Make-A-Wish New Hampshire

06/19/2026

Juneteenth reminds us to honor freedom, hope and possibility. That spirit feels especially meaningful alongside World Sickle Cell Day and Elijah’s story of creativity, strength and imagining what comes next.

Wish kid Elijah finds strength through creativity. 🎨 Living with a blood disorder, his wish to have animation equipment has helped him imagine what’s possible for his future as he brings his ideas to life. 💫💻

“[My wish] makes me feel stronger, smarter and happier.” – Elijah 💙

06/19/2026

A big thank you to The Barn at Merry Hill, Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery, and 603bbq for hosting a Benefit Dinner to support Make-A-Wish New Hampshire. It was two amazing nights of award-winning food, raffles and fun and more importantly raising $20,000 to help us grant wishes.

We also want to give a huge thank you to Bobby Marcotte and Benjamin Normandeau, the amazing hosts, and all the volunteers and sponsors that helped make that night so special. 💙

We also would like to wish Ben and 603BBQ the best of luck with their new location in Concord, NH.

Thanks again to Jeffrey Hastings for capturing photos from this incredible event! It was so special to have wish kid, Evelyn, and her family there to share their wish experience the first night. And then Rob and Rachel, Colin's parents, there the second night.

It was truly an amazing weekend. THANK YOU for making magical wishes possible!! 🌟

06/18/2026

🚨 Lakes Region alert: HAPPENING TODAY! 🚨

Join us TODAY from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Papa’s Kitchen and support the Dockside Dreamers Rafting for Wishes team! 💙🌊

Skip the lunch dilemma and head to Heath’s Ace Hardware in Laconia for a meal that makes a difference. Every bite helps bring life-changing wishes to local kids battling critical illnesses.

📍 1084 Union Ave., Laconia
🍽️ Great Food. Great Cause. Greater Impact.

Grab your coworkers, bring a friend, and let’s grant magical wishes!

06/17/2026

ONE MONTH TO GO!! 🌊

We’re officially just 1 month away from 2026 Rafting for Wishes, and there’s still plenty of time to get involved! 💙✨Meet us on July 17th at Hesky Park in Meredith, NH at 3:30 PM for opening ceremony!

Whether you want to join a team, make a donation, volunteer, or simply help spread the word, every action helps create life-changing wishes for local children.

📍 Hesky Park – Meredith, NH
🗓 July 17–18
⏰ Kick-off Ceremony: 3:30 PM on July 17
⏰ Closing Ceremony: 3:30 PM on July 18

Come cheer on our incredible rafters, enjoy the energy, and be part of an unforgettable 24-hour celebration of hope and community! 🙌 There will be fun for the whole family.

🔗 Visit the link below for details and to get involved!
https://friends.nh.wish.org/campaign/2026-rafting-for-wishes/c715814

📧 Questions? Reach out to Olivia Stanas at [email protected]

Help grant magical wishes right here in NH!

Rafting for Wishes is a 24-hour relay-style event in Meredith Bay or at a location of your choosing. This year we celebrate 16 years of raising money for Make-A-Wish New Hampshire!

06/17/2026

Our friends at The Common Man Roadside Market & Deli are absolutely ROCKING their Make-A-Wish paper star campaign! 🌟💙

Each star purchased helps bring hope, strength, and joy to children across New Hampshire, and we’re so grateful for their continued support of our mission.

The big question… can they beat last year!?! 👀

Be sure to stop by a location near you, purchase a star, and proudly write your name to show your support! ⬇️

Derry: 56 Crystal Ave, Derry, NH 03038
Manchester: 1805 S Willow St, Manchester, NH 03103
Plymouth: 484 Tenney Mountain Hwy, Plymouth, NH 03264
Epsom: 910 Suncook Valley Hwy, Epsom, NH 03234
Portsmouth: 2255 Lafayette Rd, Portsmouth, NH 03801
North Hooksett (General Store/Cafe/Food Court): 530 W River Rd, Hooksett, NH 03106
South Hooksett (General Store/Cafe/Food Court): 25 Springer Rd, Hooksett, NH 03106

📸 Snap a picture of your star and tag us! We’d LOVE to see your support!

Let’s help them top last year, one star at a time!

