From Wish Kid to World Changer: Make-A-Wish Launches Inaugural Starblazer Awards to Honor Outstanding Wish Alumni

The awards spotlight previous wish recipients who have grown up to make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world

PHOENIX, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Make-A-Wish^® is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural Starblazer Awards, a national recognition program celebrating exceptional wish alumni—previous wish recipients—who have transformed their wish experiences into lifelong missions of impact and leadership in their industries, workplaces, and communities.

These awards honor the lasting power of a wish and the remarkable individuals who continue to embody hope, resilience, and generosity long after their wishes were granted. Nominations for the award are currently open, and we invite communities across the country to nominate local wish alumni who continue to inspire and lead through their stories at wish.org/starblazer. 

"Some people still believe that Make-A-Wish is only for children with terminal diagnoses, but that's not the case. In fact, for most of the children we serve, a wish is a springboard, delivering hope, strength, and joy that provides lasting impact as they grow into adulthood," said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. "The Starblazer Awards celebrate that lasting impact. Our wish alumni are proof that a single moment of hope can spark a lifetime of purpose."

Nominees must be Make-A-Wish alumni and can be nominated by anyone, including the alumni themselves. Award recipients will be celebrated throughout the year through national platforms and signature events.

With more than 375,000 wish alumni nationwide, Make-A-Wish witnesses the lasting impact as former wish recipients become doctors, teachers, advocates, and entrepreneurs who make meaningful differences in their communities. Many credit their wish experience with inspiring them to envision life beyond illness.

The inaugural Starblazer Awards are made possible by generous contributions from the awards' founders. Benefactors Jim and Colleen Clark through their private family foundation, along with Michael Halle, have established the first two Starblazer Awards. Their leadership gifts provide significant unrestricted support for the organization, while also allowing them to create a unique recognition award.

Jim and Colleen Clark reside in Austin, Texas, and have created the Olivia Colleen Starblazer Award in honor of their granddaughter, a wish recipient. Their private family foundation has made previous generous gifts to help grant wishes across the country.

The Michael Halle Award has been established by Michael Halle of Phoenix, Ariz. A long-time supporter of Make-A-Wish, Halle has been active in the Arizona chapter for years through giving and participation in the annual Wish Ball.  

Future Starblazer Awards may be established by donors through the program. Visit wish.org/starblazer to learn more.

About Make-A-Wish^®
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the #1 most trusted nonprofit operating locally in all 50 states throughout the U.S. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 20,000 volunteers across the country, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 615,000 wishes worldwide; more than 390,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

SOURCE MAKE-A-WISH AMERICA