As an active member of the Yorkville Junior Women’s Club, Kim has always looked for ways to serve her community. So, when a Make-A-Wish representative visited one of her club meetings to speak about volunteering, Kim was inspired and took the leap into becoming a volunteer herself. Now, nearly two years later, she continues to help make wishes come true in and around her Oswego community. 

Getting started, Kim recalls, was surprisingly simple. She signed up for the volunteer email list and began her training a few months later. From the beginning she says she felt very supported. After completing her training, Kim began her role as a wish celebration volunteer. Then last fall she added on the responsibility of wish discovery, where she helps children identify and share their most heartfelt wishes.

Today, she balances working with multiple children and their wishes at once. She enjoys guiding families through the process, connecting with her fellow volunteers, and creating moments that bring smiles to kids' faces during difficult times. Finding joy in most of the aspects of her roles, her favorite part remains seeing the hope and happiness a wish brings out in families. 

“They finally get to celebrate after going through so much,” she says. “They’re just making every moment count.”

Recently, Kim began working with a wish child who had spent two years battling leukemia. His family unfortunately had to cancel and reschedule his wish, a trip set to happen during his ninth birthday, as he required more treatment. Now, in a better place health wise he is preparing to leave for his wish to visit to Hawaii. For Kim, seeing his excitement and the joy on his family’s faces was unforgettable. After countless hospital visits and long days of uncertainty, they could finally look forward to spending time together, free from their worries. 

Kim says moments like these have changed her perspective on life. Through the children and families she meets volunteering, she has gained a deeper understanding of resilience. “Seeing them get joy in the smallest things is so fulfilling. They have gone through a lot, and it teaches me to enjoy every little thing in life.”

Her role as a volunteer has also given Kim a new sense of purpose. In a world that can often feel overwhelmed with negatives, Kim feels grateful to be able to bring light and positivity to others through her work. “This organization is one where you really see the tangible impact of what you do all the time. You see exactly where the impact of the donation is.”

Kim was honored with the Rising Star Award from Make-A-Wish Illinois during National Volunteer Week 2026. This award is presented to a volunteer with less than two years in a volunteer role who demonstrates a high level of engagement, dedication, and impact.