BOISE, ID: Make-A-Wish® Idaho, a nonprofit charity that grants life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses, announces the addition of three new board members in spring 2021. This brings the number of board members to fifteen.

Each board member has prior experience working with nonprofit organizations and will bring their knowhow, expertise, and unique sets of professional skills to their new leadership roles at Make-A-Wish Idaho. 

“I am so excited to start working with Make-A-Wish Idaho! Make-A-Wish’s ability to bring joy and excitement when people need it most is one of the many reasons that I believe so strongly in this organization,” said new board member Lori Ruiz.

Lori Ruiz is a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She’s worked in the financial sector since 2013 and played golf for Boise State where she earned her degree.

An all-conference football player at and graduate of Boise State, Nick Schlekeway is a founder and CEO at Amherst Madison, one of the largest and fastest-growing brokerages in Idaho. He is also the founder and board president of A Giving Circle, INC, a local nonprofit.

Breanne Simplot is the Director of Customer Service at the J.R. Simplot Company, an international food and agricultural company. Breanne earned a degree in business management from the University of Idaho.

“Make-A-Wish Idaho is fortunate to have a talented, engaged group of professionals who serve as members of our Board of Directors. We are thrilled to have Lori, Breanne and Nick join us as Ambassadors for our wish kids and families. Their collective contributions of time, talent and treasure will make wishes come true for kids throughout the state of Idaho. We are grateful to have each of them!” said Make-A-Wish Idaho President and CEO Janie Best.