It was a special day for AJ, a 15-year-old from Virginia. He would finally get his wish for a shopping spree. As colorful confetti fell from the sky and a crowd cheered him on, AJ entered the shopping mall armed with several gift cards, spending money and a bright smile. It was a dream wish for the teenager who had overcome so much in his battle with cystic fibrosis.
For Jim and Kathy Donovan, retired Navy veterans, it was the culmination of their efforts to make AJ’s one true wish a reality. With happy tears in their eyes, they once again witnessed the power of a wish experience.
Those feelings and emotions aren’t new for the Donovans – it’s a common thread in every wish they have participated in over the last six years. It’s what keeps them coming back as volunteers to Make-A-Wish®.
Mission Accomplished
At Make-A-Wish, volunteers are integral in making wishes come true. Each year, tens of thousands of individuals – including thousands of federal employees and volunteers like Jim and Kathy – offer their support in our journey to grant every eligible child’s wish. Whether a wish granter, office volunteer, translator, fundraiser or speaker, there are countless short-term and long-term opportunities to support the organization.