Rosemary L. Bowers, an alumnus of the University of Rhode Island, received her degree in Child Development and Family Relations. Over the next several years Rosemary was involved in early childhood education. She has always loved being around and working with children; volunteering at local hospitals changed her direction in life. It was here she would see firsthand the daily struggles of so many children dealing with severe illnesses.
From 1978 – 1982, Rosemary and a group of friends held fundraisers to help people within their communities. In August 1982, she came up with a special idea of helping some of these children she met while at the hospital. Rosemary wanted to make their lives a little brighter and give them something to look forward to, plan for and not just think about their illness all the time. She also considered how much the illness affects the entire family: what it must be like for their parents and siblings to have to deal with the day-to-day hospitals, doctors, surgeries and treatments. Most of all, Rosemary wanted to give them a chance to set aside the illness, and the opportunities to do things or go places other children and families experience.
In 1982 she founded the first wish granting organization in RI as a non-profit 501(C) (3) whose mission and goal was to grant every medically qualified child “one memorable wish.” As a result of her journey countless children and their families were positively impacted by her and her volunteer friends’ efforts. She left there in 2013.
Since 2013 she had a lot people ask her to do more! There was still a need. Rosemary’s Wish Kids, Inc. was formed to grant wishes to children/young adults ages 3 thru 21!
No one was granting wishes to young adults. Over the years, she had so many requests for newly diagnosed 19 through 21 year olds but could do nothing —- until NOW!
