Bob Iger Receives Make-A-Wish’s First-Ever WishMaker Lifetime Achievement Award

Bob Iger just received a recognition that reflects the full weight of what Disney built under his leadership: the inaugural WishMaker Lifetime Achievement Award from Make-A-Wish America. It’s the first time the organization has given a lifetime achievement award of this kind, and it went to the man who helped make Disney the world’s largest WishMaker. Here’s everything about the honor and what Disney’s partnership with Make-A-Wish means for families around the world.

Quick Summary

• Bob Iger received the inaugural WishMaker Lifetime Achievement Award from Make-A-Wish America
• The award was presented by Make-A-Wish America president and CEO Leslie Motter
• It was given during Disney Week of Wishes, a company-wide wish-granting celebration
• Under Iger’s leadership, Disney helped grant over 110,000 wishes for children with critical illnesses
• Last year, Disney provided Make-A-Wish with $30 million in support
• Disney has helped grant over 175,000 wishes total across its 45+ year partnership
• A Disney wish is now granted every hour of every day

About the Award

The WishMaker Lifetime Achievement Award is a new honor from Make-A-Wish America — and Iger is the first person to ever receive it. The award was presented by Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America, as part of Disney Week of Wishes, a company-wide celebration of wish-granting held this week.

Motter explained the significance of the recognition: “Throughout Bob’s tenure, his dedication and investment to ensuring that the magic of Disney reaches as many wish families as possible has allowed wishes to come to life in ways only Disney can deliver. We’re thrilled to honor him with this much-deserved lifetime achievement award, and we thank him for his enduring commitment to providing hope, strength and joy to children with critical illnesses.”

What Disney Built Under Iger’s Leadership

The numbers behind this award tell the real story. During Iger’s time leading The Walt Disney Company, the company became the world’s largest WishMaker for Make-A-Wish. That means no other organization on earth granted more Make-A-Wish wishes than Disney under his watch.

Over the course of his leadership, Disney helped grant more than 110,000 wishes for children facing critical illnesses. Last year alone, Disney provided Make-A-Wish with $30 million in support — a level of commitment that goes well beyond passive participation.

Disney’s 45+ Year Partnership with Make-A-Wish

Disney’s relationship with Make-A-Wish didn’t start with Iger — it stretches back more than 45 years, beginning at Disneyland Resort. But the scale of what that partnership has grown into under his tenure represents a fundamental expansion of the commitment.

To date, Disney has helped grant over 175,000 wishes in total. And today, the pace of wish-granting is astonishing: a Disney wish is granted every hour of every day. That’s not a marketing stat — it reflects the systems, partnerships, and dedicated resources that Disney has put in place to make wishes happen consistently and at scale.

Disney Week of Wishes

The award was presented during Disney Week of Wishes, a company-wide celebration that spotlighted nearly 200 wish experiences across Disney’s parks, studios, and platforms.

One of the headline events was Wishes Assemble — a first-of-its-kind Avengers-themed day at Disney California Adventure for nearly 40 Make-A-Wish kids and their families. The event featured surprise appearances from actors Anthony Mackie and Paul Bettany, bringing the Marvel world directly into the lives of wish kids in a way that only Disney can pull off.

How to Support Make-A-Wish Through Disney

If you want to be part of the story, Make-A-Wish and Disney make it easy to get involved. You can learn more about the partnership and support the organization directly at wish.org/Disney.

Every Disney wish represents a real child and a real family experiencing something that can change the trajectory of a very difficult journey. That’s what Iger helped build at scale — and that legacy is going to outlast any title or award.

A Legacy Worth Celebrating

The WishMaker Lifetime Achievement Award going to Bob Iger is a recognition of what Disney became under his leadership — not just the world’s largest entertainment company, but the world’s largest wish-granter. 110,000 wishes. $30 million in a single year. A wish every hour of every day. That’s the legacy, and it’s one that Disney fans everywhere can be proud to be connected to.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!