Legislative declaration

(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado, a nonprofit entity, grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. The general assembly further finds that the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado will consider the wish of any child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition who is between the ages of two and a half and eighteen and lives anywhere in the state. The general assembly further finds that the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado uses volunteers who meet with an eligible child and his or her family to determine the child's truest wish, and the entire family participates in the child's wish. The general assembly further finds that a child's wish provides joy, respite, and family healing and provides relief from the child's illness. The general assembly further finds that the happiness the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado provides by granting wishes gets whole families out of hospitals and offers them a time of fun and togetherness. The general assembly further finds that the average cost of granting a wish is six thousand dollars, although some wishes cost much less, and some cost much more, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado relies on in-kind gifts and donations from individuals, groups, and corporations as well as the generous donation of time from many volunteers.

(2) In order to assist the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado in fulfilling its mission, the general assembly recognizes that many citizens of Colorado may be willing to provide moneys to assist in the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado's efforts. It is therefore the intent of the general assembly to provide Colorado citizens the opportunity to support the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado by allowing citizens to make a voluntary contribution on their state income tax returns for such purpose.