What is Make-A-Wish?
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a charity organisation that helps fulfill the wishes of children aged 2-18 who have been diagnosed with a critical illness.
Thousands of children have been diagnosed with a critical condition, changing their lives and the lives of their families forever. For them, the joy of childhood is brought to an abrupt end, with treatment plans, hospital visits and sleepless nights taking over. A wish revives a childhood stolen by critical illness. It brings light and joy to children and their loved ones and leaves a profound and lasting impact on all their lives.
What does the partnership entail?
Our organisations have shared values around the celebration of life, the memories and moments we create, and the unforgettable stories we make along the way. This is why we’ve partnered with Make-A-Wish — we’re passionate about celebrating those precious moments with the children and their loved ones. We support Make-A-Wish through fundraising, photo product support and employee volunteering.
Our volunteering
Through sharing our products and fundraising, we hope to support making the wishes granted into an unforgettable experience. Our team of volunteers make, print and ship photo books for around 500-700 wishes a year to help the children and their families cherish these memories.
Meet Alexander Hof, Product Owner and Volunteer Photographer!
How did you get involved in volunteering for Make-A-Wish at albelli-Photobox Group?
“I signed up to become a photo book volunteer. albelli-Photobox Group has been a Make-A-Wish partner for over a decade – this partnership started with us printing a free photo book for every granted wish, something that myself and the rest of the team of 50 volunteers still do with joy and pride today.”
What exactly does that involve?
“We receive photos of a wish journey, and edit and document them in one of our beautiful lay flat photo books that can be shipped to the family. This directly ties to albelli-Photobox Group’s mission of creating joy by connecting people with the moments that matter most.
I quickly realised that it was hard to tell a story you haven’t been part of, so I applied for the role of volunteer photographer as well, and now I regularly join wish grantings to capture the magic of creating joy for these children. I’ve also been able to personally deliver a few of the books to children that live close by – it’s amazing to see the smiles when children get to relive the wish experience. Children value these books so much, and tend to bring them to the hospital when they need to go in for treatment. It’s such a valuable memory.”
Do you have any special memories of a wish you helped make happen?
“On a recent wish, we had arranged a pink limousine and Porsche GT3’s for a ride – not because the girl with wish was into Porsche’s, but because she wanted her two brothers to join in on the experience. Having a police escort clearing every intersection was amazing to see, and photography-wise this was a very fun day. The key thing shared across all wishes I’ve been part of is the positive experience the kids have – no matter how bad their situation, they smile all day long.”
Our fundraising
Another way that albelli-Photobox Group helps Make-A-Wish is by fundraising. In September 2023, a team of 21 passionate employees from albelli-Photobox Group took on their biggest physical challenge yet: a 500km bike ride from London to Amsterdam across four days, raising €20,000 for the foundation.
Meet Madalina Ion, Social Media Manager and participant of the bike ride!
What inspired you to take part in the Make-A-Wish bike ride?
“I got excited about the idea of raising awareness and funds for the foundation, and to help bring joy to the children and families impacted by a critical condition. I also love adventures — opportunities to step out of my comfort zone and learn more about myself. And I thought it would be a great opportunity to make new connections with colleagues whom I might not work with on a daily basis, and better understand our company as a whole.”
What was the hardest part for you?
“On a very personal level, cycling in the UK was the riskiest part, I’m based in Amsterdam and the UK was a land I didn’t know with cycling rules I had to adapt to quickly, like cars coming from the other side of the road and hills that made me doubt myself. But the hardest part also presents an opportunity for new learnings and being inspired. Those four days were hard, yes, but in the end, it was all worth it because we all had the chance to help a cause dedicated to those children suffering every day.”
Partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and helping to grant the wishes of thousands of children is a source of pride for bonusprint. Make sure to follow our social media pages for updates on the partnership.
You can find out more about Make-A-Wish here