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Welcome to our 3rd annual Wish Wall fundraiser!
​Scroll to view the wishes of OCH kids; donate to a wish that speaks to you, or make a donation to our Wishing Well, which helps all the wishes come true. Grant an entire wish or donate what you can towards it; every dollar counts! If you can't donate, sharing the wall with your network is extremely impactful. The donate button will show how much is still needed to grant the wish. Once all funds have been collected for a wish, you will see "wish granted" replace the donate button. "Years in care" refers to the number of years the youth has been living in foster care. Donations are tax deductible. 

We could not have done this without YOU! Thank you for helping us raise over $18,000 dollars. The holidays will surely shine a little brighter for OCH kids; all of their wishes have been granted!

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Donate to all wishes

C, 7 years old, 1 year in care.

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Art & craft supplies, $158.

C is struggling with being separated from his biological Mother and Sister, who still lives at home with Mom. He suffers from anxiety and bursts of frustration. After his weekly visits with his Mom and Sister, he experiences an increase in these behaviors. C attends a Therapeutic Day School and has been working with a therapist who introduced him to Art as a healthy and safe coping mechanism. He wishes for art and crafts supplies to help him with his creative coping outlet. 

Will you help C cope through art?​
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N, 8 years old, 2.5 years in care. 

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Tablet, $420.

N is 8 years old and just found out she will not be returning to her biological home. She currently lives in a foster home with her sister and has a new court-appointed goal of Guardianship. She loves playing my little pony and graphic design games on the computers at her school. Her wish is to have “something in my life that feels like my own;” she wishes for a tablet so she can play her games outside of school and fit in with the other kids.
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Will you help N have something to call her own?
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M, 19 years old, 8 years in care.

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Bike & Basketball, $361.

Despite M’s learning disability, she graduated high school last year and was accepted into a transitional life skills program. She is sweet, outgoing and loves outdoor activities. She previously participated in Jujitsu classes, but due to her disability wasn’t aware of how rough she was with others. Although this was completely unintentional, unfortunately she isn’t able to return to those classes. Her team worked with her to identify some outdoor activities she could do solo. She chose a mountain bike and a basketball. A few years ago, all of M’s siblings were adopted while she remained in a separate foster home.  Her current foster parent is working on guardianship.

​Will you help M cope with overstimulation and remain stable in her placement so she can get her forever home like her siblings?
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A, 19 years old, 18 years in care. 

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A tablet for her daughter, $525.

A has been in care for nearly her entire life, 18 years. Foster care is really the only life she knows, and still, she finds the strength to thrive. She has almost completed her GED program and is an amazing Mother to her 2 year old daughter. She has obtained daycare for her baby girl, but the daycare hours end before her evening GED classes begin. She wishes for a tablet for her daughter to play educational games on while she completes her school work. 

Will you help A complete her GED classes?
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J, 14 years old, 7 years in care.

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Nintendo Switch & games, $231.

J has been in foster care for half of his life; on top of his weekly Judo and Jujitsu classes, he uses video games to escape the heaviness of his situation. He had a Nintendo Switch that was broken and he wishes for a replacement. He lives in a foster home with his brother who also has a switch and there are often typical sibling arguments over sharing.

Will you help J replace his broken Nintendo Switch?
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C, 12 years old, 5 years in care. 

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Harry Potter Book set, $70.

C has been in foster care nearly half of his life, but that hasn’t stopped him from thriving. Like most 12 year olds, he loves video games and playing outside. C is eager to participate in school clubs and has shown an interest in horseback riding. He recently became interested in Harry Potter; he has a Harry Potter Lego set and loves the movies. His wish is for a Harry Potter book set so he can start to read the series. 

Will you help C explore the magic of Harry Potter?
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MJ, 15 years old, 3 years in care.

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New clothes & G.C. to Gamestop, $210.

When asked what she wishes for, MJ said, “I just want to go home to my Mom and live a happy life.” MJ was recently placed in a foster home after working hard to meet her goals in a residential facility to be stepped down to therapeutic foster care. She just started attending a new therapeutic day school and wishes for new clothes to fit in with the other kids. She is already under immense stress and doesn’t want to stress over her clothes or how she looks.  She just wants to fit in at school and make friends.  She also wishes for a gift card to GameStop to play games when she doesn’t have friends to play with.
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Will you help M fit in at her new school while she waits to go back to her mom and live a happy life?
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C, 11 years old, 3 years in care. 

