Make-A-Wish® International Announces New Affiliate in Ecuador

HILVERSUM, NETHERLANDS (March 12, 2024) Make-A-Wish International has announced that wish-granting organisation Fundación Thomas Viteri Schonberger (FTVS) has joined its network and will become Make-A-Wish Ecuador. This will be the 40th Make-A-Wish Affiliate worldwide and one of eight in Central and South America, alongside those in Mexico, Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Colombia.

Founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, having granted more than 585,000 wishes in 50 countries worldwide. Its mission is to grant wishes to children who are living with critical illnesses.

FTVS was set up in 2023 by Helenn Schonberger, whose son Thomas Viteri Schonberger lived with spinal muscular atrophy. Unfortunately, Thomas passed away in 2018 at the age of 12. Thomas’s short life inspired the founding of FTVS after the family saw the benefits of wish granting while Thomas was having treatment in the USA. 

The organisation has already started to recruit corporate partners, sponsors and volunteers and has granted wishes to children including 4-year-old Sarah, who wished to be a princess for a day, and 8-year-old Benjamin, who wished to meet his favourite football team. As Make-A-Wish Ecuador, they plan to grant reach 100 wishes per year within their first few years of operation.

"Where critical illness steals childhood from a child, a wish has the power to return it. Every critically ill child should be granted a childhood. And with the launch of this Affiliate, we are one step closer to making that happen. We are delighted to welcome FTVS to the Make-A-Wish International network and look forward to working with them as Make-A-Wish Ecuador to bring the power of a wish-come-true to children across the country,” said Luciano Manzo, President and CEO at Make-A-Wish International.

“The idea is clear; to transform as many lives as possible. As we arrive in Ecuador, we seek to provide a beacon of light and hope for the children of this beautiful country. With this affiliation, Thomas' legacy will continue to flourish with much strength through hope, joy and laughter and his name will be remembered with smiling faces of those touched by the magical power of a wish. Through the unwavering support of a globally recognised brand as Make-A-Wish, our volunteers and the collaboration of our partners, I'm sure that we are going to be an exemplary organization within our community providing a much needed positive impact by honest, transparent and hard work. I'm grateful to Make-A-Wish for providing me with the opportunity, support and recognition to help my country, one wish at a time,” said Kurt Viteri, CEO of Fundación Thomas Viteri Schonberger.

For more information on Make-A-Wish International, see worldwish.org. For more information on Fundación Thomas Viteri Schonberger, see facebook.com/fundacionthomas.

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Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, having granted more than 585,000 wishes in 50 countries worldwide. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 27,000 volunteers around the globe, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. For more information about Make-A-Wish International, visit https://worldwish.org

Fundación Thomas, established in 2023, stands as Ecuador's pioneering children's foundation dedicated to fulfilling wishes for young patients facing critical illnesses. In a time marked by significant challenges in Ecuador, Fundación Thomas emerged as a symbol of hope and solace to those facing difficult times. Since its inception, the foundation has represented compassion and kindness in the Ecuadorian community, brightening the lives of those in need with its unwavering commitment to making wishes come true. Through the unwavering support of donors, volunteers, staff, and partners, Fundación Thomas continues to make Ecuadorian wishes come true, providing moments of happiness and respite for children during their most challenging times. To learn more about Fundación Thomas and its powerful journey to become Make-A-Wish Ecuador follow them on Instagram or Facebook as @Fundacionthomas.