Volunteers with a 7-year-old program have tapped an energy source to spark life in children with threatening illnesses. It is the energy of the wish.

"The power of a wish is incredible," said Dianne Maser of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western Pennsylvania.

Make-A-Wish is an international non-profit organization that grants wishes to children under 18 years of age who have been diagnosed as having a life-threatening disease.

According to a brochure by the Western Pennsylvanian chapter, the group has provided support for more than 2,000 families and fulfilled more than 500 wishes since it started in 1983.

The Western Pennsylvanian chapter, which serves about 30 counties, is the largest in the world, a representative from the chapter's office said.

Due to its size, the Pittsburgh-based chapter has a division in Erie and is now forming a central division to be based in State College, Maser said.

The public is invited to attend an informational meeting for the new division at 7:30 tomorrow evening in the Grace Lutheran Church, Garner Street and East Beaver Avenue.

At the meeting, a slide presentation will be shown to familiarize people with Make-A-Wish. Also, a discussion will follow on how individuals and groups can help the program in various aspects, ranging from stuffing envelopes to fund raising, Maser said.

While 25 people have registered for the meeting, the central division already needs support since it is preparing to grant wishes to six children, said Maser, who is the local group's director.

Volunteer help and donations are crucial to Make-A-Wish, Maser stressed, since it is a non-profit organization. While corporations donate a great deal of money, it still takes fund-raisers to continually fulfill wishes, since each wish costs about $3,400, Maser said.

"Our goal is to never turn down a child's wish and to make enough money to never have to turn down a wish," she said. The division will receive some help from University Park's Circle K International and Sigma Alpha Mu, Maser said.

Circle K, a service group of Kiwanis International, has been selling balloon-a-grams for Make-A-Wish for at least the past three years, said social chairwoman Betsy Cehlar. This year's orders will be taken in the HUB from Feb. 5 through Feb. 10, and delivered Feb. 10 and Feb. 11, she said.

Money raised from Sigma Alpha Mu's annual philanthropy, entitled "Bounce for Beats," will go to the local Make-A-Wish, said Dan Finkle, Sigma Alpha Mu's vice president and philanthropy chairman. By bouncing for 48 hours on a trampoline at the end of the Henderson Mall on campus from March 30 to April 1, the fraternity members hope to raise at least enough money for one wish, Finkle said.

An aspect donors like about Make-A-Wish is that they can decide which part of the wish process they would like to pay for, Maser said. They can, for instance, pay for a particular wish or help with administrative costs.

As for the wishes, they must come from the children's hearts. The only reason a wish would be turned down is if the child's safety is at risk because of health purposes, Maser said.

Thirty-six percent of the wishes are trips to Disney World, according to the chapter brochure. Other wishes are to meet the President or celebrities. A trout pond was built in a boy's backyard so he could conveniently fish from his wheelchair, Maser said.

Family participation receives a large emphasis of Make-A-Wish's programs. The group plans everything to the last detail, Maser said. The entire family becomes involved and are important to the fulfillment of the wish, she said. Support and encouragement occur before, during and after the wish.

Children usually become involved with Make-A-Wish when family, friends, doctors, neighbors, teachers or even the children call or write a letter to their local Make-A-Wish Foundation. Once the request has been reviewed to make sure it fits the guidelines, a volunteer team is assigned to fulfill the wish.

All requests for wishes or further information should be sent to the Central Pennsylvania Chapter, 310 Marengo Lane, Pennsylvania Furnace, 16865.