There is the belief in this country that every individual has the fundamental right to the "American dream." With work, we believe, it can be achieved. But sometimes the opportunity to fulfill this dream is cut short.

In such cases, there is an organization dedicated to helping individuals pursue their dreams. As executive director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Indiana, Robin MacKinnon finds the resources to grant wishes for children with life-threatening conditions "because they might not be able to be an adult and make their own dreams come true."

The Make-A-Wish Foundation began 21 years ago in Arizona with a 7-year-old boy named Chris Greicius.

"There was a little boy who had leukemia, who lived near a state trooper, and he just loved looking at the car, the officer's badge, and playing with the lights. He would always say, 'When I grow up, I am going to be a police officer,' " MacKinnon said.

As Chris' condition deteriorated, the trooper called fellow officers and created a day for Chris to be one of them. On April 29, 1980, Chris was picked up from his home in a police helicopter, which gave him a tour of Phoenix. He later got to ride in a police car and on a motorcycle as he made the rounds with the officers.

After reading about Chris' day in the newspaper, the company that made troopers' uniforms decided to make a miniature version for him. The officers presented it to Chris on May 1. On May 3, he died.

"He was given a full officer's burial, with the police officers leading the way of the procession," MacKinnon said. Not long afterward, the officers asked Chris' mom if they could use his name to help other kids with life-threatening illnesses. She agreed. They pooled their money, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation was born.

Since 1980, the foundation has granted more than 83,000 wishes.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Indiana started in Fort Wayne in 1983 and moved to Indianapolis 10 years later to be closer to Riley Hospital for Children.

"Currently, we have granted over 800 wishes," said Tami Sulit, a wish coordinator.

To qualify, children have to be from 2 1/2 to 18 years old, and a physician has to certify that they have a life-threatening condition. Make-A-Wish has 80 sister chapters nationally and 20 internationally.

"We don't ever turn away a wish child because we don't have money or time or volunteers," MacKinnon said. "If one person gets a wish, it doesn't mean that someone else isn't going to get one. That is important, because some people think, 'Well, I don't want my child to ask for a wish because there might be someone who is more sick who needs a wish.' That is not how it works at our office."

Since Make-A-Wish is nonprofit, funds for wishes come from a variety of sources. For example, individuals can contribute money or frequent-flier miles, or buy holiday cards. Corporations provide monetary and in-kind donations. "Sister chapters can loan money to each other so that they can have the resources to continue granting wishes," MacKinnon said.

Approximately 100 wishes are granted in Indiana each year, but there are some the foundation will not fulfill -- swimming pools, firearms, donations of cash, and houses.

MacKinnon said wishes generally fall into four categories: "I wish to go --- (fill in the blank); I wish to have --- (a shopping spree, computer); I wish to be --- (a fireman, police officer); and I wish to meet --- ('N Sync, Britney Spears."

Not all wishes can be fulfilled. "We always get a second wish when we go out and meet with the families," said Rita Robertson, the foundation's office manager.

Once a wish recipient is selected, Make-A-Wish volunteers interview the child and parents.

"We want one volunteer to spend time with the family, talking with them and getting the paperwork filled out, and the other volunteer is spending time with the child, getting to know the child and getting the real details of the wish," Sulit explained.

Sometimes the foundation gets a rush wish, which must be fulfilled in a couple of days. Most wishes, however, take from three to six months to grant.

"Sometimes, like celebrity wishes, it depends on what their schedule is," Robertson said.

Some of the wishes granted by the Indiana chapter have been challenging. "One young boy wanted to be a lighthouse keeper in the lighthouse in which his mother had lived, in the state of Washington. He couldn't fly because of his condition, and so we rented them a motor home and they traveled to Washington in it," Robertson said. A Make-A-Wish volunteer in Washington who was also in the Coast Guard helped to make his dream come true.

Often it is the little extras that make the wishes complete. Volunteers learn all they can about each child to discover the little tidbits that would personalize the wish and further excite the child.

"Volunteers might find out that a wish child's favorite food is chocolate chip cookies and Dr. Pepper. And they might put that inside the limo for them on the way to the airport," MacKinnon said.

One young man went to the Indy 500, and he was more excited about having a police escort and going through the red lights than about seeing the actual race, Robertson recalled. "Another boy, instead of being picked up by a limo, was picked up by a Hummer. He liked GI Joe things and the military. And the driver of the Hummer had on military fatigues."

The extent of wishes that Make-A-Wish has been able to grant is surprising. For instance, many kids wish to be movie stars. In Patch Adams , a comedy starring Robin Williams, there is a scene in which the doctor (Williams) puts on a nose while many young patients look on. MacKinnon said many of those youngsters were wish kids.

Likewise, a girl had wanted to be a soap opera star, and Make-A-Wish arranged for her to have a role in an episode. Though she did not get any big lines, the experience was very authentic. "She got to have her hair and makeup done, and she got to rub elbows with all the soap opera stars," said MacKinnon.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Indiana has seven paid staff members, so volunteers are vital. To work directly with children, volunteers must be over 18 and pass a background check.

The approximately 200 volunteers at the Indiana chapter do a variety of jobs besides interviewing wish kids and their families. Some help with fund raising and community events. Others help make arrangements to see that a wish is fulfilled completely.

Volunteers under 18 can help in the office or hold fund-raising drives.

Volunteers and staff members do not expect anything from their wish families. As MacKinnon put it, "Our role in a family's life is to be able to step into it, grant this wish, fulfill this awesome experience, and then step back out."

REPORTERS: Ben Hohman, 12, and Lisa O'Connor, 13.