Our History

One Wish Project was founded in 2017 by 14-year-old Hannah Finn, who believed every child deserves to feel celebrated on their birthday. Hannah realized that many children experiencing homelessness were missing out on this special milestone that so many of us take for granted — so she set out to change that for a few children living in a small, local family shelter.

From the kitchen of her family home, Hannah baked every birthday cake from scratch and, using her babysitting money, purchased thoughtful gifts for each child. Her beautifully crafted cakes were met with joy, excitement, and gratitude. What began as a simple act of kindness quickly grew into a movement as more area shelters reached out to request the same experience for their young residents.

In 2019, Hannah expanded her vision to include the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) foster care system. She knew that kids in foster care facing milestone birthdays were equally at risk of being overlooked, leaving them to feel invisible, hopeless, and forgotten.

Over the years, One Wish Project has grown beyond anything Hannah ever imagined. Today, we celebrate thousands of children and teens, ages 1–18, across Massachusetts each year, ensuring that every one of them feels seen and valued on the one day that belongs just to them — their birthday. In early 2025, we proudly launched Aging On, extending our support to young adults ages 19–22 who have aged out of foster care but still need encouragement and essential resources as they navigate early adulthood. They make the critical decision to remain in foster care for an additional four years.