I recently attended PAX East, and right alongside the rows of game demos and merch stalls, there was the Make-A-Wish booth. I sat down with Dalia Sadaka, Digital Marketing and Content Manager at Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, to chat about their Stream For the Wishes program.
GamingTrend: What is Stream For the Wishes?
Dalia Sadaka: Stream For the Wishes is the Make-A-Wish® charity streaming program. SFTW gives gamers, content creators, and streamers the opportunity to get involved and help grant wishes by doing what they already do and love. The Stream For the Wishes program is nationwide, but folks can opt to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish chapter in their home state. For us here at Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island, all the money raised through Stream For the Wishes stays within our two-state territory to help grant wishes for local children with critical illnesses.
GamingTrend: How can gamers and streamers get involved?
Dalia: We are looking for people and organizations who are interested in holding charity livestreams, helping us build up this program, or getting involved in their own way—we are always open to ideas. Streamers of any size can hold a charity stream whenever they want, on any platform. It’s super easy to get started; sign up on Tiltify to get your fundraising link and stream! Make-A-Wish supplies a toolkit and community for streamers.
For folks in MA & RI, the link is massri.wish.org/stream.
GamingTrend: What does Stream For the Wishes need most from people?
Dalia: We want to connect with gamers and creators who want to do good in their communities. People who participate in charity streaming are really making a difference. Specifically, here in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, I want to work with streamers who are aligned on supporting wishes and building a local community.
The gaming community is already so creative and philanthropic; we could really do such unique, great work for children with critical illnesses.
GamingTrend: How much does a wish cost?
Dalia: Wish costs vary depending on the wish type and the state/chapter within which the wish is being granted. Here at Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the average cost of a wish is $12,500. Being a chapter-model organization means that you will see the impact in your own community. No matter how much you donate or raise, you’re helping out local children with critical illnesses.
GamingTrend: Why does a wish cost $12,500?
Dalia: That’s just the average, every wish costs something different. When a wish is granted, we cover the expenses of the wish child and their family so they don’t have to spend anything out-of-pocket to have a wonderful experience. That applies for every wish we grant, whether it’s for a treehouse or shopping spree, etc. Our aim is for the wish child and their family to walk away from the wish experience with more hope, more joy, and a community.
GamingTrend: Can you explain wish granting?
Dalia: The wish journey starts with the family will get paired with two trained Make-A-Wish volunteers and a wish coordinator (full-time Make-A-Wish staff). The volunteers will meet with the family, get to know the child, and help the child understand their wish option. While Make-A-Wish staff work behind-the-scenes to grant the wish, volunteers stay in touch with the family, complete check-ins, and add a bit of magic with enhancements like gifts during the waiting period. After the wish is granted, the family is usually invited to stay connected with their chapter. For us in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, this includes our Wish Community, which is our alumni network of wish recipients and family members who have had a wish granted by our chapter.
GamingTrend: What are wish enhancements?
Dalia: Between the time a wish is approved and when it is granted, our incredible volunteers create momentum and excitement for the child while they wait. This can look like gifts, surprises, check-ins, and more. For example, some volunteers will send postcards of the wish trip destination with encouraging messages.
The timing of a wish being granted depends on many factors, especially when serving vulnerable communities like we do. For example, some kids opt to wait for their wish to be granted until after they complete treatment to give them something to look forward to. In times like this, our volunteers really step up and keep that magic and community going for our families.
GamingTrend: Can you tell us about the Wish Community?
Dalia: The Wish Community is our alumni network here in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Wish families who have had a wish granted are connected with other wish families in that group. We're helping our past wish recipients and their families connect with and support one another, share experiences, and inspire each other and our community. Having that community is so important, and we want to continue to be a beacon of hope and light for people well after a wish is granted.
GamingTrend: What is an in-kind donor?
Dalia: In-kind donors are people who dedicate time, resources, or talent to our organizations. For example, a bakery might donate cupcakes for a wish reveal, a construction company might donate supplies for a treehouse wish, a studio might donate their space for a music wish, and more. Getting involved and helping us grant wishes doesn’t have to be solely financial contributions. Within our chapter’s Stream For the Wishes program, we are partnered with the Boston Online Broadcaster Association (BOBA), a.k.a Twitch Boston. BOBA has donated gaming and live stream setups at Make-A-Wish events, for example.
Big thanks to Dalia for answering our questions!