06/16/2026

💥 Team Marie is driving wishes forward. Help us fuel the fun! 💥

You could be cruising away in this Mini Jeep (a $3,000 value!) while supporting Rafting for Wishes! 💙

Enter by visiting the link below OR visit the Kawanis Booth at Laconia Bike Week on Weird Blvd NOW until Sunday.
https://friends.nh.wish.org/team/830294

🎟️ $100 per ticket
⚡ Limited tickets available – get yours NOW!
📅 Drawing held Saturday, July 18th at Rafting for Wishes
✅ Must be 18 or older to enter

👉 Contact the Kiwanis Club or scan the QR code to purchase
📝 Don’t forget to type “JEEF RAFFLE” in the comment section

Let’s rally behind Team Marie and help make more wishes come true!

Kiwanis Club of Manchester, NH
Kiwanis of Claremont NH
Hooksett Kiwanis

06/15/2026

We are so grateful to our friends at Ira Subaru Manchester for their incredible generosity and continued support of Make-A-Wish New Hampshire! 💙

Recently, we had the special opportunity to visit with wish kid Colby and his parents, Janelle and Brian, for a check presentation of an amazing $37,000.

Because of partners like Subaru of America, Inc., more life-changing wishes like Colby’s can come true, bringing hope, strength, and joy when it’s needed most. ✨

Thank you for helping make the impossible possible for NH kids and families.

06/14/2026

We are beyond grateful to the Hampstead NH Lions Club for their incredible support of our mission through the Hampstead Lions Club Make-A-Wish Fundraiser! 💙

Through their dedication and generosity, they recently presented $43,000 to help grant wishes for local children battling critical illnesses. What an extraordinary impact!

Thank you to the entire Hampstead Lions Club and their hardworking fundraiser committee for making this possible and for helping us celebrate 40 years of wishes in such an incredible way.

Together, we are making life-changing wishes come true. ✨

06/13/2026

Rev up for a great cause next weekend! ✨🚗

Join our friends at Keyser Pond Campground, Henniker, NH on Saturday, June 20 from 11 AM – 4 PM for their Charity Car Show, with proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish New Hampshire.💙

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbPK6Wxf-TN_Pe5e87QWLoeQbdtFueZAMpNCUkSVlUq-TdtA/viewform?pli

This year’s event features incredible community support, including raffle baskets and memorabilia you won’t want to miss!

🚘 Got a ride to show off?

Be sure to pre-register your display to snag a swag bag, and enter for a chance to take home a Top 3 award!

Bring the whole family, check out amazing builds, and help make wishes come true. ✨

06/12/2026

A Personal Note From Julie Parry Baron 💙

Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters,

After 22 incredible years with Make-A-Wish® New Hampshire, I am writing to share that I will be retiring from my role as President & CEO this coming December. This is not an easy note to write, simply because this organization and all of you have come to mean the world to me. While this December marks a leadership transition, it is not a goodbye. I will remain with the organization as a Legacy Fellow through June 2027, supporting the mission in any way I can during this next chapter.

When I first stepped into this role in 2004, I could not have imagined the extraordinary journey ahead. Together, we have built something truly special. We have expanded our reach to more children, forged deep partnerships across the state, and, most importantly, delivered hope, strength, and joy to families when they needed it most.

Make-A-Wish has never been just about the numbers or the programs; it has always been about the people. I have been profoundly fortunate to do this work alongside a remarkably dedicated community. I will forever carry with me the inspiring stories of our wish children, the resilience of their families, and the incredible generosity of our board members, volunteers, and donors.

I am deeply proud of the strong foundation we have built together, and I am entirely confident in the chapter’s future. Our Board of Directors is currently leading a thoughtful transition process and plans to name a successor later this fall. I am incredibly grateful for the strength of our existing team and the leadership that continues to grow from within our organization, ensuring our mission remains in excellent hands.

While I am looking forward to this next chapter and spending more time with my husband, Chip. We will absolutely remain a part of this mission as donors, volunteers, and some of Make-A-Wish New Hampshire’s fiercest cheerleaders.

Thank you for believing in this beautiful mission, for your unwavering generosity, and for being such an important part of my journey.

With deepest gratitude and warmth,

Julie Baron
President & CEO, Make-A-Wish New Hampshire