Frank Shankwitz, a co-founder of the Make-A-Wish organization, has died at the age of 77.
The Make-A-Wish organization announced Shankwitz’s death and confirmed that he died at his home in Prescott, Arizona, of esophageal cancer, reports Today.
Shankwitz was also a former Arizona state trooper.
The organization that he co-founded is known for granting the wishes of children dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Children can experience “wishes” from full trips to day-long experiences.
In 1980, the organization was formed when Shankwitz and several others helped a 7-year-old boy from Phoenix who battled leukemia. The boy was able to be a highway patrol officer for the day.
Shankwitz also served as the Make-A-Wish president and CEO.
Make-A-Wish reports that it has helped the wishes of more than 500,000 children. Since 1980, 60 chapters can be found nationwide.
While creating Make-A-Wish, Shankwitz was a patrol officer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety from 1972 until his retirement in 1996. According to the agency, he worked for the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division’s Office of Special Investigations as a reserve detective.
Throughout his career, he worked for 42 years in law enforcement.
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