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Art supplies & Hot Wheels, $158.

Since coming into care 3 years ago, C has not been able to see anyone from his biological family, including his siblings. He just entered his 7th foster care placement, so he is currently adjusting to a new home, city, therapeutic school, and family. C has been struggling to cope with all the changes he has had to endure, but he is now in a home with a foster parent who is working to adopt him. His therapeutic team recognized that technology use makes C’s behaviors worse, so they recently introduced him to Art, which he loves! Even at 11 years old, he is able to identify that when he is painting he doesn’t feel the “bad feelings” as much. C’s wish is for art supplies and Hot Wheels!
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Will you help C feel less of the "bad feelings"? 
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J, 12 years old, 8 years in care.

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2020 Xbox bundle, $455.

J has been in foster care since he was 4 years old, he is now an active 12 year old who enjoys playing sports. Unfortunately, his mobility has been restricted due to a knee injury and he has been forced to sit on the sidelines of the activities he loves. He currently lives with a relative who is working to officially adopt him, and they do not have the funds to purchase a new 2020 Xbox bundle. J wishes for this gaming system to have something to do while his activity is restricted. He says once he gets back to his sports, he would like to invite his teammates over to play Xbox games with him. 

Will you help J stay busy while his activity is restricted?​
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J, 17 years old, 5 years in care. 

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Yeezy Boosts 700, $369.

At 12 years old, J came into the foster care system with his little sister and thankfully they have stayed together throughout their 5 years in care. This past summer J was the unintentional victim of gun violence; he was shot in the leg while playing outside. He is suffering from PTSD from the traumatic incident and has been going to physical therapy to gain the strength to walk on his own again. He wishes for a pair of Yeezy Boost 700 shoes to help him feel confident while he struggles to walk.
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Will you help J walk with confidence? 
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V, 14 years old, 7 years in care.

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Digital camera, $210.

V is a freshman in high school and dreams of becoming a photographer one day. She had many challenges when she came into foster care at just 7 years old, so she spent a lot of time in a residential facility. Since stepping down to therapeutic foster care, she has been doing really well in the foster home. She wishes for a digital camera to further explore her passion for photography.
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Will you help V reach for her dream to become a photographer?
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A, 13 years old, 5 years in care. 

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Air Jordan 4 Retro OG shoes, $469.

After being in care for 5 years, A and his brother have returned home to their mother. A is 13 years old, so he is currently adjusting to becoming a teenager while also adjusting to his reconnection with his mother and new school. He enjoys playing music, soccer and absolutely loves fashion.  He takes pride in dressing well for school and has an eye for a great outfit. He wishes for a pair of Air Jordan 4 Retro OG shoes in Fire Red.

Will you help A continue his passion for fashion?
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A, 19 years old, 3.5 years in care. 

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Nike Air Max 97 shoes, $184.

A’s mom has been incarcerated for many years and her father passed away, which led her into foster care at the age of 15. She works full-time and was recently promoted to the Lead Bakery Worker. The transition into foster care was really difficult for A, especially because she was grieving.  She struggled to remain stable in her first few foster homes and as a result missed a lot of school, so she is working to get her GED instead. She is extremely financially responsible and frugal with her earnings. She wishes for a pair of Nike Air Max 97 to wear for the long hours she stands at work. Her current Nikes are very worn and a new pair would make her walk with a bit more comfort and confidence.
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Will you help A get a supportive pair of shoes that are also really cool?
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C, 15 years old, 5 years in care.

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Playstation Store gift card, $315.

C and his brother just returned home to their biological mother after being in foster care for 5 years. This is a really exciting time, but also a huge adjustment. When C was in the foster home, he fell in love with video games as a way to escape and connect with friends without having to leave the home. He is still adjusting to moving back home and trying to reconnect or make new friends at his new high school. Until then, he wishes for a PlayStation GC to continue to connect with his old friends that he recently moved away from.
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Will you help C with his transition home? 
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I, 13 years old, 3 years in care. 

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Nintendo Switch, $315.

I is a creative 13 year old who just joined the art club at school and is working to get on the Dean’s list. Her court appointed goal was just changed to adoption and she hopes to be adopted by her current foster mother; they are both grieving from the loss of a supportive family member whom lived in the foster home. I struggles with irritability, impulsivity and anxiety. Like many 13 year olds, she has had some troubles with social media, so her use of the internet has been restricted. She wishes for a Nintendo switch to help calm her anxiety and fidgeting, and because she is no longer able to play games online.

