FAQs

What is the mission of the Catie’s Wish Foundation?

The mission of the CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION is to eradicate pediatric cancer through prayer and research.

How did the CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION get started?

The CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION was founded in response to the wish of seven year old MaryCatherine (Catie) O’Brien.  Diagnosed with an extremely rare form of brain cancer in July 2008, Catie embarked on a five month journey of treatment at St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  When the treatment plan failed to eradicate the cancer, Catie continued her journey by preparing for a miraculous cure.  Called home to heaven in January 2009, Catie left behind the foundation bearing her name.  It was Catie’s wish that through prayer and the funding of research that pediatric cancer could be forever eradicated.

Where do the funds raised go?

Because Catie was treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, current fund raising activity benefiting the CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION is directed there.  In 2009, on what would have been Catie’s eighth birthday, donations totaling $1.4 million were directed to St. Jude to defray 100% of the operating expenses of the hospital and research facility for that day.  It is our intention that the CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION will duplicate that donation on April 23rd, 2010, Catie’s ninth birthday.

Why St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital?

In addition to being Catie’s hospital, St. Jude is the foremost children’s hospital in the world.  Treatment plans developed at St. Jude are shared with all hospitals making it a unique institution in the battle against pediatric cancer.  Donations made by the CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION to St. Jude have a positive impact in communities throughout the United States because of this policy.

What can I do to help?

By receiving this material, you have already taken the first step in joining the CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION team.  Every day another 46 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer and another family is struck by devastating, life-changing news.  The CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION provides two ways to help for those that recognize how difficult that news must be.

The first is prayer.  Research, specifically that which has been done at St. Jude has come amazingly far in the last 60 years in increasing the odds of a positive outcome for children diagnosed with cancer, and they will continue to make strides.  Your prayers however, in combination with prayers from others across the country and around the world can bridge the gap for those families that will run out of time before the researchers can save their child.  Prayer can also provide the spiritual support for children and parents who just need to know that they are not alone and that people are supporting them through prayer.

The second way that you can help is to assist the CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION in fund-raising efforts either through personal donations or activities.  Successful events in the past have included Dress-Down Days at schools where students wear uniforms, sub-sales, and carwashes; or you might have an idea that we have yet to discover.  There is a line of Catie Gear including t-shirts, window clings, tote bags et cetera as well as greeting cards designed by Catie herself that are available for purchase or for fund-raising.  Whatever you are motivated to do in response to this information will aid in raising awareness of the CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION and the plight of the children and families we seek to assist.

What does the logo mean?

When Catie was a little girl, she loved to pick up dandelions and blow on them; she called them wishes.  The April 23rd date on the top of the logo is made to look like a calendar page for Catie’s birthday.  As more and more people share Catie’s story and join the CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION team, our calendar will be filled with prayer and fund raising events throughout the year.

How can children assist the CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION?

For as selfless and courageous as Catie was, she was still a seven year old girl.  She loved to run and play, go to school, and be with her family and friends.  Cancer and the treatment to try to cure it forced her to grow up much faster than she wanted.  Hundreds of children prayed with Catie as she battled her disease and hundreds more followed her selfless example and made sacrifices to help children with pediatric cancer.  Children have donated the proceeds of yard sales, drink stands, extra snack money, and have even asked that they receive no birthday presents so that the money can help CATIE’S WISH FOUNDATION reach its goal.  Many have sent letters including prayers that they have written.  It is our desire to highlight and celebrate each one of these efforts.  Please take a look at Catie’s Calendar to see some of the recent efforts.

Thank you in advance for your response, and may God bless you and the work of your hands.