HELOISE Make-A-Wish doesn't take part in chain letters

Dear Heloise: What would your readers say if I told them that one of the "harmless" chain letters they forwarded has prompted Americans to needlessly spend tens of millions of dollars to perpetuate it?
How would they feel if they knew the chain letter is not legitimate -- and hasn't been for more than 12 years?
"Duped," "betrayed" and "angry" come to mind. That's what hundreds of people tell us monthly when we tell them about the Craig Shergold chain letter -- that the request for business cards is not legitimate, and that the Make-A-Wish Foundation has never had anything to do with it.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation has multiple means by which it fulfills its mission of granting wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. They don't include chain letters or chain e-mail solicitations.
The Craig Shergold chain letter has taken on a life of its own. Indeed, there was a sick boy from England named Craig Shergold, and in 1989 the (then) 9-year-old boy wanted to be in the Guinness Book of World Records for receiving the most greeting cards. His wish was fulfilled in 1990 -- by another wish-granting organization not associated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Craig is now a healthy college student and for years has requested an end to the mail.
But it doesn't stop. Now Craig has been given multiple last names, and greeting cards have become business cards.
The result? Tens of millions of envelopes still circulate the globe and ultimately wind up sitting in an Atlanta warehouse. Dozens of Make-A-Wish hours are spent weekly responding to questions about the letter's legitimacy.
"Harmless"? We think not. But it doesn't stop there. Chain e-mails -- flat-out hoaxes -- continue to fester on the Internet.
Like the chain letters, I could go on and on. The fact remains, well-intentioned people continue to mail business cards or hit the "send" button every day without realizing they're perpetuating a problem that hurts the very organization they want to help.
Thankfully, we have a simple solution: Call us (800-722-WISH) or visit our Web site (www.wish.org) and get the facts. It's simple, it'll save lots of aggravation in the long run, and it will truly connect your readers and listeners of your radio show with the wonderful aspects of our life-changing work. Many thanks. Jim Maggio, Director of Communications, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
Jim, thank you for responding to my query (I had to edit your letter for space) about an e-mail I received with a request to send Easter cards to a young girl who was sick. When I called the Make-A-Wish Foundation to check, I learned it does not take part in chain letters. When I called the small-town post office (where the young girl supposedly lived) expecting a hoax, officials there said that, yes indeed, her request was legitimate (but she is not affiliated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation). The old saying still applies: When in doubt, check it out! Heloise
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
King Features Syndicate