Wish Recipient Uses Wish to Provide Furry
Friends to Patients at Seattle Children's Hospital
ST.
LOUIS, Sept. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
Build-A-Bear Foundation, in partnership with
Make-A-Wish®, recently fulfilled the wish of 18-year-old
Krystin to give back to the youngest of patients at Seattle
Children's Hospital. Krystin, who was diagnosed with leukemia in
2022 and is cancer-free today, was granted a wish by Make-A-Wish
just as she graduated high school.
Krystin's wish is special because she
selflessly used her own wish to provide special bears to
patients.
Krystin's wish was to bring joy to children dealing with serious
illness. Her story is told in a heartwarming new video, viewable on
the Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington YouTube channel. To grant
Krystin's wish, Build-A-Bear Foundation brought a full bear-making
experience to more than 100 patients and siblings at Seattle
Children's Hospital. Kids chose from a variety of furry friends and
clothing items, participated in the brand's iconic Heart Ceremony,
and brought their furry friends to life on-site with help from
Build-A-Bear's world-class Bear Builders.
Build-A-Bear furry friends have provided comfort, support and
companionship to children for the past 25 years. Krystin's wish is
extra special because she selflessly used her own wish to provide
these special bears to the patients.
"Krystin's wish to give back was amazing to watch unfold," said
Melissa Arias, president and CEO of
Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington.
"To be given a wish and immediately think of how you can make a
difference in someone else's life, that's really special and
unique. We are incredibly grateful to Build-A-Bear Foundation and
Seattle Children's Hospital for teaming up with us to help grant
Krystin's wish. Thank you for bringing hope and joy to children
with critical illnesses and for creating memories that will last a
lifetime."
"Granting a wish is something every Bear Builder hopes to do
someday," said Sisi Beltran, Vice
President and Executive Director of Build-A-Bear Foundation. "Our
partnership with Make-A-Wish is a natural extension of our core
values and giving mission. When a young leader like Krystin uses
their wish to serve others, the entire Build-A-Bear team is honored
to help make it happen."
Build-A-Bear Foundation adds a little more heart to life thanks
to partners like Make-A-Wish, who have partnered with the brand to
grant more than 500 transformational wishes for kids with critical
illness. On average, Build-A-Bear's Bear Builders grant a wish
somewhere in the United States
every week.
ABOUT BUILD-A-BEAR FOUNDATION
Build-A-Bear Foundation adds a little more heart to life by
sharing hugs, inspiring creativity, and supporting those in need. A
501(c)3 organization, Build-A-Bear Foundation's core focus is to
support children's literacy programs as a path to social and
educational equity. Build-A-Bear Foundation also provides financial
and furry friend donations to organizations that support children's
health and wellness, disaster relief, and families in need of
essential supplies. Since 1997, Build-A-Bear has donated more than
$22 million and 1.5 million furry friends to charitable causes
around the world. For more information, please visit
www.buildabearfoundation.org.
ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH®
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with
critical illnesses. Headquartered 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 24,000 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 520,000 wishes in nearly 50 countries worldwide; more
than 350,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more
information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.
ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH® ALASKA & WASHINGTON
Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington seeks to bring every eligible
child's wish to life because every child deserves a childhood.
Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the
physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness.
Since Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington was founded in 1986, more than
8,000 wishes have been granted for children in the local community.
Learn more at Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington.
ABOUT SEATTLE
CHILDREN'S
Seattle Children's mission is to provide hope, care and cures to
help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life
possible. Together, Seattle Children's Hospital, Research Institute
and Foundation deliver superior patient care, identify new
discoveries and treatments through pediatric research, and raise
funds to create better futures for patients.
Ranked as one of the top children's hospitals in the country by
U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Children's serves as
the pediatric and adolescent academic medical center for
Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho – the largest region of any children's
hospital in the country. As one of the nation's top five pediatric
research centers, Seattle Children's Research Institute is
internationally recognized for its work in neurosciences,
immunology, cancer, infectious disease, injury prevention and much
more. Seattle Children's Foundation, along with Seattle Children's
Guild Association – the largest all volunteer fundraising network
for any hospital in the country – works with our generous community
to raise funds for lifesaving care and research.
For more information, visit seattlechildrens.org or follow us on
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram or on our On the Pulse
blog.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/build-a-bear-foundation-partners-with-make-a-wish-to-give-back-through-krystins-wish-301926738.html
SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop