Make-A-Wish(R) International Celebrates World Wish Day(R) by Launching Its Largest Social Engagement Campaign Ever

PHOENIX, April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

This April, Make-A-Wish International launched the organization's largest single social engagement campaign ever - at worldwish.org/shareyourwish. The initiative was launched in order to raise vital funds to make more wishes possible for children with life-threatening medical conditions around the globe.

The campaign celebrates the fourth annual World Wish Day^®, the global celebration of wish granting, culminating on 29 April with a series of celebratory events in the nearly 50 countries around the world that the organization operates. Events include: the granting of 33 wishes in Argentina; ringing of the opening stock exchange bells in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Portugal; the granting of over 100 wishes across India and a World Wish Day celebration with Make-A-Wish International President and CEO, Jon Stettner; and a celebration for hundreds of wish children, families and supporters at the Zun Leisure Park in Taipei, Taiwan.

Make-A-Wish International sponsors Mattel, CNN International, Brooks Brothers, TIME (EMEA, Asia and South Pacific), FORTUNE (Europe), The Economist (Asia) and TheAtlantic.com, are joining the cause - doing their part to demonstrate the power of a wish this World Wish Day.

Make-A-Wish International President and CEO, Jon Stettner, says "The impact our wish experience has on wish children, families and communities around the globe is truly life-changing. This World Wish Day we are launching our largest social engagement campaign in order to raise the vital funds and awareness necessary to achieve our global mission. World Wish Day allows people from all over the world to come together to help make more wishes come true."

Visitors are asked to join the global network of Make-A-Wish supporters by sharing their wish and making a small donation via an interactive interface at worldwish.org/shareyourwish. Make-A-Wish International is expanding its social media outreach and engagement with followers and fans via its Facebook, Twitter (through celebrity support and the #shareyourwish and #worldwishday hashtags) and YouTube pages, in addition to the activity at worldwish.org/shareyourwish, to raise awareness for the campaign and the organization's mission.

You can Join the World^[SM] by helping Make-A-Wish bring even more joy to children through your support of World Wish Day. Visit worldwish.org/shareyourwish to share your wish, make a donation and learn more about World Wish Day.

Notes to Editors:

About World Wish Day^®

On 29 April 2013 Make-A-Wish^® International celebrates the fourth World Wish Day^®. Make-A-Wish affiliates and chapters around the world will grant and publicly dedicate at least one wish in celebration of this global day of wish granting, representing a wish being granted to children in the nearly 50 countries the organization operates. A world of wishes awaits. Visit worldwish.org/shareyourwish to share your wish, make a donation, or spread the word to do your part in joining this worldwide effort to bring hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions around the world. #Shareyourwish at worldwish.org/shareyourwish.

About Make-A-Wish^®

Make-A-Wish^® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world's largest wish-granting organization, serving children in nearly 50 countries on five continents. With the help of generous donors and more than 30,000 volunteers worldwide, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the world every 23 minutes. Since 1980, it has granted more than 300,000 wishes to children around the world. For more information about Make-A-Wish International, visit worldwish.org and for more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.