Make-A-Wish^® Arizona

For Haley Austin, volunteering grows from care for her community. She looks for ways to give back that fit into her life and believes kindness can create a lasting impact. As a Make-A-Wish Arizona volunteer, Haley carries that care into every wish journey she is part of. 

“I’ve always felt like if you have the time and energy to do something, you might as well,” Haley said. 

With a full-time career and four kids, Haley questioned whether volunteering would fit into her schedule. She found her answer through the flexibility of Make-A-Wish, which allowed her to give back in ways that felt both manageable and meaningful. 

“One of the things that drew me in is the flexibility,” she said. “You can really do things when you want and how you want.” 

Haley’s first airport send-off with Wish Kid James brought the mission to life. Standing with the family at the airport as they departed for Walt Disney World, she witnessed firsthand how deeply a wish can impact a child and the people who love them. 

“When they walked in, it was almost like they were my friends,” she said. “I wasn’t nervous at all. It was just having a party for James.” 

That joy inspired Haley to take on more opportunities. 

“I was like, okay, now I need to sign up for the rest of the stuff,” she said. 

Beyond airport send-offs, Haley supports the mission in quieter and meaningful ways. She volunteers in the office and writes handwritten birthday cards for Wish Alumni, often completing them while waiting to pick up her kids. The effort may seem small, but the impact lasts. 

“Why not do something that’s helping people?” she said.  

Through these experiences, Haley has seen how deeply wishes matter to families. 

“A wish gives Wish Kids something to hope for or an escape from whatever they’re going through,” she said. “Instead of focusing on chemo next week or waiting on test results, it’s like, no, I’m going to Disneyland.” 

Volunteering has also shifted Haley’s own perspective. 

“It’s given me more purpose,” she said. “It was something I wanted to do just because I wanted to, not because I had to.” 

When she talks with others who feel curious but hesitant about volunteering, her advice stays simple and reassuring. 

“You can start small,” she said. “Just get your feet wet. You don’t have to jump in all at once. It will snowball from there.”