PHOENIX – Make-A-Wish will receive a replacement for the prized statue that was stolen from the nonprofit foundation’s headquarters in Phoenix last year.

Prescott Valley sculptor Tom White made both the original bronze statue of Chris Greicius, the 7-year-old boy who inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish, and its replacement.

Make-A-Wish Arizona’s Parsons Wish House, at 78th Street and Thomas Road, will be the home of the new statue.

Linda Pauling, Chris’ mother and co-founder of Make-A-Wish, will be present when the sculpture is unveiled on Tuesday. The inauguration comes a day after World Wishing Day, which culminates World Wishing Month.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to Make-A-Wish. The return of the statue restores a part of our history and serves as a powerful reminder of our mission,” Fran Mallace, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona, said in a news release.

“This celebration is not just about the return of the statue, but also about the lasting impact that Chris’s legacy has had on desired children and their families over the past 44 years.”

Who is the inspiration behind the Make-A-Wish statue?

Chris lived in Scottsdale and wanted to be a police officer when he grew up. After he was diagnosed with leukemia, the Arizona Department of Public Safety decided to make his wish come true.

The agency took the boy on a helicopter ride, gave him his own uniform and swore him in as the state’s first honorary highway patrolman shortly before his death in 1980.

Chris’ story was the inspiration for Make-A-Wish, which was formed to provide treasured experiences to children with critical illnesses. The group fulfilled its first wish in 1981.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation now has about 60 chapters nationwide and 40 international affiliates.

What happened to the original Chris Greicius statue?

In October 2018, a bronze sculpture depicting Chris in his DPS uniform was placed in front of the Make-A-Wish headquarters in Phoenix near Highland Avenue and 16th Street. She was there until she was released and removed on January 3, 2023.

Troy Burke was arrested a week after the robbery. Burke subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in stolen property and was sentenced in September 2023 to five years in prison. He was also ordered to pay Make-A-Wish $55,200 in restitution.

Only a part of the statue, which had been destroyed to be sold for scrap, was recovered.

Phoenix television station Fox 10 reported in April 2023 that insurance would cover the cost of creating a replacement.

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