Making an impact is one of Ethan Hite’s greatest joys in life. Ethan’s drive to make a difference stems from his own wish experience to visit Walt Disney World® Resort when he was five years old 

“One of my favorite movies is Finding Nemo and my parents said I watched Nemo probably 200 times during my treatments,” said Ethan, who was diagnosed with leukemia at just two years old. 

Although Ethan can’t remember the full details of his wish, he knows there was joy, laughs, smiles and more importantly, ice cream.  

“The ice cream shop at Give Kids the World Village was open all the time. I was told I once had ice cream four times a day at the ice cream parlor,” Ethan recalls happily. “I remember being on my dad’s shoulders, walking to the ice cream parlor in the morning. I don’t remember anything other than just being on my dad’s shoulders.”   

After moving to Arizona for graduate school, Ethan decided to give back to an organization that profoundly shaped his life—Make-A-Wish Arizona. As a volunteer wish granter, he helps fulfill wishes for other children, and the impact is deeply personal. 

“Sometimes it's tough to get wish kids to open up about their wishes because they’re shy. But when their wish is nearing and they’re out in front of the camera, smiling and giggling, it shows that their wish is making a difference—that you’ve made an impact.” 

Now an NCAA Division I Governance Postgraduate Intern, Ethan balances his professional career while also being a volunteer wish granter. 

“It’s a choice to want to go and make a positive impact in somebody’s life. It’s a choice I’ve always wanted to make, and it feels good to have a sense of purpose,” he shared. “Being on the other side now, I know what it means to able to provide wish kids with these extra opportunities and it is really, really, special.” 

“When Make-A-Wish enters the picture, a wish provides the color, the pop of excitement, to a wish kid who has to sit in a hospital bed and doesn’t really get to experience that all the time.” 

If he could have a wish again, Ethan says he would wish for tickets to see the Kansas City Chiefs. “I go to a game every year. They’re my favorite sports team,” he said with a smile.  

Are you interested in using your time and skills to create life-changing wishes as a volunteer?