I wish to have an online shopping spree
Tre'Mars
7
nervous system disorder
Wish Granting Volunteer Embraces Opportunity to Create Hope for Wish Kids
As an avid runner, Kim Kreuzman initially got involved with Make-A-Wish through the Trailblaze Challenge. She was a participant in the spring 2018 season and enjoyed getting to know the other hikers, participating in training hikes, and pushing herself physically to complete 28.3 miles in one day. However, she says the most important impact was “working together as a team for something so much bigger than ourselves.”
The Trailblaze Challenge motto is “It’s not a race … It’s a journey” and Kim took that to heart for her Make-A-Wish involvement. There was no finish line to making wishes possible.
On March 12, 2020, she officially became a wish granter, but only a few short days later, the world came to a screeching halt due to COVID-19.
While the pandemic caused the world to change drastically, Kim did not let it dissuade her from granting wishes. “I am not one to sit idle.” She shared. “I wanted to be a good steward of my time and find a way to make a positive impact.”
She worked closely with the Make-A-Wish staff as wishes began changing. She remained committed to doing whatever she could to grant wishes safely and create hope at a time wish kids needed it the most.
Becoming a wish granter during the pandemic has been a challenge to continue bringing experiences of joy to children with critical illnesses, but Kim understands that hope is essential. Over the past year, she has found ways to safely make wishes extra special, like securing amazing treats for Sierra and organizing a Ferrari experience for Javares.
Kim says the most memorable Make-A-Wish moment was her first wish granting experience: Tre’Mars’ wish to have an online shopping spree. When planning Tre’Mars’ wish, Kim knew it would take the support of many people to make it the best day ever. She called on businesses for their support: Party City donated Spiderman themed balloons and wrapping paper, a local sign company made him a custom vinyl banner, and a local bakery donated a delicious custom cake. Kim’s friends and her fiancé were also eager to lend a hand to assemble and wrap all of Tre’Mars’ new toys. For Kim, the biggest impact came from the local first responders who brought a parade of emergency vehicles to Tre’Mars’ house to celebrate his wish day.
“This experience showed me that I might be one person, but there is so much power in asking for help. I learned that, especially this year, businesses want to get involved. They want to be a part of something so special, they want to be a part of the light. Tre’Mars’ face said everything. He was grinning ear to ear. I will never forget that.”
Throughout her experience with Make-A-Wish, Kim has seen first-hand how a wish doesn’t only impact the child and the family, it impacts everyone involved.
When asked why someone should get involved with Make-A-Wish, Kim shared, “Giving is a gift, it is something to be experienced. We all have something we can give—our time, our talents, our treasures, our creativity, our hearts: everyone has something. In getting involved with Make-A-Wish, you get to choose how you want to use the gifts you are blessed to have, and it is in giving those away to these kids and these families that I have seen true joy be found.”