Tommy Austin's Make-A-Wish

Furthermore, I have been involved in impacting my community. Through my work with the Young Men’s Service League, National Honors Society, and Methodist Richardson Hospital I have insight into the importance of helping others. Volunteering with the Special Olympics is one of my favorite activities I have done through National Honors Society. The sense of fulfillment that pervades my body at the conclusion of the volunteering, knowing I was able to brighten up these kids’ days, is

What would it be like to have a life-threatening disease, and not know if you’re going to make it? Then, you found out that you could have your biggest wish come true, because of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. That’s exactly what happens to thousands of kids each year.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish Foundation is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, serving children between the ages of two-and-a-half to 18 in every community in the United States and its territories. Wishes don’t just happen on their own. Make-A-Wish Foundation is only able to create wish experiences with the help of a network of more than 120 dedicated employees and more than 25,000 volunteers, interns, donors and other supporters (Make-A-Wish® America, 2015). From the humble beginnings of one boy's wish to be a police officer, The Make-A-Wish Foundation has evolved into an organization that grants a child's wish in the U.S. and its territories every 40 minutes (Covell, 2009). Since its inception, the organization has maintained the grassroots fulfillment of its mission by strengthening families and bringing hope to every eligible wish kid. As the foundation continues to mature, its mission will remain steadfast giving wish children of the past, present and future the opportunity to share the power of a

By allowing himself to be open to others, he is able to being an icon of this organization to those in need. While he stood out in many events, one that clearly illustrates his kindness was during a Headliners event, where he was not even a member, but he stepped up in their time of need when they were short of volunteers, and with a smile, he picked up supplies, and stayed for the whole event until tear down. This goodwill shows the investment he has in helping others and shows the love in what he calls “home:” Campus Events and Entertainment.

I wanted to take a few minutes of your time to ask you to help me shine a light during a time where there is so much darkness in our country. With so much anger, resentment and despair consuming people’s thoughts, we seem to have forgotten the positive things taking place all around us, like the miracles that take place at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Let’s shine a bright light together by helping the amazing kids at St. Jude.

Throughout my life, I’ve always had an immense interest in helping others. Being involved in the National Charity League for 5 years has given me the opportunity to be involved with charities that I otherwise would’ve never known about. I’ve had the privilege to help with over b charities in and around my community throughout my years as an NCL member. By far my favorite would have to be Grace’s Feed Our Kids that I have volunteered at every summer since my start in NCL. Through this charity, we are able to provide lunches and fun games to underprivileged kids in Grapevine during the unbearably hot Texas summer days. Each day we serve different meals, either donated from local restaurants or homemade by my NCL class, and have a variety of things for the kids to do, like coloring, water guns,

According to the National Cancer Institute, everyday 43 kids are diagnosed with cancer, and in a year over 1,960 of them will die. That’s why the America Make a Wish Foundation grants a wish every 35 minutes to kids with life threatening diseases. They believe that in some cases, giving the kids their one heartfelt wish could be a real game changer. That's why, one way I’m going to pay it forward is sponsoring a wish.

The story of Sam Ferris, an eleven year old boy who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is “a life threatening cancer that affects the nervous system (Make-A-Wish 2012).” Sam always has this passion for baseball and his wish was for a baseball field to be built in his backyard, which would allow him to play with his friends whenever he wanted. Make-A-Wish knew that this was his one true wish, so they asked help from volunteers and donors to make his wish come true. The University of Mississippi and Itawamba Community College’s ground crew decided that they would contribute to building the baseball field. Those in the community generously donated the materials needed to build the baseball field such as “fencing, backstop, sod, clay,

In ninth grade, my mother suggested that I volunteer with peers at my high school who are special needs. She thought it would be good for me to meet other people my age who have their unique struggles in school, much like myself. I protested originally, but little did I know I would love volunteering with my peers, regardless of their disability. During this time, I signed up to volunteer with a local organization called Buddy Ball. At Buddy Ball, I had the opportunity to teach children with disabilities ages five through twenty-one baseball. When I volunteered with my peers, I mainly saw high schoolers with severe autism, intellectual disabilities, and emotional disturbances, whereas with Buddy Ball most of the participants had severe autism, intellectual disability, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, epilepsy, or a multiple of disabilities. Both of these experiences allowed me to gain knowledge of a variety of special

Joni had worked for over 25 years in the local school system as an Educational Tech II, otherwise known as a teacher’s aide. In this capacity, she got to know generations of teachers, students and their families. In addition, working with high needs students with challenging intellectual disabilities, she sought to identify opportunities for her students to gain practical knowledge in local organizations and life skills to ensure their dignity as adults. To create these connections she often interacted with numerous small businesses, non-profits, and community-based organizations.

In my time volunteering at Adams Camp, I have received the opportunity to be able to know Jordan Ficke. Jordan Ficke is a brunette, young woman who has devoted most of her life to helping other people. While she has spent over a decade of her life helping people with developmental disabilities, she has also worked at schools and a rehabilitation center. She stated that “if you love what you do, you will never have to work a day in your life!” She truly has lived by this motto, as her life has been lived for the benefit of others. Prior to moving to Colorado, she lived in Baltimore, working at a day habilitation program. She “served clients with dual diagnosis in mental health as well has an intellectual disability that

The Foundation had just donated the funds to expand housing for the Seed’s Orphanage, which was home to seventy- five children. Our mission when going was to spend quality time with the children by organizing ten days of fun activities. Each of the children in the orphanage had endured various versions of abandonment, abuse, rape, and neglect. Bonding with the children and experiencing life in an impoverished area was truly life giving.

Chris Greicius was like any other seven year old with a dream; his dream was to be a police officer. However Chris was diagnosed with Leukemia, and was going to die. His dream to “catch the bad guys” (Make-A-Wish® America) to make the world safer motivated him through his journey. When Chris’s wish came true and has a police officer for the day, they knew they could make a difference. Then on May 3rd Chris lost his fight against Leukemia, but he was not forgotten. Instead he started up one of the best organizations to support today, Make A Wish. That summer of Chris’s passing, a group of working-class DPS officers, friends and family gathered, which marks the beginning of Make-A-Wish” (Real Make a Wish website). “By the following spring the

Having Jeison as a hero for kids with their own disabilities is very rare, knowing they have someone to relate to can give them hope. When Jeison was in the adult life he wanted others to know the values that disabled kids have just the same as any other kids.(crowdrise.com) Changing perspectives, organizing a facility for kids with disabilities, all while living with a disability himself shows how Jeison Aristazabal characteristics fit a hero’s personality.

While Aaron was a junior at University of California, Berkeley he had a best friend, Daniel, who had leukemia. Daniel had a big impact on his life(RW 10) He felt that if he had the opportunity to make a difference for kids that’s what he was going to do. So he started participating