September 12, 2008
“If you could have one wish, what would it be?” As a Wish Granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, that is the question we get to ask a child who is going through a very traumatic time in his/her life.
Now comes the really good part…. You can be a volunteer for an organization that makes these wishes happen for thousands of children every year.
How much better could it get?
August 29, 2008
Why Volunteer?
Volunteers are an integral part of our Foundation – they help fulfill our mission in many ways. We are able to succeed in raising money and granting eligible children’s wishes because of the work of our Volunteers. There are a variety of opportunities to volunteer for our Foundation within your own community. To gain insight on volunteering, we asked one of our own Volunteers to discuss her experience with us.
Denise Fulmer is a Volunteer who lives in our mountain community. Over the past four years she has assisted with fundraisers, visited wish children to find out their one true wish, assigned other Volunteers to visit wish children, spoken on behalf of our Foundation, plus volunteers her time in many other ways.
She graciously answered a few of our questions, to get into the mind of a Make-A-Wish Volunteer:
Question: What generated your interest in becoming a Volunteer for Make-A-Wish?
Denise: My son was a wish child. I saw first-hand what the wish experience was like and wanted to assist other children and their families to help them have the same experience.
Question: What have you gained as a Volunteer?
Denise: I have gained special relationships with many wish children and their families.
Question: What is one of your fondest memories in volunteering?
Denise: Every wish is special, but if I had to pick just one, it would be when we presented a young boy with his own play yard. He loved to go to the park but because of his condition; he could only go either early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the sun. I received one of the biggest hugs you can imagine when it was completed!
Question: Why Volunteer?
Denise: It will be one of the most rewarding jobs that you can imagine. To see the excitement in a child’s face as he or she is telling you their wish. Then the tears of joy shed by the parents when the wish is granted. All you can say is, “Wow, I love my job!!!”
As you can see, volunteering not only helps our Foundation, but it is also beneficial to the Volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lauren Barker – lbarker@ncwish.org or 877.677.9474 ext. 229.
August 8, 2008
The Make-A-Wish Puzzle… where do you fit in?
During the next year we will be reaching out to our community to let them know how important they are to our mission. In everything we do we need support from all of the audiences that we touch.
We need our donors to fund our program - granting wishes. 80% of all the funds we receive are used solely to grant the wishes of the children we serve. This comes in the form of cash gifts, planned giving, employee giving and employer matching, in-kind gifts – donated services and goods, and honor and memorial gifts.
We need volunteers to carry out our mission. Volunteers are the core of our organization. They help us to support our events and events held by others to benefit our Foundation; by helping in the office in day-to-day tasks; by serving as airport greeters; serving on our Speakers’ Bureau and speaking on behalf of our organization; and by being wish granters – creating the magical experiences that make a child’s dream come true.
We need our medical community to reach the children we serve. Without the doctors, nurses and medical social workers the number of children we reach would diminish. These professionals inform the families about the opportunity available to them by Make-A-Wish.
We need our board of directors to guide us and govern us. This unique group of individuals comes to us from various backgrounds. They are business and community leaders that have the skills and heart-felt dedication that allow us to grow and thrive.
We need our community to learn about our Foundation. We constantly strive to seek new donors, volunteers, sponsors, supporters and cheerleaders to spread the message of Make-A-Wish to those they know. Make-A-Wish started as a grass roots organization and will continue to generate most of its knowledge base through this simplest form or marketing.
Without each piece, we are not complete. Where do you fit in?
During this campaign we will be providing information about what we’re doing and showing how you can help or get involved. Don’t want to wait? For questions or more information contact us at 704-339-0334 or lmoseley@ncwish.org.