Will you help I calm her anxiety and fidgeting? 
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M, 17 years old, 6 years in care.

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New desk, chair and blue rug, $263.

M has been in many foster homes since entering foster care 6 years ago.  She has been separated from her siblings for a few years, which makes it even harder to get settled in a new foster home. She reports feeling very comfortable in her current placement and wishes to stay there. She struggles with some behavioral issues that has made placement stability very difficult for her, so her current stability is a huge success.  M has been working on her emotional regulation and self-identified interior decorating as a coping mechanism and possible future career. She also reports that an organized space makes it easier for her to focus on her school work. M wishes for a new desk, chair and blue rug to complete her space, help her focus on good grades, and hopefully be accepted into a DCFS transitional independent living program. 

Will you help M remain stable in her placement?​
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J, 19 years old, 10 years in care. 

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Wigs for hair loss, $525.

J has been in foster care since she was 9 years old. She is now 19 and recently became a mother to a beautiful baby girl. Since giving birth, J has been experiencing drastic hair loss. Although she suffers from anxiety, she has done so well transitioning into her new role as a mom. She will be going to community college and has secured daycare for her daughter. She wishes for some wigs to cover her hair loss so she can feel more confident and reduce stress about all the physical changes her body has gone through. She prefers to put all her energy towards being the best Mom.

Will you help J stay confident while she experiences hair loss?
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I, 10 years old, 3 years in care.

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Pair of Jordan 6 Rings, $137.

I is an active 5th grader who loves baseball and basketball, and is currently getting straight A’s in school. He lives in a foster home with his sister and has been struggling to talk about the recent loss of a loved one in the foster home. I’s foster mother has cared for him and his sister for 3 years and is working to adopt both of them. I wishes for a pair of Jordan 6 Rings to wear to school.
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Will you help I walk in style while he grieves?
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T, 18 years old, 6 years in care. 

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"Poor College Kid money", $525.

T’s Mother passed away a little over 6 years ago and he was placed in foster care. He never knew his biological Father; after much searching, he found him last year. This was an extremely emotional and exciting time, but after meeting his father, he decided that it was not a relationship he wanted to build upon. T didn’t let this get him down, he finished high school and worked hard to be accepted into Illinois State University. He struggles with focus, anxiety and depression and often feelings of worry over money. He has to keep up a good GPA to continue receiving financial support for college, so he would like to focus more on his school work than his job. He wishes for “poor college kid money” so he can fit in with the roomies doing normal day-to-day college kid things.

​Will you help T fit in with his college roomies and focus on keeping good grades?
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E, 19 years old, 7 years in care.

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Tablet, $452.

E has been in foster care since he was in 6th grade, and although he has faced many challenges since then, last year he received his high school diploma. After graduating he quickly obtained a job with Chicago Public Schools. He is driven, responsible and creative. When he isn’t working he writes and records music which is his favorite way to express himself. At 19 years old, he understands that the bills have to be paid first and his bills eat up most of his paycheck. He wishes for a tablet so he can store and create music and music videos.  This picture is a still shot from one of his music videos that he produced.
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Will you help E continue to express himself freely through music?
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A, 7 years old, 2.5 years in care. 

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Bike w/ helmet, $210.

A has been in care since she was 4 years old; she is non-verbal and diagnosed with Autism. She lives in a foster home with her sister, but they are separated from their brother. A’s siblings already have bikes and she shows excitement when she sees them ride. A greatly benefits from outdoor activities, and having a bike will help her continue to grow her bond with her siblings through play, which is the way A communicates.

Will you help A connect and communicate through play?
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S, 19 years old, 5 years in care. 

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Refurbished Macbook, $440.

In the 5 years that S has been in foster care, she has overcome so many hurdles, including becoming a parent of 2 kids, currently 1 and 4 years old. She is an incredible mother and seeker of resources for herself and her kids. She is a high school graduate and works full-time at Walgreens. She recently purchased a car to get to and from work, daycare, and appointments for her children. Unfortunately, after only 1 month the car broke down, but obstacles never stop her from moving forward. Rather than getting angry over being sold a lemon, she sought out alternative transportation and is focused on her next goal. S wishes for a laptop so she can start college courses next semester. In 2022, a laptop is required to complete school work, and we were not surprised that when asked for what she wishes for, she thought of an item that will help her and her children get to the next level and thrive.

