Make-A-Wish® Arizona Named Grand Marshal for 38th Annual APS Electric Light Parade

Make-A-Wish® Arizona will serve as grand marshal for the 38th Annual APS Electric Light Parade, which takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in Phoenix. This year’s parade, themed “Let It Glow,” celebrates the magic of the holiday season and spirit of community, perfectly embodied by Make-A-Wish Arizona, which is also celebrating its 45th anniversary.  

Make-A-Wish Arizona changes lives by granting wishes of children with critical illnesses, bringing hope, strength, and joy to families across the state. In the past fiscal year, the nonprofit granted a record-breaking 476 life-changing wishes, the most in its history. The achievement coincides with a special milestone, as 2025 marks the 45th anniversary of the very first wish ever granted to Chris Greicius, which inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish in Arizona in 1980.

“It’s an honor for Make-A-Wish Arizona to serve as the grand marshal for this year’s APS Electric Light Parade,” said Fran Mallace, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona. “As the founding chapter of the global Make-A-Wish movement, our community came together 45 years ago to grant the very first wish right here in Arizona. As we celebrate that milestone, we’re grateful to once again join our neighbors for this beloved event that reminds us of the magic we can create when we come together.”

“Every day, Make-A-Wish Arizona brightens the lives of children in our state,” said APS Vice President for External Affairs Stacy Derstine. “Their unwavering commitment to granting magical wishes for children represents the spirit of the holidays – spreading joy, hope and a little extra sparkle in every life they touch.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Make-A-Wish Arizona as this year’s grand marshal for the APS Electric Light Parade,” Mayor Gallego said. “One of Phoenix’s most cherished holiday traditions, it lights up our city with creativity, joy, and community spirit. I want to thank our incredible team at Parks and Recreation for their dedication and hard work in organizing this event each year, their efforts ensure families across Phoenix can come together to celebrate the season and truly let it glow."

The City of Phoenix encourages everyone to join the excitement and experience the lights, floats, and festive energy that make the APS Electric Light Parade a cherished holiday tradition. For more information about the parade, including route details and parking, visit phoenix.gov/ELP. 

About APS

APS serves 1.4 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties and is a leader in safely delivering reliable, affordable electricity in the Southwest. APS maintains a diverse range of energy resources, including nuclear from the Palo Verde Generating Station, natural gas, coal, solar, wind and energy storage – a mix that’s about 54% clean. With 140 years of experience serving Arizona, APS is the main subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW). 

About Make-A-Wish® Arizona

Make-A-Wish Arizona is celebrating 45 years of granting life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and volunteers, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish Arizona has granted more than 8,500 wishes in the local community, contributing to the more than 615,000 wishes granted worldwide; more than 390,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. With 58 chapters nationwide, Make-A-Wish is the most trusted nonprofit operating locally across 50 states. For more information about Make-A-Wish Arizona, visit arizona.wish.org.