09/12/2025
A new Benchmark for Make-A-Wish Woodland
For over three decades, Make-A-Wish Ireland has brought sunshine into the lives of over 3,500 courageous children across the country. These wishes offer respite from hospital routines, doctors' visits, and treatments, instilling joy into young lives. The charity, a registered non-profit in Ireland, stands as an example of transparency and accountability, having earned the esteemed "triple lock" certification from Charities Institute Ireland.
A generous benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous, granted a legacy donation to Make-A-Wish Ireland so that the wishes of children living with life-threatening illnesses will continue. As a mark of gratitude to the anonymous donor, Susan McQuaid O'Dwyer, the CEO of Make-A-Wish Ireland, unveiled a bench to honour the donor in the Make-A-Wish Woodland in Richardstown, Co. Louth.
“This living native woodland will stand as a testament to the unbreakable spirit of the children and families we serve and this new bench will be used to reflect on the fragility of life and the wonderful generosity of caring people.”
Make-A-Wish already boasts an exemplary ESG program, fostering corporate partnerships with dedicated Irish businesses that passionately support and promote their life-transforming work. VEON, a company dedicated to forestry, ecology and the environment, were engaged to source, plant and manage 8,000 native Oak trees by Make-A-Wish at the designated site.
As the first charity partner of VEON's prestigious Climate Leadership Programme and one of the inaugural children's charities in Ireland to take affirmative environmental action, Make-A-Wish Ireland has laid the foundation for an even brighter, greener future. Embracing their sustainability charter, they ardently hope to invest in more woodland projects in the years ahead, leaving an enduring legacy for generations to cherish.