Every Make-A-Wish volunteer, whether they're granting wishes or helping out at some of our events, brings their own insight and experiences to the job and to the organization.
Yesenia Presley gives as much of herself to others as she can.
Seeing how a wish experience impacted her friend's grandson, Annica decided to volunteer with Make-A-Wish. She quickly realized, “Life is bigger than me” and redoubled her volunteer efforts to make a difference.
On an October day in 2004, 10-year-old Jake Ochroch was in his hometown of Philadelphia completely starstruck. He was meeting one of his heroes: Bruce Springsteen. Jake had just finished a tough year-long battle with cancer and he and his family, all of whom are big Springsteen fans, couldn’t wait to meet the musician on his Vote For Change Tour. The Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware and Susquehanna Valley chapter granted Jake the experience, and his Make-A-Wish journey didn’t end that night, it was just beginning.
Jessica Cañas was introduced to Make-A-Wish after a close friend and Make-A-Wish employee told her about the need for bilingual and bicultural volunteers. Jessica, a 35-year-old college pipeline specialist at a Little Village community organization called Enlace Chicago, worked hard to find volunteers that fit the criteria within the community, until one day she had an epiphany: “Why don’t I just do it?”
Volunteers are the fuel of Make-A-Wish. Without them, fundraising events wouldn’t happen, there would be very little hospital outreach and, most importantly, wishes wouldn’t get granted at the pace they are granted today. Every Make-A-Wish volunteer, whether they’re granting wishes or staffing a table at a local hospital to spread the word about referrals, brings their own insight and experiences to the job and to the organization.
Joanne Walker has known about Make-A-Wish since a relative’s daughter was granted a wish some 30 years ago. The event moved Joanne and sparked a desire in her to get involved, but since she was still too busy in the work force, she knew the time wasn’t right.
Granting wishes is always a team effort. Without the work of donors, wish managers and especially volunteers, the mission of Make-A-Wish – to grant the wish of every eligible child – would be impossible to fulfill.
Helping kids through Make-A-Wish is her new passion after a life spent helping them as a nurse.
Using her experience as a wish parent to guide new families through hope-filled wish journeys.
Office Phone Numbers Chicago - 312.602.9474 Peoria - 309.637.1659 Springfield - 217.544.9470 Toll-Free - 800.978.9474 Sí, hablamos español.