Frank Shankwitz, co-founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, has passed away at age 77. Frank Shankwitz, an Arizona Highway Patrol officer who, after helping a terminally ill boy realize his dream of becoming a motorcycle cop, co-founded the Make-a-Wish Foundation and served as its first president, died on Jan. 24 at his home in Prescott, Ariz. [8] The boy was made the first and only Honorary Arizona Highway Patrol Officer in the history of the Arizona Highway Patrol, complete with a custom made uniform, badge, and Motor Officer Wings. Shankwitz has been featured in Greg Reid's, "Universal Wish" and Lisa Heidinger's, "Wishes In Flight". Following high school, Shankwitz enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, was stationed in England, and received an Honorable Discharge in 1965. The founder of the Make-A-Wish foundation, Frank Shankwitz, received the red carpet treatment Thursday night, as a movie based on his life, "Wish Man", hits theaters. PHOENIX — Frank Shankwitz, a co-founder of the Make-A-Wish charity and a former Arizona state trooper, has died. Chris succumbed to his illness a few days after receiving his "wish", and was buried with full police honors in Kewanee, Illinois, with Shankwitz leading the police funeral procession. In 1980, Shankwitz was one of the primary officers from the Arizona Highway Patrol who was involved in making the "wish" of seven-year-old Chris Greicius, who had end stage leukemia at the time, come true. He remained an active duty state trooper until 1996.Shankwitz retired as a homicide detective from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, returned as a sworn Reserve Detective, assigned to the Prescott Police Department's Cold Case Homicide Unit, and was a member of the Yavapai County Mounted Sheriff's Posse. Frank Shankwitz is seen with 7-year-old Chris Greicius, who inspired Shankwitz and others to found the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The cause of death was esophageal cancer, his wife told The New York Times. PHOENIX — Frank Shankwitz, a co-founder of the Make-A-Wish charity and a former Arizona state trooper, has died. We’re unique in putting the child at the heart of their own experience. (CNN) Frank Shankwitz, a longtime Arizona Department of Public Safety officer who co-founded the Make-A-Wish Foundation, has died, his wife told the New York Times. By the time the two reached the small town of Seligman, Arizona, they had run out of money and gas. After that, AZDPS assigned him to the Prescott PD Cold Case Unit. Shankwitz, along with his wife Kitty and several others, founded the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 1980, with Shankwitz being the first president/CEO until 1984. Remembering Frank Shankwitz, Founder Make-A-Wish Foundation By Lt Randy Sutton, Author & Show Host | 2021-02-08T16:17:59-05:00 February 8th, 2021 | View Larger Image However, few people have ever known about the inspiring and often times difficult life of Frank Shankwitz, who started the non-profit in 1980. Details including the cause of death were not immediately given. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in the United States that helps fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness between the ages of 2​ ⁄2 and 18 years old. Frank Shankwitz, an Arizona highway patrol officer who, after helping a terminally ill boy realize his dream of becoming a motorcycle cop, founded the The Make-A-Wish Foundation is one of the world’s largest non-profits and has granted life-changing wishes for nearly half a million sick and dying children around the world. He died at his home in Prescott of esophageal cancer Jan. 24. When U.S. Customs Officer Tommy Austin became friends with Christopher he worked with DPS to grant the youngsters wish. Greicius wanted to be a Highway Patrol Motorcycle Officer like his heroes, Ponch and Jon from the television show, CHiPs. Everything about the Make-A-Wish experience is about the child and the impact a wish will have on their life. The organization operates through its 59 chapters located throughout the United States. In 2010, Shankwitz received the Tempe, Arizona Sister Cities "Making A World of Difference" award. Frank Earle Shankwitz (March 8, 1943 – January 24, 2021) was an American philanthropist who was a co-founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He was 77. The organization also grants wishes to kids in about 50 countries on five continents, it says. [2][3][4] He has received the President's Call to Service Award, the Making a Difference in the World, the Making a World of Difference and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor awards. A rancher allowed them to stay in hi… The Make-A-Wish foundation was founded in the spring of 1980 when a 7-year-old named Christopher Grecieus was being treated for leukemia and always dreamed of becoming a police officer. Started in 1980, the organization can trace its … To say Frank Shankwitz had a rough childhood is an understatement. He began working with children as a coach for the Special Olympics program. Frank Shankwitz, a co-founder of the Make-A-Wish charity, died on Monday at age 77 at his home in Prescott, Arizona. Frank Earle Shankwitz (March 8, 1943 – January 24, 2021) was an American philanthropist who was a