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After going on pause in 2025, popular YouTube creator Seán “Jacksepticeye” McLoughlin’s annual charity event Thankmas is returning this year as a six-month fundraiser for Make-A-Wish with a goal of $3 million.
Dubbed
“Wishmas,” the overarching event (which will culminate in Jacksepticeye’s Thankmas livestream on YouTube on Dec. 5) is intended to give creators and fans “more time to make an impact for children with critical illnesses.”
Per the official Thankmas announcement from Make-A-Wish, “For children facing a critical illness, a wish can provide hope, strength and a sense of normalcy. Research shows that wishes can build the emotional and physical strength needed to help children fight their illness and improve quality of life. But for every wish Make-A-Wish grants, two more children are still waiting for a wish.”
YouTube creator and gamer McLoughlin has previously partnered with Make-A-Wish and helped to grant more than 30 wishes. McLoughlin chose Make-A-Wish as the focus of this year’s Thankmas following his own experiences with children in the program.
“For wish alum Billy, meeting Seán was life-changing. Living with a critical illness that requires more than three hours of daily medical care, Billy said Seán’s videos helped distract him from the pain and gave him something to look forward to,” Make-A-Wish’s Thankmas announcement states. “During his wish, Billy and Seán bonded over comics, space, movies and gaming, and Seán encouraged Billy’s dream of becoming a creator. When Billy’s mother said the experience had ‘made his year,’ Billy quietly added, ‘It made my life!'”
Hosted by creator fundraising platform Tiltify, the Wishmas initiative will allow participants to contribute through livestreams, fundraising events and digital content.
Since launching in 2017, Jacksepticeye’s Thankmas event has raised millions of dollars for charitable causes around the world with participation from stars and creators including Jack Black, Markiplier and Bella Poarch.
“A wish is more than a moment. It creates lasting memories, brings families together and reminds them that joy is possible even in life’s most difficult moments,” Make-A-Wish America president and CEO Leslie Motter said. “Wishmas is what happens when the incredible energy of the Thankmas community is focused on granting wishes. Every fundraiser, every livestream and every donation helps bring hope and joy to more children and families.”
“Every time that I’ve had the honor of being a ‘wish granter,’ I’ve witnessed firsthand the one-of-a-kind impact that Make-A-Wish has on the kids and families who need it,” McLoughlin said. “The Thankmas community has shown time and again that creators and our audiences can make a real difference in the world, so as we come back this year with Wishmas, we’re bringing that same energy to help grant wishes for children facing critical illnesses. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish as a global force for good.”
“Creators have changed what fundraising looks like. When someone a fan trusts asks them to be part of something, they show up, and they bring their friends with them,” Tiltify CEO and co-founder Michael Wasserman said. “Thankmas has proven that year after year, and extending it into a six-month Wishmas season means more creators of every size can rally their communities to grant wishes for kids who are waiting on one.”
Watch Jacksepticeye’s announcement about Thankmas 2026 via the video below.
