As a child, Pete Neal learned the importance of giving back as he witnessed the mission-driven work of his aunt, former Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island CEO Charlotte Beattie. With the lessons she instilled in him and through Make-A-Wish events he attended, Pete knew he wanted to make a personal impact on the organization.
Over the past two decades, Pete’s involvement as a Make-A-Wish supporter has grown. A founding member of our Emerging Community Leaders Council (ECLC), he has set an example of the importance of philanthropy for a new generation of supporters. He has tapped into his networks, with many of the other ECLC founding members having been introduced to our organization by Pete. And, with his job taking him to Omaha, Pete is also a co-founder and member of the Young Leaders Council for Make-A-Wish Nebraska.
Our ECLC, now in its third year, is thriving. Pete has been a champion of our newest golf event, the Golf Invitational, from its inception. He has worked tirelessly to differentiate the event, by including competitions at nearly every hole, a vibe that is both accessible and competitive, and a lively post-tournament party. With Pete as event chair, the Invitational has raised over $120,000 in total in its first two years.
A respected business consultant (SVP, External Wholesaler), Pete has leveraged his position to solicit support from his employer, John Hancock Investment Management, a longtime sponsor of Wine & Wishes and a proud sponsor of our Golf Invitational.
“Being able to see the impact that our ECLC is making means so much. The wish stories stick with me, and I love how we are introducing the Make-A-Wish mission to new people of all ages.”