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Alumni
USF Alum Brings Light and Joy to Children Experiencing Illness
Laura Euphrat ʼ89 co-founded the non-profit, Little Wishes, in 2003 to help brighten the days of children experiencing hospital care. The organization has granted over 30,000 wishes and works with 39 hospitals nationwide.
“The Little Wishes program is very unique in that all the wishes take place in the hospital and are delivered by the medical team,” said Euphrat. The program taps into the passions of chronically and critically ill children by delivering comfort and joy in the form of gifts and celebrations. The wishes are chosen by the recipients as often as every two weeks. Children receive everything from LEGO sets to college admissions celebrations to guitar lessons.
“These wishes bring moments of hope, comfort, and joy to seriously ill, hospitalized children, granting them the power to choose a wish that brings them light during some of their toughest days. It also brings much-needed levity and joy to the caregivers who get to deliver the wishes,” she said.
A graduate of the School of Nursing and Health Professions and a pediatric oncology nurse, Euphrat credits her time at USF in laying the foundation for Little Wishes.
“My time at USF shaped me as a leader, instilling the confidence and professionalism needed to become both a nurse and the co-founder of Little Wishes. I’ll never forget my pediatrics instructor, who sparked my passion for pediatric nursing and encouraged compassionate, creative care for children and their families. This foundation has been essential in bringing comfort and joy while caring for my patients and even creating and delivering magical little wishes.”
Euphrat encourages USF students to listen to their own wishes and passions to help make the world a better place.
“If you have an idea that could make a difference, act on it,” she said.
“Don’t overthink it, don’t take your time, just do it. I never stopped to think the idea of Little Wishes would not work. I just believed it would. Great things take determination and the willingness to take risks. Trust yourself and make it happen.”
Euphrat’s work and the Little Wishes organization serve as a reminder that USF alumni can change the world from wherever they are.
“It means recognizing that even the smallest acts of kindness have the power to transform lives,” she said. “These ‘little’ moments are actually BIG and can give a person the ability and strength to carry on.”
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