Ann M. Martin is the bestselling author of the landmark book series, The Baby-Sitters Club, as well as the Main Street series. Her other acclaimed novels include A Dog’s Life, Belle Teal, Here Today and A Corner of the Universe. Last year, Netflix launched an adaptation of The Baby-Sitters Club, bringing her stories to a new generation of kids. 

Ann is also a dedicated and passionate member of the Make-A-Wish family. She has been involved with our organization for decades.  She has been a celebrity wish granter, donor, mentor, volunteer and advocate.  

We recently sat down with Ann to discuss her passion for giving back and Make-A-Wish. 

Rosemary Conder, Chief Development Officer (RC): Thank you so much for your time today! Ann, I’m truly inspired by your commitment to Make-A-Wish that has been over thirty-five years. I’m curious about how your involvement started.  

Ann Martin (AM): I had been contacted by Make-A-Wish for kids whose wish was to meet the author of The Baby-Sitters Club books. I was so touched and always loved the idea of Make-A-Wish. I was so inspired I start granting wishes myself to be more involved in other children’s wishes as a volunteer. The organization is incredible. It just grew from there!  

RC: You recently met one of our wish kids, Bettirose, whose wish was to write and publish a novel. What your take-away from that experience? 

AM: As a writer I found it so interesting that she took her own experience with cancer and turned it into a fantasy story.  It was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be more along the lines of a memoir. When I learned she was writing it for younger kids, I thought it was brilliant!  I was so impressed with her and very honored to be a part of that process. 

RC: You set up an endowment fund in 1999 that will help grant wishes in perpetuity. It is such a powerful way to make wishes come true today and for future generations. What prompted that? 

AM: I wanted to make sure that I could always help make wishes come true no matter what was going on financially in my life. We set up an endowment early on in my career and it’s been great.  My funds enable me to fund a wish every year around the holidays as a gift for my brother-in-law and sister. They look forward to seeing the impact of the fund every year. It has become a holiday tradition. 

RC: What inspired you to be so generous and visionary with your giving? Do you have an early memory of seeing someone helping others? 

AM: My parents were always supporting local community organizations. They very involved with a group of people in Princeton, N.J., where I grew up, who started the first animal shelter. My father, who was an artist, designed their logo and was the treasurer of the organization for a while. My parents were also on the board of the Princeton Public Library and our family sponsored a series of children through Save the Children. My sister and I grew up watching my parents being involved. It rubbed off on us. I guess giving back is in our blood! 

RC: At what point in your life did your personal philanthropy really take hold? 

AM: Once The Baby-Sitters Club took off I began the Ann Martin Foundation, which is no longer in existence, but was started to provide financial assistance to organizations benefiting children as well as homeless animals and people. Shortly after that I started another project called The Lisa Libraries which gives brand new books to underserved kids who don’t have access to books. Some of them get sent to small libraries and underfunded daycare centers and afterschool programs. A lot of the books get sent home directly for kids to keep, mostly kids who are in the foster care system.  

RC: You are amazing, Ann.  You’ve done so much for kids, championing education and literacy projects and granting wishes. Why are children’s causes in particular so important to you? 

AM: I just love the idea of making a kid truly happy with something that appeals specifically to them. I’ve always wished that if Santa Claus ever retired, I could have that job. Because I just can’t think of anything much better than making a kid happy.  

Make-A-Wish Metro New York thanks Ann M. Martin for 35 years of support. From bringing wishes to life through her philanthropy and volunteerism, to being a child’s wish, we are so grateful for your generosity and commitment to wish kids.   

For more information on how to support Make-A-Wish, reach out to Elizabeth Merkouris, Director, Philanthropy at [email protected] or call 646-558-5613.