In November 2018, SCI Phoenix Activities Specialist Eric Charlesworth, was watching My Wish on ESPN. After watching the show, he thought it would be great to propose this idea to the Real Street Talk inmate organization to grant a wish. Charlesworth contacted Dennis Heron, CEO of Make-a-Wish in the Philadelphia region, who advised him the average cost to grant a wish was $10,000. He also told him that the top two destinations for the requested wishes for the children are Disney and Hawaii and that the donation covers everything for their trip.
Charlesworth met with the inmates of Real Street Talk to educate them on the mission and values of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The members of the inmate organization were very receptive to moving forward with the initiative. In December 2018, the first fundraiser was held, and by July 2019, the Real Street Talk organization had raised $10,000 to donate to Make-a-Wish.
Pictured: CEO of Make-A-Wish Philadelphia Dennis Heron (left) and SCI Phoenix Activities Specialist Eric Charlesworth
On Aug. 26, 2019, staff, outside guests and approximately 175 inmates from Real Street Talk were present to witness the donation to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Heron explained that this was the first time ever that inmates had granted a wish to the foundation in the United States.
Real Street Talk had one request for Heron: The inmates hoped the child selected to have a wish granted would be from Philadelphia.
Heron told the group this would not be a problem, and he will keep the organization posted on the wish as it happens in the next few months.