Volunteer
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Join a caring community of volunteers who transform lives. Together, we can make countless wishes come true.
Your time and unique talents are critical to bringing strength and hope to wish kids when they need it the most. In fact, our volunteers are at the heart of every wish experience.
Make-A-Wish volunteers consider their work impactful and meaningful. And, their efforts are rewarded—not in dollars or cents, but in the incredible difference they make in the lives of our wish kids. Volunteers even have the freedom to choose when and how they would like to help transform lives in our community.
We understand that you want to volunteer but might not know where your skills and talents best lie. Check out our volunteer opportunities and see where you can best help make wishes come true.
Event volunteers roll up their sleeves to perform a variety of support tasks that help raise funds, create awareness about our chapter and make dreams a reality. Event volunteers lend their time to assist with local Make-A-Wish events and local school or community outreach events.
Wish Granters work in pairs to meet with our wish children and their families and facilitate the child’s big decision of choosing his/her one true wish. They also work with staff (Wish Coordinators) in planning and executing the wishes. This specialized role varies in need by community. A wish granter application, interview and specialized training is required.
Make-A-Wish is always on the lookout for volunteer photographers and videographers as well as other professional services (grant writing, data analysis, relationship stewards, etc.) We have numerous special projects and unique event and wish needs that come up throughout the year, so if you are interested in donating your time and talent please let us know!
Speaker’s Bureau Volunteers are trained to publicly speak on behalf of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire at various events to promote awareness of our mission, raise funds and/or recruit volunteers.
Wish Ambassadors also speak on behalf of the chapter. They are wish kids and their family members who have completed a Make-A-Wish experience and feel inspired to share their wish story with others. Wish Ambassadors work closely with our Wish Ambassador Trainers, Speaker's Bureau volunteers and staff members.
Make-A-Wish offers a variety of leadership roles on committees and teams (Auction Committee, Special Event Task Team leads, etc.) to support our fundraising-development department.
All volunteers are asked to meet a series of requirements before becoming an active volunteer – Start your Make-A-Wish journey today! At every level of the organization, volunteers are critical to the mission. Get started today and soon you can bring hope and joy to local children with critical illnesses as a Make-A-Wish volunteer!
Attend a Volunteer Information Session: Our mandatory hour-long info session covers an overview of Make-A-Wish and volunteer opportunities. Browse our Volunteer Information Session Calendar for upcoming session dates and locations near you or via webinar. Please note: the information session is targeted toward prospective volunteers over age 18. Youth volunteers, please visit wish.org/kfwk for more information on how to get involved.
Fill out application: Applications are provided only after attending a Volunteer Information Session. Completed applications can be returned to our chapter office via mail, e-mail or fax:
Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire
Attn: Volunteer Services
3230 El Camino Real, Suite 100 | Irvine, CA 92602
[email protected]
Fax: 714-689-0985
Background Check: Due to the nature of our work, select volunteer positions must successfully complete a criminal background check every 3 years. Make-A-Wish does not employ or utilize as a volunteer any individual who has been convicted of a crime that (a) victimizes children, (b) is sexual in nature, or (c) involves violence, fraud, or significant theft. Please contact us with any questions related to past convictions and/or our background check screening process.
Get Involved! Volunteer paperwork takes about 2 weeks to process and approve. After your paperwork is processed, you will be contacted with detailed instructions as it relates to the next steps based on the opportunities you selected. You are officially now a volunteer for Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire and will remain an integral part of delivering our mission forward!
