Line #96 Main/MakeAWishContribution


1	Non-profit organizations such as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make-A-Wish_Foundation Make-A-Wish]] specialize in giving once-in-a-lifetime experiences to children with deadly illnesses. Though vacations and expensive items are the most common wishes, a lot of children wish to meet celebrities. This can result in one-on-one meetings or even the celebrity taking them to visit the set of whatever they're working on, or even allowing them to watch a movie well in advance before its release date.
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3	However, the Make-A-Wish Contribution takes this even further. Sometimes, a child's wish request will result in them causing something in the work to exist. This can be a cameo, a background detail inspired by them, or suggesting an idea that ends up in the work.
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5	Sometimes is a case of ThrowItIn or a PromotedFanboy. This can be an ActorInspiredElement if the person is acting in the work, or a MemorialCharacter if the child passes away. A sub-trope of RealitySubtext. Compare ContestWinnerCameo and OfficialFanSubmittedContent.
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7	Note that this is exclusively an American trope, as the Make-A-Wish Foundation only operates in the U.S., through there's similar organizations in other countries.
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9	----
10	!!Examples:
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12	[[foldercontrol]]
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14	[[folder:Fan Works]]
15	* pokeyinmypocket is a Make-A-Wish Foundation kid whose wish was to meet [=DisneyFanatic2364=], known for her series ''Fanfic/BrideOfDiscord'', and help her with her videos. She wound up contributing art to and voicing Twilight's daughter Twinkle and Rarity's youngest daughter Jewel in Episode 8 of ''Daughter Of Discord''.
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18	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
19	* Miranda Ram-Nolte was a terminally ill teenager who got to be a voice actress via Make-A-Wish Foundation. She had two voice roles before she passed away in 2014: ''WesternAnimation/BarbiePrincessCharmSchool'' and ''WesternAnimation/TwinkleToes''; both of these works had her play [[TheDanza a character named Miranda]].
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22	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
23	* In ''Film/CopOut'', a Make-A-Wish kid plays the student driver who runs over Bruce Willis' character under the El-Train.
24	* The line in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' where Thor says Hulk is a "friend from work" was a recommendation from a "Make-A-Wish" kid that visited the production. Everyone thought it was brilliant.
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27	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
28	* An episode of ''Series/CakeBoss'' had Buddy take in four girls from the Make-A-Wish Foundation whose dreams were to be bakers, and he made one-of-a-kind cakes with them before making a hot air balloon cake for a reception that Make-A-Wish was holding.
29	* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "[[Recap/DoctorWho1985JFIGSAFixWithSontarans A Fix with Sontarans]]" was a {{Crossover}} with Creator/JimmySavile's ''Jim'll Fix It'', a show where wishes of children were fulfilled, after Gareth Jenkins asked to "go inside the TARDIS."
30	* An indirect example comes from ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', as the opening monologue of one of Creator/JohnMulaney's episodes partially centers around his experience spending the day with Make-A-Wish kid Elizabeth, including touring around the SNL set.
31	* Within the cast of ''Series/PowerRangersBeastMorphers'', there exists a non-canonical Beast Morphers Orange Ranger: [[https://powerrangers.fandom.com/wiki/Tyler_Rinker Tyler Rinker]], an 8-year old boy from New Jersey whose greatest wish is to be an Orange Power Ranger so he can make the world a safer place for everyone. Tyler's wish came true at the 2019 Make-A-Wish New Jersey Gala, complete with a costume for him and a [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/powerrangers/images/e/ea/MMPR-040-SDCC-BeastMorphersOrangeRanger-Montes-Promo.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20190708160412 Comic-Con exclusive comic variant cover]].
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34	[[folder:Podcasts]]
35	* ''Podcast/CoxNCrendor'': The special episode "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6-BXtyrO-U Talia & Jesse: A Pizza Advice]]" was made after Talia asked to be in an episode of Cox n' Crendor Animated through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Jesse spent two days in Seattle hanging out with her, and one of their conversations was animated for the video. She passed away before the video could be completed, but it was released on her 16th birthday and [[InMemoriam dedicated to her]].
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38	[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
39	* ''Series/BarneyAndFriends'': A girl named Elizabeth [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=AKT26cpmzdY got to visit the set of the show]] as her wish.
40	* A young fan of the Muppets with bone cancer, Kristina Donnelly, got to work as a puppeteer for ''Film/MuppetsFromSpace'' as her wish. She operated Baab the Sheep.
41	* There have been several kids who wished to be on ''Series/SesameStreet''. For unknown reasons, they do not appear on the show itself, but rather get videos filmed where they interact with the Muppets on the set.
42	** [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=83CFqc2wbZU This video]] involves a child named Kevin.
43	** [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=xGbdF-jPjCw In this video,]] a child named Jeffery meets Ernie.
