About Wishes
Request a Wish
Application For A Wish
Wish Request Guidelines
Examples of Wishes Waiting to be Fulfilled

About Wishes

“Granting Wishes – Touching Lives’ is not only our slogan at the Making Memories Foundation….but it is our way of making a difference in the life of one facing a terminal diagnosis of breast cancer and for their families and loved ones.

As you know, the tragedy of this illness, as with any terminal disease, is not only the physical and emotional impact, but the enormous financial strain it puts on the family. The staggering cost of treatment, hoping against all odds that the next "new discovery" will give a few more months of life, while waiting for a cure to be found. The toll on the family is devastating. When the insurance is exhausted and treatments paid for, there is little or no money left for extras, let alone for a special moment set apart from the everyday sadness and turmoil of "saying goodbye."

It is a well established fact that breast cancer will affect “one in seven” women in their lifetime but what is seldom considered is what that diagnosis does to those who love and care for the one struggling with one of life’s greatest ordeals…….their mortality.  Suddenly two family incomes become one, insurance runs out or may never have been there in the first place and alternative treatments, which may or may not help, can take away every other available dollar.

Making Memories wishes are granted by the help of individuals, companies, corporations, family members and loved ones who hope to make a difference in the lives of those suffering from this devastating disease.

Request a Wish

Send a letter to Making Memories Foundation explaining your wish request. The letter of request must be written by the breast cancer patient, his or her caregiver or an immediate family member. Please describe the wish, why assistance is requested and the importance and meaning of this memory-making event to you, or why it would “Make a Difference” in your life. We ask for two wish requests—the first request being the one you would most like to have granted and the second being your second choice if the first wish goes un-granted by a potential donor.*  E-mail or send this letter to Making Memories Foundation and ask for a Wish Application Packet. wishdirector@makingmemories.org

When submitting a wish request, you give the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation permission to share that request, in its entirety, with potential wish grantors. Wishes are granted as donors are found and/or funds are raised for each wish request. For Priority Wish Requests we also ask for names of loved ones, family members, business associates or others you feel might welcome an opportunity to help make your wish come true. Making Memories is happy to send the letters to your “wish family and friends” list or to provide you with letters and stamped envelopes to share with them yourself.  Wishes can be granted even more quickly when those you know and care about have an opportunity to share in making your dream come true.

Wish Request Guidelines

Wish Recipient must be diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer that has metastasized to a major organ and facing a terminal diagnosis by their physician. A terminal diagnosis is described as having one year or less to live.

The wish must be requested by the “Wish Recipient”. A second party may make the initial contact to request a Wish Application Packet. The second party may assist the Wish Recipient in filling out the requested information. The wish must be one requested by the Recipient and not one the second party decides to request on Recipient’s behalf. The purpose for this stipulation is well-meaning friends and loved ones may have a wish to see that the recipient do something they feel would be memorable for them, when in truth, the actual wish a recipient may ask for would be something they have never told anyone they would like. (Such as having their memoirs    published in lieu of a Disney World vacation.)

The wish must be the recipients only wish granted by a wish granting organization. The wish may not be granted concurrently with another Foundation’s assistance or if a wish has been granted previously.

The wish request must be safe and not pose extraordinary hazard to the recipient or the wish participants. 

 The wish must take place in the United States. Wish requests for foreign travel are unable to be granted. (Exceptions include second honeymoons to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.) 

Wish recipient must send a personal/compelling wish request letter noting their first and alternate wish request. We ask for two wish requests - the first request being the one most hoped for and the second being the alternate request in the event the first wish is unable to be granted for any reason.

 *Please note that Making Memories events and items are donated by family, friends and acquaintances of the wish recipient, as well as individuals, companies and corporations who might wish  to “Make A Difference” in the lives of one suffering from this devastating disease. Your submission of a wish request gives the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation your PERMISSION to share that request, in its entirety with potential wish grantors including your immediate family members, friends and associates. 

Wish Recipient must complete, sign and send the Wish request/Information/Application Form including Confidential Financial Information and the Memory/Wish Agreement.

Wish Recipient must complete, sign and send the HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Form.

Wish Recipients primary physician must fill out and return to Making Memories the Medical Statement of Wish Eligibility and Consent to Participate.

A current original photograph of the wish recipient and those participating in the wish must be included with the completed Wish Request/Information/Application Form. This photo cannot be faxed. 

For wish requests that include a Disneyworld excursion; a completed Disney Compassion Partners Medical Authorization Form must be completed by the primary care physician. (This form is only included when the wish request is for a Disney World trip. This form is included in the Wish Packet and is in addition to the Physicians Medical Statement of Eligibility and Consent to Participate which must  be filled out for each wish request.

