12-Year-Old's Cookies Fuel Wishes for Sick Philly Kids

Blakelyn Kelly's s'mores cookie fundraiser supports Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:20am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic s'mores cookie repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the pop art spirit of the cookie-based fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.A young Philadelphia baker's s'mores cookie fundraiser is powering wishes for sick children across the region.Philadelphia Today

Blakelyn Kelly, a 12-year-old diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, teamed up with the Famous 4th Street Cookie Company to create a special s'mores cookie. The cookie is sold annually during World Wish Month, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant wishes for other children facing serious illnesses in the Philadelphia region.

Why it matters

The cookie fundraiser allows Blakelyn to give back to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which granted her own wish in 2024. The partnership with the local Famous 4th Street Cookie Company also helps raise awareness and support for the important work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the Philadelphia community.

The details

When Blakelyn was in first grade, she was diagnosed with von Hippel-Lindau disease, a rare genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow throughout the body. In 2024, when it came time for Blakelyn to make her own wish, she chose to team up with the bakers at Famous 4th Street Cookie Company to perfect a s'mores cookie recipe. The cookie is now sold in-store and online every April for World Wish Month, with proceeds helping to fund wishes for other children facing serious diseases in the Philadelphia region. So far, Blakelyn has already raised about $11,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

  • Blakelyn was diagnosed with von Hippel-Lindau disease in first grade.
  • In 2024, Blakelyn made her own wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
  • The s'mores cookie fundraiser launched in April 2026 for World Wish Month.

The players

Blakelyn Kelly

A 12-year-old diagnosed with von Hippel-Lindau disease who teamed up with a local cookie company to create a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Famous 4th Street Cookie Company

A local Philadelphia bakery that partnered with Blakelyn Kelly to perfect and sell a special s'mores cookie, with proceeds benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Brian and Tina Phillips

The owners of Famous 4th Street Cookie Company, who have a personal connection to the Make-A-Wish Foundation after their late son Brandon was a recipient.

Make-A-Wish Foundation

A nonprofit organization that grants wishes for children facing serious illnesses, including Blakelyn Kelly's own wish in 2024.

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What they’re saying

“The cookie is sold in-store and online every April for World Wish Month, with proceeds helping fund wishes for other children facing serious diseases.”

— Blakelyn Kelly

“For owners Brian and Tina Phillips, the mission is personal. Their late son, Brandon, was a Make-A-Wish recipient.”

— Isaac Avilucea, Author

What’s next

Blakelyn Kelly plans to continue selling the s'mores cookie annually during World Wish Month, with the goal of raising even more funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the coming years.

The takeaway

This heartwarming story demonstrates how a young person can turn their own experience with illness into an opportunity to give back and support other children facing serious health challenges. The partnership between Blakelyn and the local Famous 4th Street Cookie Company has created a sustainable fundraising model that allows the community to rally around the important work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.