A Q&A with Phillip Yim

This National Volunteer Week, we’re thrilled to honor volunteer Phillip Yim, who recently celebrated an amazing milestone: Twenty years of volunteering with Make-A-Wish.

In those 20 years, Yim has worked with wish families as a wish granter, shared the Make-A-Wish story as an active member of our speaker’s bureau, dressed up as an elf for Macy’s Believe campaign, and even served as a member of our Advisory Finance Committee. Yim has been especially helpful in taking on Cantonese-language wishes and communicating with our Cantonese-speaking families.

Since 2008, he’s has taken on a leadership position within our volunteers, as the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Wish Coordinator. In this crucial role, he works to assign the wish teams that help bring life-changing wishes to fruition.

How did you first get involved with Make-A-Wish?
I may be dating myself, but I found out about Make-A-Wish through an episode of the MTV's Road Rules. The child's wish was to go on a mission with the Road Rulers. The child was so excited and was engaged fully with the Road Rulers, stealing a robotic dog from the cast of MTV's The Real World. It was so cool that I had to find out more about Make-A-Wish! The rest... is history and tons of fond memories.

Do you remember the first wish you helped grant? Tell us about it! 
My first wish was Tony's laptop computer wish. Back in the day, laptops were not very common, so when Tony saw the laptop on wish day, he had the biggest grin on his face. He was so excited during the set up process and was in love with all the accessories. This first wish confirmed I chose the right nonprofit to dedicate my time to.

Why do you love volunteering with Make-A-Wish?
I truly believe in the mission of giving children hope and joy. Whenever I got pictures from families who just came back from their wishes, the wish kids were laughing in them. There's so much hope and joy. Kids get a piece of their childhood back and sometimes forget they are sick during the wish experience.

Tell us about a recent wish you helped grant. What did it mean to see that child's one true wish come true?
A recent wish was Oliver's wish to have an Apple shopping spree. Oliver was preparing for college and wanted to have electronics such as a MacBook and an Apple Watch. Arriving at the Apple Union Square store in a limo, he received a standing ovation from employees and shoppers. 

Afterwards, we had a celebratory birthday lunch for him at his favorite restaurant, Pizzeria Delfina. To me, the wish meant that regardless of whether Oliver is sick, he wanted to move forward and take control of his life, just like other teenagers.

Why should others get involved with Make-A-Wish?
Everyone should be able to share the power of a wish. Kids deserve to be kids, and we have the ability to make that happen by volunteering, fundraising, granting wishes, and speaking on behalf of Make-A-Wish.