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"They're not making any kind of lasting difference in anyone's life, so far as I can tell."

yeah, that is generally what happens when u help terminally ill people....

Make a wish foundation is definately in the bottom 20% of charities as far as doing the most good IMO.



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I think they're in the top 1% of charities that don't save lives or address economic issues though.
The question becomes: what are your priorities as a charitable donator?
If you want to give a sick kid a special day, and give his family a better memory of the kid's passing, then I applaud you. You're a more generous person than someone blowing tons of money on expensive jewelery, hookers, penis enlargement surgery, clubbing, etc.

However, for my money, I prefer disease research, aids work, preventing starvation, helping orphans, etc.

In general, any sort of national charity is a sucker play, because money goes a million times farther in third world countries, and there are a ton of reputable organizations doing great work out there. Shop around. I think if you do look long enough, you'll find that make a wish won't break your top 100 of most worthy charities.

Anyway, Dids actually won this thread a while ago, by saying that the people that gave to make a wish probably wouldn't have given it to a more worthy charity anyway, so arguing that MAW is in the bottom 20% or w/e is sort of a moot point. It's not OUR money to spend, and nor is it the responsibility of MAW to bend to the reasoning of utilitarian a handful of utilitarians on a message board. They have an obligation to the donors, and to the sick kids they promised to help.