Teen’s Disney animator wish fulfilled through Make-A-Wish partnership

Justice Brown, 16, saw his wish to become a Disney animator fulfilled through a Make-A-Wish partnership that has turned individual dreams into a national-scale support system for families facing serious illness. His wish fit into a much larger effort that Disney says has become central to how the company uses its reach, characters and studios.

The relationship dates to 1980, when Frank “Bopsy” Salazar became the first official Make-A-Wish child after a visit to Disneyland. Disney says the collaboration has since helped grant more than 175,000 wishes worldwide, and that a Disney wish is granted every hour of every day. In the United States, Disney says about one in every two Make-A-Wish wishes has historically been a Disney wish, a statistic that underscores how deeply the company’s parks, studios and sports properties are woven into the charity’s work.

The Brown wish arrived as Disney launched its second Disney Week of Wishes, running April 27 through May 1 and tied to World Wish Day on April 29, the anniversary of the original wish that inspired Make-A-Wish. Disney first introduced the campaign in 2025 to mark its long relationship with the organization, and said last year’s effort produced more than 170 signature wishes. The program spans Disney Parks, Disney Entertainment and ESPN, with wish experiences ranging from theme parks and cruises to studio visits, talent meet-and-greets and sports-related moments.

That breadth matters because wish programs do more than create a single bright day. For children dealing with long-term illness, the chance to step into a studio, meet creators or imagine a future career can restore a sense of agency at a time when medical routines often dominate family life. For parents managing treatment costs, travel and lost work time, the wish itself is part of a wider support network that nonprofits increasingly rely on companies to help fund and sustain.

Disney chief executive Bob Iger has said the company is proud to use its stories and characters to lift children’s spirits. Make-A-Wish America chief executive Leslie Motter has described Disney Week of Wishes as a testament to Disney’s commitment to bringing hope and joy to wish kids and their families around the world. Brown’s animator wish echoed earlier Disney-related wishes from children who wanted to meet the people who make the magic, not just watch it from a distance.