A Special Wish Foundation Records

"A SPECIAL WISH FOUNDATION, INC. was the first wish-granting organization in the State of Ohio and the third such organization in the nation, when it was founded in 1982.

The organization was founded by Ramona Damron-Fickle, who was concerned about the lack of services for terminally-ill children. In 1981, she began to develop an organization which would meet the wish-granting needs of qualifying children.

"Seed" money was provided to the Foundation in the form of its first contribution. A local resident, Cliff Damron, made the contribution in memory of his wife, Gladys, who was known among family and friends for her active role in helping provide the spiritual and physical needs of disadvantaged children in their families.

In March 1982, the first organizational meeting was held at the Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. A 12-member Board of Directors representing a broad spectrum of the State was seated to administer the program. In May 1982, the Foundation's Articles of Incorporation were filed and the Foundation was later determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The first wish was granted in 1982 to six-year-old Amber Johnson, a leukemia victim. Amber and her family visited her favorite characters, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck at their home in Disney World.

In 1984, the first Chapter was placed in Dayton, Ohio. The first out-of-state chapter was placed in Orlando, Florida in 1984. In 1993, the first chapter in a foreign country was placed in Moscow, Russia.

In 1985, the original 12-member Board of Directors became the National Board of Governors. The Board of Governors oversee the program on a national/international basis.

As other chapters were developed, the program was expanded to include all qualifying children referred to the Foundation by the Medical community across the United States."

Over 900 wishes have been granted since this organization began and it is still one of the largest wish-granting organizations in the United States.