Winter Wishes
Winter Wishes
Winter Wishes has granted hundreds of thousands of gifts to NYC youth over the last 34 years! Each wish is matched with a generous wish granter who purchases and sends gifts directly to a nonprofit or school for distribution. The result? Pure holiday magic!
By registering as a Wish Granter, you’ll create a holiday to remember for children and teens from low-income families who need it most this season. We're talking about family shelters, public housing providers, and Title 1 schools.
This is your chance to give a child or teen a gift they'll never forget. It may be the only one they have to look forward to.
📅 Important Dates
October 2024
Volunteers (that's you!) begin registering as Wish Granters, and commit to purchasing and sending gifts (maximum $40 commitment per letter) directly to your assigned agency for distribution.
November 2024
Wish Granters are notified that you’ve been matched with individual digital letters (wishes) and can begin sending gifts to your designated partner agency.
December 9, 2024
Deadline for Wish Granters to send gifts to your designated organization.
Late January 2025
New York Cares shares digital thank you notes with Wish Granters.
🎁 Steps to Winter Wishes
Step 1: Children and teens write letters
Our Community Partners (nonprofits and schools in NYC) help their clients write letters requesting holiday gifts.
Step 2: Volunteers review letters
New York cares volunteers read these digital letter and our staff matches requests with wish-granters.
Step 3: Volunteers register as wish granters (WE ARE HERE 📍)
Volunteers can register for between 1 and 300 letters (each letter comes with a $40 commitment)
Step 4: Presents arrive
Wish granters mail holiday gifts directly to our Community Partners. Our Community Partners give the gifts out to their clients, who enjoy a happy holiday knowing that someone cares about them!
Have questions?