NY Strong: Why I Volunteer
After the horrific tragedy of September 11th, Volunteer Belinda vowed to make sure the rest of her days were filled with purpose. Starting with her career in the field of Human Rights.
“Empowering people about their civil rights is essential. I feel proud that I am making a positive impact on the lives of the residents of the Bronx,” she said.
From housing to employment discrimination, Belinda takes on some of the toughest battles her neighbors face, through her work at the NYC Commission on Human Rights.
But she doesn’t limit her purpose to solely her career. After surviving the terrorist attacks in 2001, she said, “I feel an obligation to share my blessing with others through whatever means possible.”
That meant making a change.
“I decided to change things in my life, including getting rid of what I consider ‘negative energy’ around me as it pertains to people, and to start doing things, I always wanted to do but never got around to doing,” said Belinda. “One of those things was to volunteer with Make-A-Wish.”
Fighting her own chronic illnesses, Belinda relates to the struggles of a child and their family going through something similar. Successfully undergoing several major procedures in the past six years, including an open-heart surgery, she chooses to be of the mindset that, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
And wish kids are some of the strongest people she has ever met.
“Each time I meet a child for the first time, it is never what I expect. The children are so delightful. They are happy and polite little beings despite their medical condition,” she recalled.
From puppies, to shopping sprees, and cruises, Belinda has granted over 15 wishes. And she’s not stopping there...
Today, she looks forward to soon being able to meet with her wish families face-to-face, to help them discover what their wish might be. “When you see the happiness in their little faces when they talk about their wishes, it melts your heart,” she said.
Hope is on the horizon and you can help make it a reality. Learn more about how you can get involved.