#wish alumni #Make-A-Wish Foundation #Starblazer Award

Honoring Impact: Make-A-Wish's Inaugural Starblazer Award Winners

A Celebration of Hope and Change

On January 23, 2026, Make-A-Wish announced the first group of Starblazer Award honorees, recognizing six exceptional individuals who embody the transformative power of a wish. These inspiring alumni have turned their childhood dreams into avenues for significant community impact, showing that wishes granted during challenging times can lead to profound life changes.

Make-A-Wish is widely known for its mission of granting wishes to children with critical illnesses, offering them and their families hope and joy during their most difficult moments. But the organization’s influence extends far beyond those immediate experiences. The heartfelt wishes granted can reverberate throughout a child’s life, igniting a passion for helping others and advocating for change.

The Honorees: Stories of Inspiration

1. Danielle Burns - Awarded the Olivia Colleen Starblazer Award, Danielle's journey began with her wish to build a well in Africa, which was granted in 2019. This experience not only brought her hope during her treatment but also inspired her to support children in Uganda, serve on nonprofit boards, and create therapeutic camp programs that bring joy to others.

2. Abigail Tremp - The recipient of the Jeff & Anna Saplis Quiet Angel Foundation Starblazer Award, Abigail's 2017 wish to visit Washington, D.C. provided her hope as she tackled life with a congenital heart defect. Inspired by her experience, she founded multiple