Make-A-Wish® South Dakota & Montana
Creating brighter futures for wish kids today.
Creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses
Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana seeks to bring every eligible child's wish to life because every child deserves a childhood. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana was founded in 1984 and has granted more than 1,900 wishes to eligible children.
Strength, Hope, and Transformation
Children older than 2 ½ and younger than 18 who have been diagnosed with a critical illness such as a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that is placing their life in jeopardy often qualify.
According to our Wish Impact Survey:
91% of wish alumni said their wish improved their overall quality of life.
95% of wish parents as well as 92% of wish alumni agree their wish brought their family closer together.
98% of medical providers said they observed that families experience traumatic stress as a result of their child’s critical illness.
Address:
1400 W 17th St,
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone:
605.335.8000
Contact :
Website:
Referring a Patient to Make-A-Wish
We accept referrals from parents or legal guardians, medical professionals, family members and children being treated for a critical illness. People like you have the ability to create hope. Make a referral today by visiting md.wish.org.
Latest Articles
Brock Doubledee, DO, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Sanford Children's is this month’s Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana ‘Champion of Hope’": “For the most part, I refer every patient who is eligible. I feel like, if you're eligible, you deserve to receive a wish.”
Sami Awadallah, MD, Pediatric Cardiologist, with Avera Medical Group Pediatric Specialists is this month’s Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana ‘Champion of Hope’": “Children with congenital heart disease are not only suffering with physical limitations. Their view of life and the world can change…”
Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana is thrilled to share the record-breaking success of its recent Northeast South Dakota Dinner and Auction, an inspiring event that raised an incredible $222,284 in net proceeds which will help grant more than 20 wishes for children facing critical illnesses. This year’s success serves as a testament to the remarkable generosity of the Watertown and northeast South Dakota communities.
Can a granted wish change the trajectory of a child’s illness? Find out why Sioux Falls pediatrician Rick Kooima refers his eligible patients to Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana and why he thinks others should consider it, too.
On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Ty Eschenbaum made a $100,000 donation to Make-A-Wish® South Dakota & Montana on behalf of his non-profit, the Ty Eschenbaum Foundation (TEF).
Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana is thrilled to share the record-breaking success of its recent Northeast South Dakota Dinner and Auction, an inspiring event that raised an incredible $115,466.00 in net proceeds to help grant wishes for children facing critical illnesses.
Got extra airline miles? Here's how Make-A-Wish can make them go further in support of the region's sick children.
Make-A-Wish South Dakota and Montana grants a wide variety of wishes every year. Here's a breakdown of some of the latest things the area's sick children are wishing for.
Six-year-old Adaileen is a joyful and empathetic child who loves biking, swimming, jumping on her trampoline, and caring for her younger sister, Haevyn.
Tables and tickets are now available for the Third Annual Earn The Gift Gala, set for Saturday, December 7, 2024 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The public can secure their spot at this impactful event by visiting EarnTheGiftGala.com.
J&L Harley-Davidson and Glacial Lakes Harley-Davidson is thrilled to announce the resounding success of its first annual Wheels and Wishes event.
This year, Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana is celebrating 40 years of granting life-changing wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses in our region.
Dr. Grant Syverson, a pediatric rheumatologist physician from Fargo, was recognized during the North Dakota Medical Association’s (NDMA) Annual Meeting for being the 2023 recipient of the COPIC Humanitarian Award.
The heartfelt, life-changing experiences that Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana grants are so much more than a fun day.
On Thursday, April 20, 2023 Ty Eschenbaum made a $100,000 donation to Make-A-Wish® South Dakota & Montana on behalf of his non-profit, the Ty Eschenbaum Foundation (TEF).
At Make-A-Wish, we celebrate medical advancements and improved treatments for the wish kids we serve—children diagnosed with a progressive, degenerative, or malignant condition that is currently placing their life in jeopardy.
We recognize and appreciate those that are being celebrated with Social Work Month, Child Life Month and National Doctors Day! You are all key referral sources and such an important first step in the Wish Journey. Each time you make a referral to Make-A-Wish that qualifies, you are sending a child on an amazing journey that can bring them hope, strength and joy amidst their critical illness.
Our goal at Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana is to grant 115 life-changing wishes this fiscal year, and we need your help! Medical professionals who make a referral to Make-A-Wish allow the transformational process of the Wish Journey to begin for children with critical illnesses. Children between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 at the time of referral who have not received a wish from another wish-granting organization may qualify for a wish.
Make-A-Wish South Dakota and Montana granted 81 wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses this fiscal year. While that number is still not quite up to pre-pandemic levels, CEO Sue Salter says the organization is excited to be heading firmly in the right direction again.
North Dakota wish child Emmy, whose wish is to make a comic book, drew this fun picture for our local medical professionals in celebration of National Pumpkin Day (Oct 26).
6-year-old Addie is a girly girl who loves makeup, dolls and her animals. She also loves to paint, make crafts and play outside. She is very similar to children her age, except for a critical illness that has changed both her life and her family’s life.
As Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana kicks off a new fiscal year, the organization announced today it granted 81 life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses from September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022.
The Make-A-Wish Nebraska Annual Kearney Evening of Wishes gala, presented by The Home Agency and the Jim and Sharri Baldonado Family, was held on Thursday, August 18th at 5:00 PM at the Younes Conference Center. The event was emceed by Lana Greene, nationally syndicated radio personality and producer (93.1 FM, 94.1 the Brand, KAMI Country, and “Shawn Parr’s Across the Country.”), and Doug Duda, Sports Director at KKPR and KXPN and host of the Doug & Daddy show on ESPN Tri-Cities. The theme this year was When Stars Align.
The Make-A-Wish Nebraska Annual Kearney Evening of Wishes gala, presented by The Home Agency and the Jim and Sharri Baldonado Family, will be held on Thursday, August 18th at 5:00 PM at the Younes Conference Center. The theme this year is When Stars Align.
Uriah, a 3-year-old from Sioux Falls, South Dakota will be granted a wish by Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana on Thursday, May 19th at 3:45 PM CT.
Zane, a 14-year-old from Big Stone City, South Dakota will be granted a wish by Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana on Saturday, May 14th at 12:30 PM CT. Zane has leukemia, which qualified him for a wish. Local media are invited to arrive at the Elmen Center on Augustana University’s campus at 12:15 PM. The Augustana Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be putting on a car wash. Zane’s family will drive through the car wash as Ole, Augustana’s mascot, pulls up in Zane’s brand new golf cart and the Augustana Pep Band will begin playing!
This past fall, Make-A-Wish South Dakota announced an organizational realignment with Make-A-Wish Montana to become a single chapter known as Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana. The South Dakota chapter has granted more than 1,500 wishes in its 36 year history and president and CEO Sue Salter says the move positions both organizations to grant even more. We asked Salter for some additional insights on the implications of the realignment.
