The mission of Make-A-Wish¬ International is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in Phoenix, Arizona in 1980, when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the organization is one of the world's leading children's charities. After the start of the Foundation in the United States, interest in granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions quickly spread to other nations. In 1993, Make-A-Wish International was officially formed to serve the five countries outside the U.S. _ and now helps to serve children outside the United States in nearly 50 countries on five continents through its 40 affiliates. Make-A-Wish America grants the wishes of children in the United States and its territories through its 62 chapters. With the help of generous donors and over 40,000 volunteers around the world, Make-A-Wish has collectively granted nearly 415,000 wishes worldwide since 1980.