We invite you to share in the power of a wish. Rebecca’s Wish is a 501(c)3 launched by a 16-year old high school sophomore from San Antonio, Rebecca Taylor. Rebecca founded this non-profit in 2018 as a result of her eight-year struggle with chronic pancreatitis and related complications.
Rebecca is one of the few children in the world now living without a pancreas. Rebecca’s body started shutting down a decade ago because of an unknown auto-immune disease which eventually attacked her pancreas. She suffered for years in agonizing pain until receiving a lifesaving surgery which removed her pancreas. Every day, she is still fighting for her life.
As opposed to wallowing in self-pity, Rebecca decided to fight for the thousands and thousands of children diagnosed annually with pediatric pancreatitis, a disease for which there is no known cure. When the Make-A-Wish Foundation heard about Rebecca and approached her to make her dreams come true, Rebecca sidestepped the ordinary and shot for the extraordinary. She asked for a medical philanthropist to help her start a non-profit, so that she could help children just like herself, suffering from this tortuous disease.
In its first year at a non-profit, Rebecca’s Wish in 2018, raised more than a half-million dollars, with donors and supporters captivated by the magic of a teenager who turns cannot into can do.
Among the many accomplishments of Rebecca’s Wish, the charity spearheaded an agreement with local hospitals to help train the world’s first pediatric-trained pancreatic endoscopist. Despite all the advances in modern medicine, pediatric-trained physicians who specialize in pancreatic care did not exist prior to this initiative launched by Rebecca’s Wish. Often, children with pancreatitis are told there is no help available, or they are sent home to die. Although the pancreas is a vital organ, the treatment options are extremely, extremely limited, especially for children.
So that we can continue to train pediatric specialists to fight this medical scourge, Rebecca’s Wish is teaming up with San Antonio Zoo for to bring you Wild for Wishes, which will be a night of imagination and transformation. Children with pancreatitis will be roaming through the zoo along with their families for a night of fun and fundraising.
Rebecca’s Wish is hosting Wild for Wishes to raise funds for pancreatic research, education, and patient support to enable efficient and effective resource deployment to produce better outcomes for children afflicted by pancreatic ailments and diseases.
We hope you will help Rebecca’s Wish come true…
WILD FOR WISHES:
What: A night of imagination and transformation. Children with pancreatitis will be roaming through San Antonio Zoo along with their families for a night of fun and fundraising.
When: Saturday, March 30 from 6:00-11:00 p.m.
Why: The goal is to raise funds for pediatric pancreatic research, education, and patient support to enable efficient and effective resource deployment to produce better outcomes for children afflicted by pancreatic ailments and diseases.
“It feels amazing to know Rebecca’s Wish has the strength to pay it forward to other children with pancreatitis, just one year since we launched this non-profit,” said Rebecca’s Wish Founder Rebecca Taylor. “Wild For Wishes will raise awareness about pediatric pancreatitis and give children with this terrible disease a night of fun with friends, and the chance to take their mind off their medical conditions.”
You can help make this event a success with your support. We ask you to consider a sponsorship package in addition to purchasing tickets. We need transformational leaders to sponsor key portions of the party and to underwrite large cost items for Wild for Wishes. We anticipate a crowd of 750-1000 people taking part in this night, which is the signature fundraiser in 2019 for Rebecca’s Wish.
There are multiple levels of sponsorship available. Sponsorships help cover a large portion of the costs for the event and ensure children with pancreatitis get the opportunity to attend this party at no cost. As a nonprofit organization, we depend on generous donors to help give life to Rebecca’s Wish.
