What is your position, and how long have you been working at Make-A-Wish Minnesota?
I’m a wish coordinator and I have been on staff since 2017, I started as a wish granter in 2012.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working at Make-A-Wish?
You can’t beat wish days, they’re all so unique and special! I love seeing the wish kids’ reactions and also watching their parents as they get to see their child experience such joy. Getting to be a part of such special moments like wish kids saying “this is the best day of my life” or having a wish kid sign “thank you” make it all worth it.

What is one of your favorite wish experiences?
There are so many! Lily’s wish to have animal experiences is one of my favorites. Lily loved animals and wanted to do something special with them. She got to go behind the scenes at Como Zoo and have penguins paint her a picture, see a baby snow leopard before it was on exhibit (her favorite animal!) and feed the giraffes. We also went to the Animal Humane Society and she got to play with puppies, kittens, bunnies and guinea pigs! It was amazing to see all of the efforts that so many people put in from Como Zoo and the Animal Humane Society to make it an incredible wish experience for Lily and her family. Lily had never ridden a school bus before and she really wanted to ride one, so a big yellow school bus picked up her and her family for the activities (and she got to choose the playlist for the bus ride)! Hearing Lily’s giggle and seeing her smile while seeing and playing with all of the animals is something I’ll never forget.

Are there any personal, fun facts you'd like to share?
I love to do chalk art around the Twin Cities! My chalk Instagram is @chalkituptolife – and I do free chalk for Twin Cities area wish kids (stretch those boost budgets!) Let me know if you have a wish kid who would love chalk for a special occasion - birthday, wish day, end of treatment or just because!

What advice (if any) would you give to new volunteers?
Make the moments count! Boosts can be “small” and really meaningful. Just letting a wish kid or family know you’re thinking of them or sending a fun card in the mail can go a long way.