Mission

The Jacob Ball Wish Fund benefits children as special as he was.  Although Jacob was only 12 when he passed away in 2013, his joyful impact continues through the wishes this fund brings to life. Donations allow our organization to fund “wishes” that provide special needs students with the experiences and developmental skill builders that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

Donate to the Jacob Ball Wish Fund and make someone’s wish come true!

Annual Fundraiser

In October every year since 2014, the Jacob Ball Wish Fund has produced a musical production featuring local actors and musicians with immense talent. We do not charge admission for our two performances, but we gladly accept donations that go directly to the Wish Fund to provide grants for more wishes!

This year’s production of Come From Away will be the best yet! Come join us on October 16 & 17, 2025, at the Academy of Innovative Studies, 2319 Stringtown Road, Evansville, Indiana!

Jacob Theatre & Academy

In 2025, we are proud to announce the launch of the Jacob Theatre & Academy! The Jacob Theatre & Academy is a new performing arts institution grounded in professional excellence and educational innovation. As a DBA of The Jacob Ball Wish Fund, the Academy provides theatrical training, performance opportunities, and arts access to students and community members of all ages and abilities. The Academy builds on an already thriving tradition of inclusive, donation-based performances — including the Wish Fund’s eleven-year history of producing a full-scale, Broadway-style musical each fall to raise money for special needs students. The Jacob Theatre & Academy will continue producing this annual show as part of its mission to unite artistry with purpose.

To introduce the Academy to the community, we presented the play Art by Yasmina Raza, which was performed at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science on August 21, 2025.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Academy! And be sure to find us on Facebook!

3 Simple Steps

Is there a child, or children with special needs in your classroom, your family, your life, your thoughts, your heart? Is there an activity, event, outing, or resource they’d love to experience, but it’s unavailable, due to cost? Share your wish with us. Hopefully, we can bring the wish to life. In three years, we’ve joyfully funded wishes that have touched 300 children.

Submit your wish on the behalf of a child, or a group of children.
We’ll review your wish.
We’ll notify you about our decision as soon as we can.

Share your wish with us.

 

In their own words.

Thank you for the trampoline because it can help us exersice.

Your friend

Hunter

Thank you for the ball it help me get my jigle out. thank a ging for the trampoline it get my jigle out more.

Your friend

Anne

Thank you for the trampoline it gives are class exrsis. I like it a lot and are techer to.

your friend,

Madison

Joyful Feedback

Therapy Balls and Trampoline

Therapy Balls and Trampoline

These are the kind letters from a class that wished to say "Thank You" for funding their wish for new therapy balls and a trampoline. Below are their letters typed out in their exact words. thank you four the new trampoline and the tent. We love our new balls to sit...

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News

Jacob Ball Wish Fund Launches Website

Jacob Ball Wish Fund Launches Website

EVANSVILLE, INDIANA—At the recent launch of the Jacob Ball Wish Fund website, jacobswish.org, Tiffany Ball, the organization’s Executive Director but more importantly,  “Jacob’s Momma,” reflected: “It makes it real. We’re really going to be able to help some...

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 Facebook Posts

3 hours ago

Jacob Ball Wish Fund
Continuing our cast introductions with Sara Fortner!Sara is thrilled to be performing in her 8th Jacob Ball Wish Fund show with this amazing cast! Sara loves being a part of these shows as it combines her passion for theatre and helping in the special needs community. Sara works at the Easterseals Early Learning Center where she gets the chance to work with young children of all different abilities. When she is not working, you can typically find her performing in or helping with shows around the theatre community. Along with theatre, she is a member of Sage Movement, a contemporary dance company. Sara, also, loves traveling and spending time with friends and family. She would like to thank the cast, crew, and production team for making this such a great experience. She especially wants to thank her fiancé, her family, and friends for all their support and encouragement over the years. Love you. So much.Come From Away is a fundraising production benefiting the Jacob Ball Wish Fund.AIS Performing Arts Center (the old North High School)Friday, October 16 at 7:30 PMSaturday, October 17 at 2:00 PMNo tickets are necessary! Admission is open to everyone, and donations to the Jacob Ball Wish Fund will be gratefully accepted.We hope you’ll join us for this incredibly uplifting and moving show—a beautiful story about kindness, community, resilience, and the extraordinary things that can happen when people come together to help one another.Bring your family and friends, and help us fill the theatre for this very special production. We can’t wait to share Come From Away with our community! #LivefortheJoyofJacob #AlwaysBeIntheMoment#comefromawaymusical ...
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7 hours ago

Jacob Ball Wish Fund
We are so excited to share this show with you!The next Jacob Ball Wish Fund Come From Away cast member is Amanda Mason BultemeierAmanda is honored to be performing in her 3rd JBWF show. Recent favorite roles include Lenny in JTA’s “Crimes of the Heart,” Erma in JBWF’s “Anything Goes,” Aunt Helen in Glitter & Grit’s “What We Keep Quiet,” and Helen Hubbard in Broadway Players’ “Murder on the Orient Express.” Amanda would like to thank the cast and crew for all the love and hard work they put into this production. Come From Away is a fundraising production benefiting the Jacob Ball Wish Fund.AIS Performing Arts Center (the old North High School)Friday, October 16 at 7:30 PMSaturday, October 17 at 2:00 PMNo tickets are necessary! Admission is open to everyone, and donations to the Jacob Ball Wish Fund will be gratefully accepted.We hope you’ll join us for this incredibly uplifting and moving show—a beautiful story about kindness, community, resilience, and the extraordinary things that can happen when people come together to help one another.Bring your family and friends, and help us fill the theatre for this very special production. We can’t wait to share Come From Away with our community! #LivefortheJoyofJacob#AlwaysbeintheMoment#comefromawaymusical ...
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Share Your Thoughts With Us

Have a question, a comment, or an idea? We’d love to hear from you.
Please get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to respond as soon as we can.