44	** [[https://youtu.be/zAiUcVU9ykc Another video]] has a child named Molly meeting Elmo and Abby Cadabby.
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47	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
48	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFifthEdition'': The Oblex was designed by Nolan Whale, a Make-A-Wish recipient who spent a day with the ''Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast'' team helping to create it. It's been called one of the scariest monsters in the entire game, as a creature who imitates its victims and absorbs its memories while killing them, to better impersonate them.
49	* The ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'' card "Tyler The Great Warrior" was created by Tyler Gressle, a then 14 year old with a rare form of liver cancer, who wished to have his own card in the game.
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52	[[folder:Video Games]]
53	* ''VideoGame/{{Awesomenauts}}'': The Lonestar skin Private Mels was designed by and named after a kid who visited Ronimo to learn about game creation through Make-A-Wish. All of the revenue for Private Mels is donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
54	* InUniverse in ''VideoGame/BitLife'': if you're famous, an event may pop up asking what you should give to a sick Make-A-Wish kid. You could take them to ice cream, give them an autograph, call them, or just [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential ignore them]].
55	* The [[DeadlyDoctor Chirurgeon]] MiniBoss in ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeonII'' was designed with a Make-A-Wish recipient named Sam, a big fan of the series.
56	* From ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'':
57	** In 2012, a young fan named Joe visited Riot Games through Make-A-Wish Foundation, with a brief spotlight being put on Jax's "Jaximus" skin -- Joe's favorite skin -- which was briefly sold with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish. When Joe passed away shortly afterwards, "Jaximus" received an additional skin-exclusive voiceline: [[InMemoriam "Here's to you, kid!"]]
58	** Dark Star Cho'Gath was made in collaboration with a fan named Bryan, who visited Riot Games in 2017 and not only had a hand in the skin's design, but also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKGeHMT6Ko4 a login theme]]. Riot originally wished it to be [[UniqueItems a one-of-a-kind personal memento just for Bryan]], but they briefly put it for public release in 2018, with all proceeds (an estimated total $6.1 million) being donated to nonprofit charities. Following the drive, the skin was then shifted to being an uber-exclusive Gemstone skin, now currently in a rotation as a Mythic Essence skin.
59	* In ''VideoGame/SkylandersGiants'', [[https://youtu.be/hKicFuZAUSU?t=1497 The Gecko Chorus in Tree Rex's Heroic Challenge were voiced by a girl from the Make-a-Wish Foundation who wanted to learn about game creation.]] Octavius from The Oracle was also co-designed by her.
60	* The [=NPC=] boss Towe in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' is named after a Make-A-Wish recipient who visited the Creator/BioWare offices.
61	* Blizzard Entertainment partnered with Make-A-Wish to give 10-year old Ezra Chatterton, who was a massive ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' fan, an opportunity to help design some content for the game. This included the character of Ahab Wheathoof, who Ezra voices. Talking to Ahab will send the player on a FetchQuest to rescue his lost dog, who is based on Ezra's pet dog.
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64	[[folder:Webcomics]]
65	* ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'': A child named Nathaniel used his wish to visit the Penny Arcade offices one day. [[https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/03/14 He got a cameo in the strip for it]].
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68	[[folder:Web Original]]
69	* ''Website/SCPFoundation:'' [[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-6101 SCP-6101 "The Most Powerful SCP"]] is an InUniverse example. In an alternate canon where the SCP Foundation has gone public, the Make-A-Wish Foundation collaborates with them to get young Ethan Prosper an entry on the main SCP list. To really sell the idea, Ethan's self-insert character even [[IntendedAudienceReaction hits a lot of the cliches]] that first-time writers tend to fall into[[note]]([[ParodySue a humanoid SCP who's too powerful to be contained]] but who helps the Foundation control other [=SCPs=], with superpowers that are both melodramatic and blatant pop-culture references)[[/note]].
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72	[[folder:Web Videos]]
73	* ''WebVideo/BuzzFeedWorthIt'': A fan of the show named Jackson got to be a special co-star for the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yql-9LHorTo Double Cheeseburger]] episode.
74	* ''WebVideo/LinusTechTips'': In "[[https://youtu.be/9VPAvBiThMI I Will GRANT One Wish - ULTIMATE Make A Wish PC]]", Grant has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and the Make-A-Wish foundation tried to arrange for Grant to meet Linus in person. That wasn't possible because Linus lives in Canada and Grant in the USA, and the border was closed due to the UsefulNotes/Covid19Pandemic. Instead, Linus builds a high-spec gaming computer for Grant.
75	* The copy of VideoGame/MarioPartyDS used in ''LetsPlay/TheRunawayGuys'' Let's Play of the game was given to the guys by a kid named Andrew whom they met thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. To top it all off, the copy has almost everything unlocked.
