17-Year-Old Receives Rare PlayStation 5 from Make-A-Wish CO

Centennial, Colo. (January 26, 2021) – As 17-year-old Marco arrived home last Wednesday after school, he was greeted by a few staff members from Make-A-Wish® Colorado, a table covered with his favorite foods (Oreo’s, chocolate milk and Raising Cane’s) and all the items to fulfill his PlayStation 5 (PS5) shopping spree wish. Marco, who is battling cancer, was overwhelmed with excitement, stating, “I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve been waiting for this for so long. It’s surreal.”

When Marco, an avid soccer enthusiast, first learned that he would be granted a wish by Make-A-Wish Colorado, he wished to go to UEFA EURO 2021. After the EURO 2020 was postponed until June 2021 due to COVID-19, he changed his wish to a virtual PS5 shopping spree. That wish proved to be almost as difficult to grant as traveling to an international soccer match during a pandemic. Even before the holiday shopping season, demand for the newly released PS5 had skyrocketed. Across the country, people camped outside for 36 hours, missing Thanksgiving dinner, to secure a place in line for a chance to secure one of two PS5s that each Game Stop location offered on Black Friday; others resorted to paying $1,500 or more on re-seller sites.

Fueled by a $10,000 grant from Bristol Myers Squibb, the wish granters at Make-A-Wish Colorado continued their search for a PS5 for Marco. A few weeks ago, a supporter heard about the nonprofit’s search and donated a brand-new PS5. Marco’s wish granters then utilized part of the grant from Bristol Myers Squibb to purchase a gaming chair, television, hardware and games to deck out a full gaming room for Marco – as well as new soccer gear so that Marco could enjoy his favorite outdoor activity when he wasn’t gaming.

During the past four years, Bristol Myers Squibb has been donated $3.5 million to help Make-A-Wish, which has 59 chapters in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico, provide life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. “We know the impact a cancer diagnosis can have on a patient and the family, especially when the patient is a child,” said Brent Pfeiffenberger, Senior Vice President, Head of US Oncology, Bristol Myers Squibb. “We also know the role hope can play in the treatment of children affected by critical illness and continue to be inspired by Make-A-Wish and their mission of granting life-changing wishes that bring a renewed sense of energy and fight to pediatric patients and their families.”

Scott Dishong, Make-A-Wish Colorado President and CEO, says the support of business partners and donors is even more important during the pandemic. “Partners like Bristol Myers Squibb help make wishes like Marco’s possible. Research shows that kids who have a wish granted can replace fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope. We currently have more children than ever before waiting for wishes and are so thankful to everyone who is helping us grant those wishes and provide hope,” said Dishong.

As for Marco, he plans to try out all his new games and is excited for the end of the pandemic when he can invite his friends over to play with his new PlayStation 5.

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About Make-A-Wish Colorado

Make-A-Wish Colorado creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The non-profit’s quest is to bring every eligible child's wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can help build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Founded as one of the first Make-A-Wish chapters in 1983, Make-A-Wish Colorado has granted more than 5,785 wishes to children across the state of Colorado. For more information about Make-A-Wish, visit www.wish.org/colorado or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @wishcolorado.