable business of making wishes come true for children.

"If a child wants to be a super hero," he told Putnam Rotarians today, "we can make it happen.

"We've worked with police, fire departments and community agencies," he says. "We may set up a 'crime scene' at City Hall to be resolved by our child -- working as Batman.

"A child wanted to meet Adam Sandler. We sent him to New York City where he met the actor. They gave him a part in a movie that will be out in October.

"One of our wish-referral children wanted a dinosaur," Chandler says. "While he was away for a few days, we got a construction company to build a 15-20 foot tyrannosaurus rex. It was waiting for him in his back yard when he came home."

Chandler's boss is the Make-a-Wish Foundation which today counts 65 chapters in the U. S. and 33 countries around the world.

The Foundation has granted more than 163,000 wishes since its 1980 start in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia, which dates from 1983, is the first chapter in the world to fulfill more than 700 wishes in one year.

The Foundation is searching for children and families who need a special show of community support to get through critical periods in their lives.

"Word-of-mouth is the best way to get referrals," said Chandler. "That's why I am here today. We need to get the word out to schools, hospitals, churches."

Many people have heard of Make-a-Wish, says Chandler, but there are some misunderstandings.

Wishes are not restricted to children in terminal circumstances. "Eighty-five to ninety percent of our children go on to healthy futures. But they need this to help them and their families get through some difficult times.

"Anyone can make a referral for a wish. The child has to be between 2½ to 18 years of age. We make sure the family knows about the referral. Then we contact the child's doctor to make sure the child is a candidate for our services.

"There is no delay," Chandler assured the group. "If we get 15 referrals in one day, then we have 15 teams working on them.

"Our goal is to have a wish done in three months.

"The average cost of a wish is about $3,400. Last year we granted 87 wishes at a cost of $300,000." .