Make-A-Wish Utah celebrated 40 years of granting life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses on the evening of Oct. 2, with a black-tie and heels affair at the Twenty & Creek event venue. Since 1985, the Utah chapter has granted 4,999 wishes. During the evening events, the organization granted wish number 5,000 to 10-year-old Paisley. Her wish was to design and star in her own fashion show.  

Meredith and AJ Carson radio personalities from 94.1 KODJ were the evening hosts of the Make-A-Wish Utah celebration.

“The reason I wanted to be a model in a fashion show is because I love the pretty dresses, the shoes, makeup, and all the pretty hair stuff that goes with it,” Paisley said. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

“I’m very excited to be part of such a monumental event,” Meredith Carson said. “Not only the 40th anniversary, but the 5,000th wish. It’s an extraordinary honor to celebrate 40 years of magic and transformation. Each of you is here because you played a huge part and a vital role in helping to shape this incredible journey. The people in this room are Wish Kids, alumni families, wish-granting volunteers, and generous supporters who have all helped turn wishes into reality for Utah children battling critical illnesses.” 

The evening included a journey through time, highlighting different wishes from each decade since the inception of Make-A-Wish Utah in 1985. Families shared personal stories of how the magic of a wish changed their lives. 

The first wish to be granted in Utah was for Stephanie, a 4-year-old girl from Florida, who had a wish to see and taste snow. The wish was a significant event because she had never experienced snow before. The wish brought Stephanie and her family from Miami to Park City, Utah, in 1985, where she could sled and build snowmen. 

A special celebrity guest, Tan France, a fashion show expert and TV personality, made a special appearance and helped in granting Paisley’s wish to star in her own fashion show. He took a moment to talk with Carter, whose greatest wish recently came true: to be a superhero for a day, ultimately saving his beloved grandma from a super villain. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

“Even though I was only 2 when Stephanie was granted her wish, I still remember the first time we held and tasted snow,” said Stephanie’s sister, Kiki McArthur. “I remember the moment of that cold, strange sensation on my mouth and tongue and Stephanie saying to me, 'Kiki, we're eating the ground!'”

Inspired by the success of this first wish, Make-A-Wish Utah has now granted 4,999 customized, life-changing wishes. Those in attendance took part in granting wish number 5,000: Paisley’s wish to be in her own fashion show. 

In the last 10 years, 3,000 wishes have been granted. Volunteers have contributed over 400,000 hours to make wishes happen. Since 1985, community members have given over $70,000,000 to grant wishes to critically ill children. What does the next 40 years look like? A recent study by the organization showed that approximately 300 kids in Utah are diagnosed with critical illness each year, and 25% of those kids do not receive a wish. One of the goals of Make-A-Wish Utah is to grant wishes to all children with critical illnesses.  

According to Paisley’s dad, Paisley was diagnosed with heart disease as a baby. Her heart grew larger than it was supposed to be and then stopped functioning. She was on the heart transplant list and eventually was gifted a heart. Her dad said, “When the idea for a fashion show came up for Paisley’s wish, one of the things I was most excited about for her wish day was just to sit back and watch her enjoy the spotlight, dressing up, and wearing sparkly outfits. She has spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital and doesn’t always get to have fun and play like most kids. The fashion show is her day for dressing up, pretending and having fun.”

The first wish to be granted in Utah was for Stephanie, a 4-year-old girl from Florida, who had a wish to see and taste snow. (Photo courtesy of Make-A-Wish Utah)

One of the goals of Make-A-Wish Utah is to provide hope and joy to families during their experiences with critical illnesses. The organization is considered the leading children's wish-granting organization in the world – they teach kids that their wishes really can come true.  

A special celebrity guest, Tan France, a fashion show expert and TV personality, made a special appearance and helped in granting Paisley’s wish to star in her own fashion show. Jacqueline Towle, a professional model and Miss Teen International 2025, walked in the show with Paisley. International Pageants help to gather other models for the show to welcome Paisley, her cousin, and a friend to the pageant runway.  

“The reason I wanted to be a model in a fashion show is because I love the pretty dresses, the shoes, makeup, and all the pretty hair stuff that goes with it,” Paisley said. “I think being in a fashion show is super-duper cool. The thing I was most excited about was walking the runway with my cousin and friend. Thank you, Make-A-Wish, for making my wish come true!”