Sarah Bretz, ContributorInter Miami CF (Club International de Fútbol Miami) and its main partner Royal Caribbean once again teamed up to bring the wishes of 23 Make-A-Wish kids to life.
From April 12th to 15th, wish kids and their families came from across the country to fulfill their wish of meeting the Inter Miami CF First Team including Club captain Lionel Messi. This marks the second full team Make-A-Wish initiative held by Inter Miami CF and Royal Caribbean, the first of which took place this past September.
“Helping wish kids and their families build memories to last a lifetime is at the core of Royal Caribbean’s Wishes at Sea program and our multiyear partnership with Make-A-Wish. We are inspired by these families and love being a small part of making their wishes a reality,” said Samantha Riepe, VP, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “We are thankful to be able to join with Make-A-Wish and Inter Miami CF to make these dreams a reality from ship to pitch.”
Leading up to the event, Royal Caribbean hosted a day of adventures aboard Icon of the Seas. On board the ship, families received the VIP treatment and indulged in a day of thrills and ways to chill, including a viewing of the first theatrical rendition of “The Wizard of Oz” at sea and thrills at Category 6 Waterpark, the largest water park at sea.
After a fun-filled day aboard the ship, each wish child and their family were welcomed to Chase Stadium, Inter Miami’s home, and got to experience firsthand the club’s motto “Freedom to Dream” as each of their wishes came true. The day kicked off with each family getting their very own field-level suite where each child received several gifts including a team-signed personalized Inter Miami CF jersey with their name, specially curated food and beverage options, and additional Inter Miami CF gear. From these suites, the wish families received an up-close, private viewing of an Inter Miami CF practice, offering an exclusive look at how the players and coaching staff prepare for a match.
Each child made their debut as honorary Inter Miami CF players, taking turns entering the field through the player tunnel and were greeted by their name and photo displayed on the scoreboard above the stands. Following a heartwarming interaction with their fútbol heroes, including Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Drake Callender, Benjamín Cremaschi, and more, the once-in-a-lifetime experience ended with a group photo and trio of unique experiences involving Inter Miami CF Head Coach Javier Mascherano, as well as Fafa Picault, Yannick Bright, and Maximiliano Falcón to commemorate the day.
“We are honored to collaborate once again with Make-A-Wish to create special memories for each wish kid here today,” said Camila Jocelyn-Holt, Inter Miami’s Director of Community Engagement. “Providing this unforgettable experience together with our Main partner Royal Caribbean is a true testament to our shared goal of making a positive impact on all we meet.”
World Wish Month builds upon the foundation of World Wish Day celebrated every year on April 29th, the anniversary of then-7-year-old Chris’ wish to be a police officer in 1980.
A wish has long-lasting impacts on kids and the wish community long after the wish experience. Parents, wish alumni, and doctors overwhelmingly agree that wishes are a necessary part of the medical journey, serving as a coping mechanism and a turning point during treatment. But, for every wish granted, there are two more children waiting for their wishes.
According to the Make-A-Wish 2022 Wish Impact Survey, a growing body of research demonstrates how wish-fulfillment promotes mental and emotional well-being for children and their families who are facing trauma stemming from a critical illness. Perhaps the most overwhelmingly positive feedback on the impact of a wish came from the pediatric doctors who participated in the survey. More than 90 percent of the doctors said they witnessed their patients overcoming feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, and depression after their wish. Furthermore, 95 percent of the doctors reported the wish improved their patients’ emotional and physical well-being. Most notably, 75 percent of the doctors went as far as to state that a wish could improve a child’s medical outcomes.
Fanatics, the official sports partner of Make-A-Wish, supported these wishes as part of its financial commitment to the wish-granting organization. The company also enhanced the experience by providing additional fan gear for each wish kid.
This special initiative builds on the shared commitment of two hometown favorites: Royal Caribbean and its decades-long track record of celebrating and contributing to the destinations it visits and Inter Miami’s commitment to harnessing the power of soccer to do good since the Club’s inception.