​Will you help this young mother of 2 begin her college journey?
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M, 13 years old, 2 years in care.

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Refurbished iPhone 11, $525.

When M was asked why he wants an iPhone he said, “I would really like to be able to keep memories through photos, and communicate with family and friends I don’t get to see through Facetime.” M loves staying active outdoors and hopes to make the basketball team at school this year. Having access to FaceTime is deeply impactful to kids like M who have been separated from their families.
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Will you help M Facetime with family members he has been separated from?​
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R, 16 years old, 1.5 years in care. 

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Gift card to Nike outlet store, $315.

R’s Mother and Father passed away about 2 years ago. He was placed with a family member who took guardianship of him. Soon after taking guardianship, she became too ill to care for him and he was placed in foster care. He is dealing with a tremendous amount of grief and has a hard time asking for things. R wishes for a gift card to go shopping for new clothes at the Nike outlet store. He feels this will help him fit in and be more confident at school.
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Will you help R gain some confidence as he grieves the loss of all of his caregivers?
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G, 13 years old, 5 years in care.

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Oculus Quest 2, $420.

5 years ago G came into care with her siblings and thankfully, they are all still placed together in the same foster home. She joined the volleyball team at her school this year and was just voted to be Team Captain! She also plans to try out for the cheer squad. G has been hearing classmates talk about the Oculus Quest 2, which is the first gaming system she has been interested in. She says she is really curious about virtual reality and wishes to have an Oculus of her own to "just play and be a kid" when she has free time from school and her extracurricular activities. 

Will you help G just play and be a kid?
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F, 17 years old, 4 years in care. 

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Refurbished iPhone, $525.

 Becoming a teenager is a tough transition for most people. Just as F was turning 13, she entered the foster care system with her little sister. Thankfully they were placed in the same foster home and are still together today. Their foster parent is working on taking guardianship of both her and her sister. She is now 17 years old and wishes for an iPhone to stay connected to her family and friends, and to make applying for jobs easier. 

Will you help F apply for jobs and stay connected with family?
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H, 16 years old, 2 years in care.

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Mirror & Air Jordan shoes, $478.

​2 years ago H entered foster care because both of her parents passed away. She is a kind and shy youth who typically stays to herself. When asked about her wish, the only thing she asked for was a full length body mirror to get ready for school in the morning since there are several people sharing a bathroom in her foster home. Her worker encouraged her to think bigger; she was hesitant, but finally said she would be so grateful for a new pair of shoes like some of the kids at school wear. She hopes to join track and volleyball to help her make new friends and come out of her shell a bit.

Will you help H understand that she is not asking for too much and that she deserves nice things?
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K, 18 years old, 9 years in care. 

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Rent money, $525.

K has been in foster care since he was 9 years old. Years ago his sister was adopted and unfortunately he is no longer able to visit with her; he misses her every day and has no other contact with family. He is diabetic and struggles with mental health issues. Despite these challenges, he still graduated high school this past May and immediately started working full-time. He is working on getting his own apartment as part of his independence goal to transition out of foster care. Although he works full-time, money is tight, so his wish is for money to help with the security deposit for his first apartment.
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Will you help K obtain his first apartment?
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J, 16 years old, 6 years in care.

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Airpods, $263.

J has been living in foster care since he was 10 years old. Now at age 16 he is thriving in his foster home and at school. He has diabetes and takes his health very seriously; he watches what he eats and spends a lot of time in the gym to stay at his physical optimum. He just started wrestling 2 years ago and has quickly become the best in his district. Last year he was ecstatic over having his wish for Airpods granted. He used them every day until recently, one of the Airpods broke. He states that cordless ear buds greatly improved his experience in the gym, and he wishes for a replacement.
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Will you help A continue to fight his diabetes?
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A, 18 years old, 13 years in care. 

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PS4 system & accessories, $525.

A has a passion for animals and hopes to one day become a veterinarian. He is 18 years old and has been in foster care for 13 of those years. He is about to enter a new foster placement after being in a residential facility for a while. He wishes for a PS4 and some games to help stay busy during the awkward phase of the transition into a new home placement.
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Will you help ease A’s transition into a new home setting?
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A, 13 years old, 6 years in care.

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Nintendo Switch, $315.

