Berliner Abendpost - Make-A-Wish Announces 2026 Starblazer Award Honorees; Allied World Becomes First Corporate Founder

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Make-A-Wish Announces 2026 Starblazer Award Honorees; Allied World Becomes First Corporate Founder

HEALTH 14.11.2026

Make-A-Wish Announces 2026 Starblazer Award Honorees; Allied World Becomes First Corporate Founder

Make-A-Wish has announced the nine recipients of its 2026 Starblazer Awards, honoring wish alumni who continue to inspire positive change in their communities. The organization also confirmed that Allied World has become the first corporate award founder for the national program with a $1 million commitment.

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Now in its second year, the Starblazer Awards recognize previous wish recipients who, inspired by the hope and strength from their wish experiences, are creating positive impact through service, advocacy, and philanthropy. The awards are supported by a group of generous donors whose financial contributions celebrate these achievements while helping to fund future wishes.

Allied World joined this distinguished group as the first corporate award founder. Wes Dupont, Chief Operating Officer of Allied World, stated that the company is proud to support a program that highlights the long-term influence of Make-A-Wish. He noted that the $1 million commitment reflects the organization's belief in its vision to reach every eligible child and its desire to help more children experience the hope and possibility that a wish can bring.

Allied World has been a partner of Make-A-Wish for more than 10 years, having sponsored over 50 wishes through the Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley chapter. The company provides ongoing funding to help create unforgettable experiences for children with critical illnesses. As a Starblazer Award Founder, Allied World aims to build on this commitment by honoring the lasting impact of a wish while helping more children receive one.

Dupont emphasized that families frequently share how the wish experience provided hope and optimism during challenging times, with positive impacts lasting long after the wish was fulfilled. He added that programs like the Starblazer Awards show how these experiences can continue to shape lives for years, inspiring alumni to make meaningful contributions within their communities.

In addition to Allied World, the Starblazer Awards are supported by award-founding donors Jeff and Anna Saplis, Jeff and Jenny Wright and Family, Jim and Colleen Clark, Michael Halle, Paul and Angie Martino, The John Dawson Foundation, The Montgomery Family, and The Robinson Foundation. Their collective support makes it possible to celebrate the nine distinct wish alumni selected for this year's awards.

For more information on the honorees' stories and the Starblazer Awards, visit wish.org/starblazer.

M.Wilke--BlnAP

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