I started thinking about the need for such an organization during my almost 12 years working for a children's Wish group. We would get calls from people who had a husband, wife, adult child or others who needed a Wish. We were not able to help them because we only did children's Wishes. I knew there was a need for this service.

In July of 2010 we became official and started to work to raise the money needed to grant Wishes. We come into the lives of these individuals and give them something to hold on to, something they can look forward to. We also give their families a memory they can hold and love forever. We want to make a real difference in their lives. Right now we are only doing Wishes in Ada and Canyon Counties, but as funds allow we will expand into the rest of Idaho. Anyone can refer someone for a Wish, just call us at 377-9029, and we will go over the qualifications.

This is a letter from a Boise State student who is working to help dreams come true:

This is Ebie Harris from the Boise State Women's soccer team! I have been here volunteering with Wish Granters since the beginning of the semester and fell in love with it from the start. It has truly been a life changing experience and creates a feeling in my heart that can not be put into words. Working for a man as tender and giving as Doug Raper has been an absolute pleasure and is the perfect example of how one person can change a life. He is a genuine man of honor and dignity and deserves a true medal for his compassion. Being able to first hand grant a wish to a person with a terminal illness has not only stirred up joy in my heart but has also revealed to me the true hero's of our society. While Lebron James is scoring 45 points in a game, these people are fighting from the core of their hearts to hang onto life and live just a little bit longer. To encounter such a trial in your life and be able to face each day with a smile and a positive attitude is something many people can’t even dream of doing. When you are diagnosed with leukemia and are told you have months to live, "hope" is not the first word that comes to mind. However Wish Granters is an organization that provides that. My first assignment was with a woman named Karen in Meridan. She was diagnosed with cancer and the odds didn’t seem to be in her favor. Her wish was for a new TV, as her old one was smaller and on its last leg. To want something as tiny as a TV in the last weeks of your life may seem silly to you, but it puts in perspective all of the small things many of us take for granted. The look in her eyes when we delivered that TV was something I will never forget. Her exact words were, "I don't even know what to say you guys. It is so hard to wake up each day and wonder if you'll make it till dinner, and I know this may seem silly to you, but this really gives me hope." You can buy a tv, and you can buy trips to Hawaii, but HOPE--that is something you can not purchase; and THAT is what Wish Granters stands for. This is an organization that makes dreams come true. It is an organization that replaces a weak spirit with hope to pursue life for another day--and at the end of the day what else matters? I am blessed to be given the opportunity to be a part of this Wish Granters team and the thought of making more wishes in the future is what gives me hope.

Please help these wishes come true by making a donation; see our donate page on how you can do this.

Doug Raper
Founder/Executive Director
Wish Granters Inc.