Disneyland memorializes Make-A-Wish relationship with coveted window dedication
By Orange County on April 28, 2023
New Make-A-Wish windows along Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. One window is dedicated to Make-A-Wish, the first non-profit to get the honor, and, “all the wish kids past, present and future” The others memorialize Chris Greicius, whose mother, Linda Pauling, started Make-A-Wish after Greicius died of Leukemia, and Frank “Bopsy” Salazar, the first Wish recipient. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Linda Pauling, founder of Make-A-Wish, shows a picture of her son, Chris Greicius, during a window dedication ceremony along Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Linda Pauling, founder of Make-A-Wish, left, wipes a tear as she talks about her son, Chris Greicius, with Octaviana Trujillo, right, mother of the first Make-A-Wish recipient, Frank “Bopsy” Salazar, during a window dedication ceremony along Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mickey and Minnie Mouse don Make-A-Wish clothing during a window dedication ceremony along Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Linda Pauling, founder of Make-A-Wish, left, shares a laugh with visitors to a window dedication ceremony along Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Linda Pauling, founder of Make-A-Wish, with a window dedicated to her son along Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Josh D’Amaro, Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resort unveisl new Make-A-Wish windows along Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. One window is dedicated to Make-A-Wish, the first non-profit to get the honor, and, “all the wish kids past, present and future” The others memorialize Chris Greicius, whose mother, Linda Pauling, started Make-A-Wish after Greicius died of Leukemia, and Frank “Bopsy” Salazar, the first Wish recipient. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Leslie Motter, president & CEO of Make-A-WIsh, during a window dedication ceremony along Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Josh D’Amaro, Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resort, during a window dedication ceremony along Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The visitors book at the new Disney Wish Lounge during a window dedication ceremony along Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An often overlooked element of Disneyland’s old-town Americana buildings along Main Street, U.S.A. are the windows dedicated to, according to Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock, “those who were instrumental in bringing Disneyland to life.”
On Friday, during an early morning ceremony, three more windows were dedicated to commemorate the company’s longtime connection with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The windows are above the Disney Wish Lounge, which Potrock called “a private place for select families to rest and recharge at Disneyland.”
One window is dedicated specifically to Make-A-Wish and “all the wish kids past, present and future.” It’s the first nonprofit to get the Main Street, U.S.A. honor.
The others memorialize Chris Greicius, whose mother, Linda Pauling, started Make-A-Wish after Greicius died of leukemia, and Frank “Bopsy” Salazar, the first official Wish recipient in 1981.
Salazar’s window reads, “Disney Magical Wish Makers Society, Founder” recognizing him as the first person to get a wish from the foundation. Greicius’ window is emblazoned with a shield that says, “Department of Hopes & Dreams Enforcement” to commemorate his love of the police.
Greicius was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 4. Through the efforts of family friends he was able to realize his dream of being a cop for a day, including a ride in a police helicopter, on April 29, 1980. He died shortly after.
“There’s more kids, let’s go find them,” Pauling said of her desire to help other sick children have a similar uplifting experience. She had $37.76 that she put in a bank account and created Make-A-WIsh.
A mutual doctor introduced Pauling to Salazar, who also had leukemia, and his mother, Octaviana Trujillo.
Just like Disneyland was built in a year, so was the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Twelve months later, Pauling was able to grant Salazar’s wish – the first Make-A-Wish event – for a trip to Disneyland.
Standing next to the Main Street windows on Friday, Trujillo talked about how the permanent recognition “is going to inspire so many others to be part of Disneyland and Make-A-Wish.”
“To see these windows is unbelievable. It’s exciting,” she said, adding, “Am I really here or is this a dream.”
Friday’s dedication, on the eve of World Wish Day, marks the 43rd anniversary of Greicius’ day as a cop.
“Wish granting clearly embedded in our DNA,” Potrock said as he talked of the long list of employees who volunteer to help grant wishes. In the past 40 years, Disney has become the largest wish granter in the world, fulfilling nearly 150,000 wishes from all parts of the company.
The park’s new Wish lounge was designed in partnership with Disney Animation and its theme draws from the soon-to-be released animated musical, “Wish.”
More than four decades later, Pauling is still involved with fundraising for the foundation, saying jokingly, “I make people cry and they give us money.”
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