changing the game for critically ill children
Fanatics is honored to serve as the official sports partner of Make-A-Wish, supporting all sports-related wishes for critically ill children and their families with life-changing experiences. This includes fulfilling sports-related wishes and providing monetary and in-kind donations under the co-branding of Fanatics Make-A-Wish.
In October 2023, Make-A-Wish and Fanatics announced a first-of-its-kind partnership in which Fanatics will become the wish-granting organization’s “Official Sports Partner.” Through the partnership, sports-related wishes in the U.S. will be granted under the co-brand of Fanatics Make-A-Wish.
With more than 900 sports partnerships, exclusive contracts with thousands of top-tier athletes, and a brand that is focused on the sports fan, Fanatics is uniquely positioned to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for wish kids and their families and elevate the broader sports-related vertical that Make-A-Wish is building. By working closely with Make-A-Wish and serving as their official sports partner, we help fulfill sports-related wishes as well as provide monetary and in-kind donations, such as merchandise, storytelling production, and employee volunteerism to the leading nonprofit organization. This includes supporting life-changing wishes around athlete meet-and-greets, Championship games, All-Star Weekends, Rookie Drafts, and the world's premier, sought-after sporting events.
To celebrate the partnership’s launch, Fanatics and Make-A-Wish hosted an event in New York City where sports icons, including Tom Brady, Aaron Judge, and Jayson Tatum, granted wishes of multiple children. This unique, first-of-its-kind event created an opportunity for wish kids to have their wish granted and meet and spend time with several world-class athletes. The event was an introduction to how Fanatics and Make-A-Wish are committed to enriching and amplifying the many current and future sports-related wishes.
Fanatics helps create one-of-a-kind wish reveals, provide in kind resources that boost active wishes, and work with our partners to craft unparalleled wish experiences. Check out some of the other activations and wish kids below.
Wish Experience
Beau –
Fanatics teamed up with the Philadelphia 76ers and Make-A-Wish to give Beau a night he’ll never forget! A lifelong Sixers fan, Beau always wanted to attend a home game in Philly and meet his favorite player, Joel Embiid. With the help of Michael Rubin, Beau’s experience started with being front-and-center for team warm-ups, to sitting courtside and showing off his best dance moves, to sweating it out in the locker room with the likes of Joel, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and others. It was a wish experience Beau, and the Sixers, won’t soon forget!
Wish Reveal
Quan -
When Make-A-Wish reached out to let us know there was a HUGE Russell Wilson fan who was about to get his wish granted and they wanted to go big on his wish reveal, we knew we had to help. So, we invited Quan and his family to join us at Fanatics Charity Golf Classic at TPC Sawgrass and had a special friend record a video just for Quan. We also surprised Quan with a merch bundle so when he headed to Colorado to meet Russ he had everything he needed to do so in style!
Wish Boost
Jacob, Evan, Gabriel, Legend & Jack –
As soon as Fanatics got word that there would be five wish kids at the MLB All-Star game, we knew we had to help make their time in Seattle extra special. Thanks to our colleagues across Fanatics and Topps, the kids experienced their first Pack War, had a private break party where they scored some top-of-the-line trading cards, and even met Felix Rodriguez and received an autographed trading card. They ended their morning with Fanatics with an epic shopping experience at the Fanatics MLB AS Store where they loaded up on cool merch and memorabilia!