On Monday, April 29, the Arizona Diamondbacks will recognize World Wish Day, a day that celebrates the more than 550,000 wishes granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation for children with life-threatening medical conditions. The team will recognize the Foundation’s inspiring work and honor the resilience and strength of wish recipients and their families during a special pregame ceremony.

Linda Pauling, the mother of Chris Greicius, who was the inspiration behind the foundation, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. In 1980 in Phoenix, seven-year-old Chris Greicius was receiving treatment for leukemia at St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center when we had wished to be a police officer. His wish was granted by his mother, Linda, who worked with local law enforcement to arrange for Chris to spend a day as an honorary police officer. The joy of that experience inspired Linda and many others to create the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Linda will throw out the first pitch in honor of her son, Chris, and the more than 550,000 children who have received wishes through the Foundation.

In Arizona alone, there are more than 600 kids currently waiting for their wishes to be granted. To help make more wishes come to life, the Diamondbacks will present a $100,000 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The donation will be presented by Diamondbacks President, CEO & General Partner, Derrick Hall, who is also Chairman of the Board of Make-A-Wish America and is passionate about raising the necessary funds to grant more wishes across the country.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have granted more than a dozen special wishes to deserving children who dream of being playing baseball and have made donations exceeding $1 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.