There are few children in the world who don’t have extravagant daydreams of things they’d like to do, but there are even fewer children who have an opportunity to see their dreams realized.

And that’s where the Make a Wish Foundation comes in.

Make a Wish, founded in 1986 by Jim Forbes, makes dreams come true for children who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. The children, who must be between the ages of 30 months and 18 years, are referred by medical professionals, parents and, of course, the children themselves, said Tracy Dain, wish coordinator for the mid-sou...