Application For A Wish

Contact Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation and request this application by way of an  e-mail request, regular mail or call 503-829-8846. Upon request, we will send you a Making Memories Wish Application Packet in the mail.

If you have any questions about the process, contact Anna Nelson, Wish Director, at   503-829-4486 or send email to wishdirector@makingmemories.org   Complete and return the packet of information to:

Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation
ATTENTION: Anna Orr, Wish Director
715 June Drive
Molalla, OR 97038

Phone: 503-829-4866  Fax: 503-829-3871

E-Mail:  wishdirector@makingmemories.org

Please note that many Making Memories events and items are donated by individuals, companies and corporations who wish to “Make A Difference” in the lives of those suffering from this devastating disease.  Your submission of a request gives the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation your PERMISSION to share that request, in its entirety, with potential wish grantors. Wishes are granted as donors are found.

We are unable to grant wishes for:

• Automobiles, RV’s
• Cash or property
• Large animals such as horses, alpacas, llamas, etc.
• Funds for college education(s)
• Foreign travel
• Disney Cruises
• Funds for medical treatments/medical supplies/equipment
• Funds for legal assistance/attorney fees
• Funds for home remodeling, room additions, pools or spas
• Surprise Wish Requests (The wish must be requested by the recipient)
• Making Memories reserves the right to add additional items to this list
• Exceptions may be made for Priority Wish Requests

Help Grant a Wish

Chances are that someone you know and love has been or will be affected by breast cancer. The disease has reached near-epidemic proportions with one in seven women being diagnosed during their lifetime. While research continues to ramp up in the search for a cure, that goal has unfortunately not yet been reached.

Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation has found a unique approach to bring joy to terminal breast cancer patients, for whom the research is too late. Granting wishes and providing memory-making events that might not otherwise have been possible because of financial constraints due to fighting a terminal diagnosis.  Together we can make wishes and dreams come true.  The kind of wishes you would ask for your family if faced with “saying goodbye” so soon.

You, your family or your company can adopt an entire wish or any small part of a wish waiting to be granted. Often, the recipient requests your name to personally thank you for your kindness. However, you may request your gift be given anonymously.  If you would like to help make a special wish or memory-making event come true, please contact Anna Nelson, Wish Director.

Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation
ATTENTION: Anna Nelson, Wish Director
270 Probe Street
 Molalla, OR 97038

Phone: 503-829-4866  Fax: 503-829-3871

E-Mail:  wishdirector@makingmemories.org

Examples of Wishes Waiting to be Fulfilled

The following wish requests are an example of those we receive from women and men across the nation. If you would like to help grant a wish, please contact Anna Nelson at wishdirector@makingmemories.org

• Sue - Wishes for a trip to Disney World and to swim with the Dolphins for her husband and three sons.
• Virginia - Vacation with her family in Hawaii.
• Melissa - Requests roundtrip plane tickets to bring her parents to visit her in NY.
• Marion - To visit Cape Cod and see the New England States.
• Lauren - Would like to take her two daughters and husband to Disney World.
• Paula - Computer to search for information regarding her cancer and hope for a cure.
• Gina – Second honeymoon with her husband.
• Greta - Would like to spend a week with her mother in Hawaii.
• Lisa – New carpet for her home.
• Carol - To bring her small family from different parts of the country for a reunion.
• June - Requests help in repairing her automobile
• Linda – Wishes to take her husband and four children to Disney World

Your gift of $50 will provide presents for the children visiting Disney.                                     Your gift of $75 will provide dinner for a family of four.                                                          Your gift of $125 will purchase two Disney World tickets.                                               Your gift of $225 will provide 7-days car rental for a family traveling.                             Your gift of $250 - $500 will provide the airfare for the wish recipient or family member to fly to the desired destination.                                                                                             Your gift of $500 - $800 will provide a weeks hotel accommodations for a family to stay at the Magic Kingdom.

Your gift of any amount is greatly appreciated and needed to help fulfill the many wish requests we receive. Please send your tax deductible donation to Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, 270 Probe Street, Molalla, OR 97038

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW

Southwest Airlines frequent flyer vouchers are greatly appreciated and needed for most of our wish requests. If you have a transferable voucher that you would like to donate from Southwest or any other airline, please contact Anna Nelson, Wish Director, at 503-829-4486 OR send an email to: wishdirector@makingmemories.org

We often have requests for camcorders to leave behind recorded messages to children, grandchildren, husbands and family members. If you would like to donate a camcorder, please contact Anna Nelson.

Examples of Wishes Granted