A dream is a wish your heart makes,
When you’re fast asleep.
In dreams you lose your heartaches.
Whatever you wish for, you keep.
Have faith in your dreams and someday,
Your rainbow will come smiling thru.
No matter how your heart is grieving,
If you keep on believing,
The dream that you wish will come true.
From “Cinderella”
Written by Mack David, Al Hoffman & Jerry Livingston
Very appropriate words, aren’t they? Especially this year with the big 50th in Anaheim. Words that clearly describe how Walt Disney believed in what he was doing to share his dreams with all of us.
However, I am willing to make the statement that those words hold a sentiment even more special for many people. I know of several for whom this short lyric is a philosophy; something that truly describes how their lives have been lived.
There are all kinds of challenges we all struggle to meet day in and day out. But for some of us, just making from one day to another is the real task. And that is especially difficult if you happen to be a child facing a life-ending health matter.
For many of these children, that day to day existence is a never ending series of hospital visits or ongoing medical procedures. The people you see are more likely to be doctors, nurses, and technicians rather than teachers, friends and other students. The strain on your family extends far beyond the normal we all face. It isn’t being late for baseball practice that is the concern. It is more likely to be missing your appointment at whatever medical facility. It is anything but what most of us think of as a normal life. All the more so as things become more complicated and the pressures mount.
And yet, there is a group who understands all of this. Thanks to many of their supporters, this organization steps in and does what it can to bring something special into the life of these children. For the last 25 years, The Make-A-Wish Foundation has had a very special mission. As described from their web pages:
“The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little boy named Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 127,000 children worldwide.
Although it has become one of the world’s most well-known charities, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has maintained the grassroots fulfillment of its mission.
A network of more than 25,000 volunteers enable the Make-A-Wish Foundation to serve children with life-threatening medical conditions. Volunteers serve as wish granters, fund raisers, special events assistants, and in numerous other capacities.
As the Foundation continues to mature, its mission will remain steadfast. Wish children of the past, present, and future will have an opportunity to share the power of a wish®.”
Not surprisingly, one shared wish among many of those children the Foundation assists is to visit a Disney theme park. The Disney Company has made these dreams come true over the last 22 years as a Corporate Diamond Sponsor of the Foundation. As an example (again from the Foundation web pages):
“During fiscal year 2003, the most requested wish was by far to visit a Disney park. During that time, more than 4,000 wish children, along with their families, received complimentary entrance tickets to Walt Disney World and more than 300 children and their families visited Disneyland.”
Disney’s partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation is one of the strongest elements of the worldwide outreach through the Disney Hand program. And with the release of this new compact disc, entitled “Disney Wishes”, we all can help.
Disney Wishes!
A musical partnership between Disney and the Make-A-Wish Foundation®
launched with the first official wish, which included a trip to Disneyland® for 7-year-old Bobsy. This year we will celebrate the 50,000th Disney theme park visit for a Make-A-Wish® child. In celebration of this landmark wish, Disney and Make-A-Wish® have joined forces to create a compilation record themed around music of hope, friendship and dreams coming true. Each song is a timeless classic, which will instantly evoke the message of love and hope.
Wishes! showcases leading artists, from Barbra Streisand, Elton John,
Tony Bennett and many more, singing specially-selected Disney songs
about the power of making wishes come true.Great artists, great songs and a great cause, brought together on one CD.
1. A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme) – Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
2. Someday My Prince Will Come – Barbra Streisand
3. Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John
4. Your Heart Will Lead You Home – Kenny Loggins
5. You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins
6. When You Wish Upon A Star – Jesse McCartney
7. A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes – Linda Ronstadt
8. The Bare Necessities – Tony Bennett
9. Baby Mine – Bette Midler
10. You’ve Got a Friend in Me – Randy Newman
11. If You Can Dream – Disney Princesses
12. My Funny Friend and Me – Sting
13. Part of Your World – Olivia Newton John
14. Make a Wish – Kevin Sharp
15. Wishes – Peabo Bryson and Kimberley Locke
Some pretty interesting tracks and artists on this disc, especially Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett. Two great voices that it would be wonderful to see on a future project…
In continuing support of this wonderful charity, Disney is donating the proceeds of the sale of this disc to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I cannot think of a better way to help than by adding one to your own music library. Today there are so many children facing tough challenges and this is such an easy way to help. If you don’t already have this title on your shelf, please consider adding it. I’ll even make it easier to purchase by adding this link to Amazon! Your generosity is always appreciated.
Roger is still looking for more of your “Disneyland First Visit” stories. The more, the merrier! He will be back next week with details of just how and where these might be shared, with those special prizes still up for grabs! You won’t wont to miss out, so be sure to drop him an e-mail with all of those great stories!