Donating to the philanthropy projects of her daughter’s college sorority, Ruth was touched by the Chi Omega’s passion for Make-A-Wish. After her daughter graduated, they teamed up as volunteers and Ruth has been involved ever since. “I personally believe we have a responsibility to our community to give back,” Ruth said about her decision to volunteer, looking to add joy to situations that were hard, uncertain and stressful.

A volunteer since 2020, Ruth has granted a number of wishes in north suburban Lake county and volunteered at Make-A-Wish events. As a mentor to other volunteers, Ruth creates a supportive and inclusive environment, sharing her wealth of experience through practical resources, like tips and tricks spreadsheets, starter kits, and thoughtful advice. First-time volunteers praise her generosity, leadership, and humility. One noted, “I told her I would never do another shopping spree without her,” a testament to Ruth’s unique ability to make the complex feel effortless and joyful.

One fond memory she recalls was getting to know a teen whose wish was to visit Hawaii. The wish child was facing some heavy feelings, knowing that her very serious illness was the catalyst to her wish experience. Throughout the wish journey Ruth and her wish partner planned small, but very special touches to support the child emotionally, helping to lift her spirits until the wish child was genuinely excited about the upcoming wish trip with her family.

Make-A-Wish staff say that Ruth embodies everything in a volunteer they could ask for — compassion, creativity, professionalism, and an unwavering dedication to the children and families we serve in Illinois. Whether she’s taking new volunteers under her wing, stepping up on challenging wishes, or orchestrating moments of pure joy for wish kids, Ruth pours her heart into every interaction, leaving a meaningful impact wherever she goes. 

Working with Make-A-Wish has reinforced what she learned in her career of working with people with disabilities; that families truly need time to celebrate and connect with one another, especially when typical parenting challenges are compounded by the complexities of supporting a child with a critical illness. 

“[Volunteering with Make-A-Wish] has deepened my understanding of how powerful it is to create space for joy, relief and shared moments of hope,” Ruth said. “I love that I can do this on an ongoing basis.”

Ruth believes it doesn’t take much to make something meaningful and encourages those thinking about volunteering to give it a try, because there is no feeling like interrupting a cycle of stress to create moments of relief and joy for families that really need it.