76	* The ''WebVideo/ScottTheWoz'' episode "Toys to Life" was a request from Make-A-Wish kid Zak.[[note]]Specifically, Zak requested an episode on ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}: Trap Team'' but Scott asked if it was okay if he did an episode on Toys to Life games in general instead.[[/note]] Zak also cameos in the episode as Dex Mohs, a crime boss with a VagueAge who runs the scam that is the throughline of the episode.
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79	[[folder:Western Animation]]
80	* The ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "Root Beer Guy" had a minor background character voiced by a Make A Wish beneficiary.
81	* A girl named Leandra, who had a bone marrow illness and was a Make-A-Wish patient, was a fan of ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger'' and watched it during her treatments. Her wish was to be a character on the show, so she appeared and voiced a character named after herself in a scene of the episode "Butterflies are Free", in which Ginger, Macie and Dodie greet her by name.
82	* Alex, an avid fan of ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens'', had a wish to appear on the show itself and came up with her own series design. Said design appeared in the episode "The Delivernator" as the girl riding the kiddie ride whom Cricket vaults over.
83	* A patient named Jacob wished to be in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor''. Jacob appeared as a scientist codenamed Numbah 275, albeit only a few times and with no spoken lines, in the second half of "Operation: F.E.R.A.L.". As a tribute, entering his name in the now-defunct [=KND=] online database made one receive the simple message of "awesome".
84	* A fan of Disney Channel diagnosed with cancer named Amy Volkert [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180203092320/http://wish.org/wishes/wish-stories/i-wish-to-be/amy-cartoon used her wish to voice a character]] in the ''WesternAnimation/DaveTheBarbarian'' episode "Night Of The Living Plush". Unfortunately, she passed away from the disease on September 12, 2004, three months before the episode aired on December 29.
85	* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS5E15BoysDoCry Boys Do Cry]]", one of the focal points of the story is a BeautyContest for little girls that Stewie enters while DisguisedInDrag. One of the contestants is voiced by Camilla Stull, a 12-year-old girl with leukemia whose dream was to become a voice actress. She has since died, but her voicework in the episode has, in essence, immortalized her.
86	* Micah Amundsen and Nicolas Isler voice animated versions of themselves in the ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "[[Recap/GravityFallsS2E5SoosAndTheRealGirl Soos and the Real Girl]]", made possible through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
87	* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' had Josh and Katlyn in Season 4, who were animated into an episode as a wish from the Make A Wish foundation. Josh appeared in the episode "Grande Size Me", and Katelin appeared in "Clean Slate." Katlyn's scene has her telling Kim that she's her biggest fan, and asks for her autograph.
88	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
89	** In "Trade Ya!", the disabled pony with a wheelchair on his hind legs, Stellar Eclipse, is played by Sylvain-Nicholas [=LeVasseur=]-Portelance, who has spinal muscular atrophy.
90	** In "Top Bolt", Angel Wings is voiced by Alexis "Lexi" Heule, who has congenital heart disease and connective tissue disorder. The character Angel Wings is based off an original character Lexi designed.
91	* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': In "Phineas' Birthday Clip-o-Rama", Make-A-Wish kid Tabitha Comstock voices the girl at the party who says, "You're the best!" after everyone wishes Phineas a happy birthday.
92	* In ''WesternAnimation/RocketPower'', a boy named Daniel Stark had his wish granted when he competed in a skateboarding contest with the gang in the episode ''The Big Day''.
93	* [[https://southpark.fandom.com/wiki/Sef_Furman Serf Furman]] was a ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' fan dying from brain cancer who used his wish to cameo in "[[Recap/SouthParkThePandemicSpecial The Pandemic Special]]". He died two months after the special aired.
94	* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "No Nose Knows", Make-A-Wish kid Dean Kovanda voices the fish who, after Patrick smashes his nose on a plate of jelly doughnuts, says "Well I guess I won't be eating those."
95	* The ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' episode "Wally T." is about the Titans meeting their biggest fan. The fan was voiced by William Walter Thompson (but was dubbed over in the final product due to [[UsefulNotes/UnionsInHollywood union issues]]), who used his wish to voice act in a show alongside his idol Creator/TaraStrong.
96	* In the ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' episode "The League of Incredible Vegetables", a background character is the first to name-drop Junior Asparagus's alter-ego, Ricochet. Thanks to Make-A-Wish, the voice of said character came from a young cancer patient, who sadly died not long after the episode released.
97	* A young girl named Esme [[https://web.archive.org/web/20140408172150/http://wish.org/wishes/wish-stories/i-wish-to-meet/esme-word-girl got to write an episode]] of ''WesternAnimation/WordGirl'' where Becky met a character based off her. Unfortunately, due to the show's animation studio going bankrupt, the episode never made it past script form.
98	* The 2009 ChristmasSpecial ''Yes, Virginia'' featured a character voiced by and modeled after someone who was a Make A Wish child.
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