Peyton Manning to Receive Inaugural Wish Hero Award

Photography courtesy Make-A-Wish Colorado

Legendary football quarterback Peyton Manning will be honored with Make-A-Wish Colorado’s first annual Wish Hero Award for his dedicated support of the nonprofit and positive impact on its wish kids. Through both the Broncos and Colts organizations, two-time Super Bowl champion Manning has helped grant dozens of wishes for wish kids across the country, such as wish kid Austin, who was all smiles when his wish to meet his sports hero and favorite football player was granted.

At the Denver Broncos training camp on August 7, 2015, at the UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, CO.

The award will be presented to Manning in person during Make-A-Wish Colorado’s 40th-anniversary celebration, Whiskey, Wine & Wishes on Thursday, April 20 at Mission Ballroom in Denver.  Sponsored by PDC Energy, the celebration is expected to draw 750 attendees and will feature heartwarming videos of wish kids who have experienced life-changing wishes. Guests will enjoy food, drinks, a silent and live auction and musical entertainment. In addition to music from Shane Smith & The Saints, singer Andrew Marshall, who was a “Top 17” contestant on Season 20 of The Voice,  will perform. Marshall is a cancer survivor and wish kid alumnus whose wish to meet John Mayer was granted by Make-A-Wish in 2018. Since appearing on The Voice in 2021, Marshall has continued pursuing his career as a musician and released the single “Don’t Wish Your Life Away.”

Make-A-Wish Colorado was founded in 1983 by Joan Mazak in memory of her daughter, Jennifer. Seven-year-old Jennifer’s greatest wish was to meet a local radio station mascot, the KIMN Chicken. After experiencing the joy that meeting brought to her daughter, Joan founded Make-A-Wish Colorado to share that type of magic with other children with critical illnesses. Since then, more than 6,000 children across Colorado have received a wish.

Currently, more children than ever are waiting for a wish from Make-A-Wish Colorado. Events like Whiskey, Wine & Wishes as well as individual and corporate support will enable Make-A-Wish Colorado to grant the wishes of the 450 waiting children as quickly as possible.  Research shows that wishes are an important part of a child’s healthcare journey and can provide the hope and strength needed to fight a critical illness. To learn more about how you can help ensure that no child waits to experience the hope and joy a wish brings, visit www.wish.org/colorado.