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Our Staff
Our Board

Mike Warmuth

Chair

Thomas South

Vice Chair

Northern Trust Corporation

Amanda Worthington

Vice Chair

Heidrick & Struggles

Todd Richards

Treasurer

Michele Booth

Corporate Documents Officer

FTI Consulting
Associate Board

Tyler Dickman

President

GATX Corporation

Tom Konrad

Treasurer

Centier Bank

Alissa Warsh

Secretary

VikingCloud

Meghan Hanrahan

President Elect

Hammock Hospitality
Media Center

Access news releases, background information and recent news about Make-A-Wish and connect with our Communications team. 

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News Releases

View our latest news releases to learn about major wish-granting events, new sponsorships, campaigns and other news.

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Media Kit

Access background information about Make-A-Wish, our history, accomplishments, creative assets and more.

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About Us

Since being founded locally in 1985, Make-A-Wish Illinois has granted more than 17,000 wishes and continues its mission to share the power of a wish® with children in all 102 counties across the state. 

Life-changing wish journeys are made possible by dedicated staff and more than 1,000 caring volunteers who help each child discover, create, fulfill, and experience the lasting impact of their most heartfelt wish. 

Support for Make-A-Wish comes from generous individual, corporate and foundation donors.

Our Vision

At Make-A-Wish® Illinois, our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child. It is our mission to create life-changing wishes for every child with a critical illness, and create an impactful wish journey for them. 

Managing Our Funds

Make-A-Wish Illinois finances endeavors through corporate sponsorships, special events, foundation grants and individual contributions. However, we do not solicit funds by telephone and receive no federal or state funding. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, all contributions are deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our financial statements are audited locally by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP.   

At Make-A-Wish, we take our responsibility for the monies donated to our cause very seriously and are pleased to confirm that according to the fiscal year 2023 (September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023) audit results, the Make-A-Wish Illinois program service expense ratio was 75 percent. 

We are proud to be a BBB Illinois Accredited Charity Seal Holder, having met all 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. 

For full financial details please review the following: 

Current Financial Statements

Fiscal Year 2023 Make-A-Wish Illinois Annual Report (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2023 Make-A-Wish Illinois Audited Financial Report (PDF)

Careers & Internships

At Make-A-Wish, we are more than a great place to work — our work is life-changing. We are an inclusive and diverse group of people who, through a mosaic of backgrounds, thought and experiences, are united in purposeful work. We are fueled and guided by our values — values that are represented in the inspired people we work with and the life-changing work we do, every day. 

We are always on the lookout for great talent who share in our passion. If you are interested in a career or internship with Make-A-Wish, check out our current open positions. 

Staff Positions

Chief Operating Officer

Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) position serves as an integral member of the leadership team and leads a team of professionals across a diverse array of functions. The COO is responsible for the development and execution of strategies, policies, and procedures in all business operations areas including finance, accounting, technology, human resources, volunteer management, legal, and workplace administration.  This position has a direct impact on our growth objective, optimizing the performance of the organization to collaboratively support the dynamic needs of a growing organization.

Multilingual Wish Specialist

The Multilingual Wish Specialist is responsible for the management of wishes for non-English speaking (primarily Spanish) families from the time the child is qualified for Make-A-Wish until the wish is granted. Collaborates with other staff, volunteers, vendors and community supporters to create an overall wish experience through which children and families build resilience and experience healing.

Internships

Internships are unpaid but may be used for credit as allowed by a student's academic program.

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