co-founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Shankwitz has been featured in USA Weekend Magazine,[13] The Huffington Post,[14] and other publications. "Frank's passing has created a loss in our lives that will take time to heal," his family said in a statement on his Facebook page. Today, Make-A-Wish says it grants a wish to a child every 34 minutes in the United States and its territories thanks to the help of thousands of volunteers and donors. He taught himself how to swim, and started to enjoy life in the outdoors. He then went to work for the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division's Office of Special Investigations, the AZDPS says, before retiring in 2001. Mr. Shankwitz was on patrol in April 1980 … ARIZONA, USA — Frank Shankwitz, the founder of the Make-A-Wish foundation and a former Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper, has died. Shankwitz passed away on January 24 at his home in Prescott, Arizona, of esophageal cancer, Kitty Shankwitz said. But we know that involving a child’s family in the unique way that we do, delivers a big impact. "Thanks to all our generous founders, more than 500,000 children with critical illnesses worldwide have had the chance to experience the long-lasting, life-changing benefits of a wish. The Make-A-Wish organization confirmed Shankwitz’s death. [17], Shankwitz and his wife Kitty resided in Prescott, Arizona. A few months later Frank created the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Make-A-Wish also operates in nearly 50 other countries around the world through 39 international affiliates. For the next seven years, whenever assigned to small towns, Shankwitz would visit local grade schools and talk about bicycle safety and let the children sit on his motorcycle. He has received the President's Call to Service Award, the Making a Difference in the World, the Making a World of Difference and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor awards. Shankwitz founded Make-a-Wish with five other people, including his wife, Kitty. The news was confirmed after DPS sent an email to 12 News saying the department is mourning the loss of the former trooper. Frank Shankwitz, a Founder of Make-a-Wish, Is Dead at 77 February 6, 2021 by Jothi Prakash Frank Shankwitz, an Arizona highway patrol officer who, after helping a terminally ill boy realize his dream of becoming a motorcycle cop, founded the Make-A-Wish Foundation and served as its first president, 24 Jan died at his home. [5][6][7] In 2019, a documentary film was made, telling the story of Shankwitz, his life and his foundation. Make-A-Wish is known for granting the wishes of children dealing with critical illnesses. Shankwitz passed away on January 24 at his home in Prescott, Arizona, of esophageal cancer, Kitty Shankwitz said. I myself was a make a wish kid and live in Arizona too and i never knew this or who was the founder, RIP to him he really made a difference in the life of many kids me included i got to experience something very awesome with my family as a kid thanks to make a wish RIP to you my friend and thank you. Shankwitz became the Make-a-Wish's first president and stepped down in 1984. In 2013, Shankwitz co-authored with Rachelle Sparks the book, Once Upon A Wish,[15] published by BenBella Books. In 1980, his Phoenix community came together to make his wish come true. In 1975, Shankwitz was transferred to the Phoenix area to be part of a new 10-man Motorcycle Tactical Unit designed to work throughout the state. Frank Shankwitz, founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, left, poses with Robert Pine, the famed police sergeant of the TV show CHIPS (an inspiration behind Make A Wish). ", Make-A-Wish gives boy epic day as robot superhero, traces its roots back to 1980 and a 7-year-old boy with leukemia named Christopher Greicius, it was Chris' dream to be a Highway Patrol motorcycle officer. His wife, Kitty Shankwitz, said the cause was esophageal cancer. Frank Shankwitz, an Arizona Highway Patrol officer who, after helping a terminally ill boy realize his dream of becoming a motorcycle cop, co-founded the Make-a-Wish Foundation and served as its first president, died on Jan. 24 at his home in Prescott, Ariz. Make-A-Wish, which grants the wishes of children with severe illnesses. Frank Shankwitz, a Founder of Make-a-Wish, Is Dead at 77 A state highway patrolman in Arizona, he helped a terminally ill boy become a motorcycle cop and then came up with a … In 2019, a documentary film was made, telling the story of Shankwitz, … He was 77. The Make-A-Wish organization confirmed Shankwitz’s death on Monday. Air Force veteran, founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and absolute giant of a man, Frank Shankwitz, passed away earlier this week at the age of 77. Raised in northern Arizona, Shankwitz attended grade school in Seligman, and junior high and high school in Prescott, graduating from Prescott High School in 1961. His wife, Kitty Shankwitz, said the cause was esophageal cancer. Made with Transistor. He served as president of the foundation, without taking … Shankwitz continued to work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation as a Wish Ambassador and keynote speaker at fund-raising events for chapters throughout the United States, as well as a former board member of the Arizona chapter.