The Nintendo switch would help A’s mind stay busy when her depression makes it hard for her to leave the house. A has been in foster care for 6 years and wishes to be adopted one day. She is separated from her siblings; they live with their Grandmother, and she stays in a foster home. Her brother already has a switch so this would give them the opportunity to bond through gaming together. The switch offers games to enhance creativity which is perfect for A, who one day wants to become a tattoo artist.  

Will you help A keep her mind busy when the depressive thoughts become too much?
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H, 12 years old, 4 years in care. 

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Xbox & Fortnite, $315.

At 8 years old, H entered foster care with her older sister. 4 years later they live in the same foster home and their foster parent is working towards taking guardianship of them both.  H loves making friends at school and will be trying out for the basketball team this year.  Almost all of H’s friends have an Xbox and she wishes for one too, so they can all play together. She loves movies and video games and has wanted a gaming system for a really long time.
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Will you help H finally get the gaming system she has been wanting for years? 
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W, 17 years old, 1 years in care.

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Art supplies, $525.

W hopes to become a police officer after he graduates high school. He came into foster care during his junior year of high school and just started his senior year. It has been a rough transition, especially because he was separated from his sister. He wishes for an abundance of art supplies to use as a coping mechanism and to creatively express himself.
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Will you help W cope and express?
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D, 16 years old, 1 year in care. 

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Money for class trip to Europe, $368.

A few years ago D’s biological Father passed away and last year she ended up in the foster care system. The only biological family member she has contact with is her older Brother. D worked all summer to save up for her high school’s trip to Europe, what she calls, “a once in a lifetime trip,” because she understands that most youth in foster care miss out on these type of opportunities.  D struggles with depression and anxiety, so she made the mature decision to stop working once the school year started. Her goal was to focus on getting good grades rather than trying to juggle both school and work. Although she earned enough money to cover the trip fees, her wish is to go shopping with her classmates to prepare for her trip, and have a little spending money while she is in Europe.

Will you help D prep for a once in a lifetime trip with her classmates?
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S, 17 years old, 2 years in care.

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refurbished iPhone pro max, $525.

S has been in a treatment center for a while now and often thinks about what she wants for her future. She dreams of graduating high school and going on to play volleyball for a college. She is becoming more independent and wishes for an iPhone to more easily stay in touch with her family, friends and her OCH team.
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Will you help S stay in touch with her support system? 
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Z, 17 years old, 3 years in care. 

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refurbished iPhone, $473.

Z graduated high school early and hopes to soon start taking general courses at her local community college while also exploring cosmetology. She is a smart and resilient 17 year old, who gracefully thrives through her challenges. Not only is she navigating the foster care system, she is also undocumented which creates so many additional obstacles in her life, and still, she smiles through it all. She wishes for a cell phone to be able to list a call back number on her job applications.
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Will you help Z continue to strive for greatness while she tackles systemic obstacles?
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Donate to the Wishing Well to help all wishes come true by Giving Tuesday November 29th, 2022! 

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Donate to all wishes



Should you have any questions about the Wish Wall fundraiser, please email us at info@ochkids.org
If for any reason a child is no longer able to move forward with their wish or the cost of the wish turns out to be less than expected, the balance of funds will be moved to the Wishing Well fund which helps fund all OCH kids' wishes. 
Copyright © 2022 Our Children's Homestead, All rights reserved.
Leading in Foster Care and Adoptions since 1995


Contact Us
Naperville Office: (630) 369.0004      Rockford Office: (815) 316.7626      
​info@ochkids.org
                         

Locations

Naperville Office: 280 Shuman Blvd. Suite 270 Naperville, IL 
Rockford office: 1401 N. 2nd street Rockford, IL 61107


SERVICES
Foster Care
Adoption
Clinical
Mentor Program
GET INVOLVED
Become a Foster Parent
Volunteer
Join Our Team
ABOUT US
Who we are
Administrative Team
Partnerships
License, accreditation & memberships
Annual Reports
​NEWS/EVENTS
Success Stories
Wish Wall
  • Home
  • DONATE
  • services
    • Foster Care
    • Adoption
    • Clinical
    • Mentor Program
    • L.E.A.P. (Life Enrichment Alternative Paths)
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Foster Parent
    • Volunteer
    • Join Our Team
  • About Us
    • Who we are
    • Administrative Team
    • Partnerships
    • License, Accreditation & Memberships
    • Annual/Financial Reports
  • News/Events
    • Wish Wall
    • Annual Impact Reports
    • Success Stories