Wish celebration volunteers work in pairs, partnering together to establish a meaningful connection with the wish child and family to build hope and anticipation leading up to the child’s wish. Additional training is required for this role. There is currently a high need for Wish Celebration Volunteers. Learn more about this role.

A wish discovery volunteer may work individually or with another volunteer as a team in the early part of a child's wish journey to establish a meaningful connection through virtual interactions that strengthen a child and family’s support system and empower the child to explore possibilities, discovering a wish that emerges from their likes, interests, and passions. Additional training is required for this role.

Lend their time to help with Make-A-Wish events. Event volunteers roll up their sleeves to do a variety of event support that helps raise funds and creates awareness about Make-A-Wish. 

Represent Make-A-Wish Illinois at a number of external outreach and fundraising events to share their wish experience. Open to Wish Alumni and their families.

Unites young professionals to support the mission through event-based fundraising and spreading awareness in the community, especially among Generation X and Millennials.

Assists with fundraising, medical outreach and community relations efforts on behalf of Make-A-Wish Illinois in local communities. Councils include volunteers who are leaders in their respective communities.

Regional Councils are active in the Bloomington, Champaign, Edwardsville, Peoria, Quincy, Rock Island and Springfield areas. For more information reach out to Janet Glavin at jglavin@illinois.wish.org or Laura Huerta at lhuerta@illinois.wish.org.

The Chicago Neighborhood Council focuses on efforts in Chicago's Austin, Little Village, North Lawndale, Pilsen and Hyde Park neighborhoods.  For information, contact Marimar Gutierrez at mgutierrez@illinois.wish.org.

Works to plan and execute Wish Ball, the signature fundraising event for Make-A-Wish Illinois. Wish Ball is held annually in Chicago. For more information contact Jillian Seguin at jseguin@illinois.wish.org.

Walk For Wishes^® is a fundraiser that celebrates past wishes and raises fund for future wishes. The Walk For Wishes committees serve as the visionaries and implementers for each local event. These leadership roles are very important to us and will work year-round to engage the community in exciting and new ways! There are opportunities to join the Walk for Wishes event committees in downtown Chicago, suburban Chicago, Champaign, Moline, and Rockford. For more information, contact walk@illinois.wish.org.

First, attend an online orientation. After the webinar, you will receive an application which takes about 15 minutes to complete. You will then receive a background check link. Once you complete the background check, we will receive results 1-3 days later. When the background check is approved, you will receive a welcome email with information on further training opportunities, resources and how to sign up for volunteer assignments.

The link to the application will be sent after you attend the volunteer orientation. If you do not receive the link, contact hwynn@illinois.wish.org.

After completing your volunteer application, a background check email will be sent from our trusted provider, FirstAdvantage (DoNotReply@fadv.com). All volunteers and staff must complete a background check through FirstAdvantage every three years. If you have not received your background check email, or the link has expired (after 9 days), contact hwynn@illinois.wish.org.

All new volunteers completing their first background check will receive a chapter-paid application with no payment required. After three years, volunteers who choose to renew their active status will receive a volunteer-paid application at a cost of $27.63. If this cost presents a barrier to your continued involvement with our chapter, contact hwynn@illinois.wish.org.

No, you will need to fill out another background check for Make-A-Wish Illinois. We can only transfer the background check if you were a staff member or volunteer at another chapter (and it has not expired). 

Typically, about two weeks total depending on when we receive the background check results.

Although all official volunteers must be 18 years old, there are several other volunteer opportunities including hosting a toy drive or organizing a fundraiser at school through our Kids For Wish Kids program.