Grab the Noisemakers! Cue the Confetti!
When Trina Cottingham took her seat at the University of Washington’s Workplace Giving Fair in 1996, she thought it was going to be just another day. She was wrong.
“That day changed my life,” she said.
Assigned to attend this event on behalf of her department and report back, she sat up and took note when someone from Make-A-Wish began presenting. “They played a video about Ken Griffey Jr granting a wish, and I was hooked.”
An avid baseball enthusiast, not to mention a Mariners and Griffey fanatic, Trina was inspired! Inspired to think more about her life and how she was spending her days. She wanted to make more of a difference, and that seemingly uneventful day altered her career trajectory.
She signed up to become a wish-granting volunteer and was hired three years later as a wish coordinator. That was nearly 26 years ago.
Today, she leads the local nonprofit organization that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses as she takes on the role of president and CEO.
Trina is the fourth person to be named the president and CEO in the chapter’s 40-year history.
“My heart has always been in wish granting, so this new role is an incredible opportunity to build upon that and make an even greater impact,” she said. “I am ecstatic to be able to use my experience and knowledge to guide all areas of the organization, from fundraising and operations to partnerships and community engagement.”
Although she’s moving on from her role as VP of Wishes (and the world’s coolest job title), she looks forward to setting her sights on helping the organization achieve its potential and achieve its vision of a wish for every eligible child.
“I see the power of a wish every day because of the generosity of this community. How lucky am I to be able to continue this work? Thank you for your trust and your partnership,” she said.
