Many celebrities and professional athletes are granting wishes in honor of World Wish Day throughout April. On April 29, Thomson Reuters’ electronic billboard in Times Square will feature a special World Wish Day video, which includes celebrities such as John Cena, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Buddy Valastro, Jon Stewart, Nigel Barker and Tiffani Thiessen. The video will debut on the Make-A-Wish America YouTube channel on Monday, April 23. Chief Wish Ambassador Michael Jordan kicked off the World Wish Day festivities by granting Lucas’ wish to meet him at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament in Las Vegas.

PHOENIX, April 23, 2012 -- On April 29, more than 30 years to the day after a young boy named Chris was granted his wish to be a police officer for a day, Make-A-Wish supporters around the world will celebrate World Wish Day in honor of the wish that sparked a global wish-granting movement.

Make-A-Wish will mark World Wish Day with celebrations throughout the United States and 47 other countries in which it operates by celebrating wishes being granted on that day. Every 23 minutes, Make-A-Wish grants the wish of a child with a life-threatening medical condition somewhere in the world.

Many celebrities and professional athletes are granting wishes in honor of World Wish Day throughout April. On April 29, Thomson Reuters’ electronic billboard in Times Square will feature a special World Wish Day video, which includes celebrities such as John Cena, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Buddy Valastro, Jon Stewart, Nigel Barker and Tiffani Thiessen.

The video will debut on the Make-A-Wish America YouTube channel on Monday, April 23. Chief Wish Ambassador Michael Jordan kicked off the World Wish Day festivities by granting Lucas’ wish to meet him at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament in Las Vegas.

Several Make-A-Wish sponsors are coordinating special World Wish Day promotions, including Maggiano’s, Disney Store, Brooks Brothers, Macy’s, Hard Rock International, Dave & Buster’s and BLOCKBUSTER Express.

During the month of April, US Airways invites Dividend Miles members to donate their miles to one of five national nonprofits, including Make-A-Wish. For every 5,000 miles donated, US Airways will match the first 1,000 miles, up to 25,000 per donor. Visit wish.org/dividend to donate today.

“World Wish Day represents an opportunity to share how wishes make life better for everyone involved and showcase the creativity of wish granters around the world,” said David A. Williams, president and chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish America.

“The anniversary of the wish that started it all is an occasion to celebrate, and an important reminder that there are lots of ways for people to help us reach the 27,000 kids diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition every year and grant them each a life-changing wish.”