Volunteer Opportunities

The Make-A-Wish Foundation® encourages maximum involvement of volunteers. Volunteers supplement our salaried staff while bringing the creativity & vitality necessary to achieve our goals. Following are some examples of the many ways that you can become involved with Make-A-Wish®. Please consider your skills, goals, & motivation for volunteering when deciding which of these positions might best suit your needs.

Acting as a "meet & greet" person at Orientations, Wish Trainings and other events these volunteers might also assist in setting up some light food & drinks, welcome materials & banners. Ideally suited for an outgoing individual who enjoys meeting new people, & one who is willing and able to travel to local establishments to provide any necessary food for the event.

Share the magic of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tell our story to social & professional groups, students, government employees, etc. We provide the information--you provide the passion.

• After attending our Speakers Bureau training you will be given the opportunity to help us fulfill many of the speaking engagement requests we receive.
• Best suits volunteers with flexible schedules and public speaking experience.

Volunteers who take part in our various fundraising events create a framework of magic through planning, organizing & implementing successful fund-raising events.

• Volunteers may work on event committees, take on leadership roles, or help out on event day.
• Whatever the role, you determine your own level of involvement, allowing for great flexibility.
• Best suits volunteers who are detail oriented, have creative determination, a passion for people, & a commitment to getting the job done.

Wish Granters work directly with Wish Children & their families. Their mission is to get to the heart of the wish & to make the dreams of our Wish Children come true through creativity & imagination.

• Working in teams of two, Wish Granters meet with a Wish Child to discover, plan & fulfill a wish.
• Using resources wisely, they seek donated goods & services, whenever possible.
• Wish Granters commit their time to make each wish as unique as each child, and to creating a lasting, memorable experience for the Wish Child and his or her family.
• This position requires excellent people skills, sensitivity, and dependability.
• Best suits volunteers with creative energy, entrepreneurial enthusiasm & the ability to give freely of their time.
• Wish Granters participate in a pre-training interview and attend a Wish Training Session

We always have a need for some very specific talents:

• A Wish Child may have a wish that requires the skill of a Landscaper, Electrician, Computer Programmer, a Painter, or another special talent - ask us, you never know!
• We may hold a fundraiser requiring the skills of a Photographer, Videographer, or a D.J.
• If you are a Web Designer, Graphic Designer or Programmer and would like to work on our web site or published materials, we'd be happy to discuss this with you.
• In-Kind Donations are always appreciated.

Share your special talent! - Assist the Foundation with wishes, at special events, or with special projects. Best suits volunteers with professional experience in a critical need area.

Bilingual individuals are always welcome additions to our volunteer base. Spanish-speaking volunteers can be especially helpful. To work directly with the Wish Children & their families as Wish Granters or to assist others, strictly as a translator with Spanish speaking families, your assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Join our office staff team to help answer the telephone, assist with mailings, input computer data, or complete special office projects. Computer skills are helpful. Best suits volunteers with great customer service skills, an adaptable attitude, and daytime availability.

• Attend monthly meetings. It is essential that you attend at least 10 meetings for the year.
• Help to plan Wish Events & Play Dates. Play a significant role in developing and conducting events and Play Days for Wish Families, at the Wish House and other Hudson Valley locations.
• Organize and attend Hospital Parties at Westchester Medical Center, Blythedale, Vassar Hospitals.
• Plan the holiday parties for our Wish Families with assistance from the Wish Department.
• Affect Wish Policies & Guidelines changes for our chapter to submit for Board approval.
• Act as Advisory Group for difficult wishes: Assist volunteers who are having trouble with specific wish issues. For example, non-speaking issues, custody issues, or enhancement ideas.