Full Breakdown
Make-A-Wish Israel Marks 30 Years with Rosh Hashanah Fundraising Drive
By Drooid · · How we work
30th-Anniversary Appeal
Make-A-Wish Israel celebrated its 30th anniversary by launching a Rosh Hashanah fundraising appeal. The campaign highlights that the charity has granted more than 6,500 wishes to children living with critical illnesses since its founding in 1996. The appeal seeks donations to fund additional experiences—such as meetings with public figures, family vacations, and “day-in-the-life” opportunities—for other children and their families.
Background & Context
Denise and Avi Bar-Aharon established the Israeli branch in 1996 in memory of Denise’s brother, David Spero. The organization operates as part of the international Make-A-Wish network and serves children aged three to 18 with serious medical conditions. Wishes are arranged through the charity’s website and include a range of personalized experiences.
Key Figures & Groups
- Denise Bar-Aharon – Co-founder and CEO of Make-A-Wish Israel.
- Avi Bar-Aharon – Co-founder of Make-A-Wish Israel.
- Isaac Herzog – President of Israel, who met a wish child in August.
- Arbel Rot – 14-year-old child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who participated in a wish experience organized by the charity.
Official Statements & Responses
The organization’s release notes that Arbel Rot’s meeting with President Herzog took place at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on August 11. Denise Bar-Aharon emphasized that the holiday appeal aims to create similar moments of relief and joy for other families.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This New Year, may we all remember how incredible the gift of giving is. Nothing in the world feels as good as granting a wish to an Israeli Make-A-Wish child with a critical illness,” — Denise Bar-Aharon, the organization’s co-founder and CEO, in the release
These elements together illustrate how Make-A-Wish Israel leverages its three-decade legacy to mobilize support for children facing life-threatening health challenges.