Say “hello” to volunteer Rocio Chacon! This superstar volunteer has been granting wishes with Make-A-Wish North Texas for nearly 10 years. She originally got involved with Make-A-Wish through a previous employer in her hometown of El Paso, and she just moved to the Dallas area last year.

Along with granting wishes, Rocio enjoys serving as a spokesperson and event volunteer, and she’s always willing to lend a helping hand however she can. 

“Volunteering at Make-A-Wish is magical! It is amazing how we witness how a spark just ignites from within the children. I choose to be a volunteer because I want my children and others to see how easy it is to make a difference within our community,” she said.

Rocio is passionate about Make-A-Wish and says her heart feels full every time she helps make a wish come true.

“The experience of helping these little heroes is amazing! They think that you are helping them, but in reality, they are helping you.  I feel like I have a purpose and I have learned the meaning of giving back, caring and being selfless,” she expressed.

Our wish kids are strong and resilient, and Rocio recognizes this. Their positivity while dealing persevering through difficult health battles gives her a deeper appreciation for her life, health and her own kids.

“As adults, we sometimes forget to stop and smell the flowers. We are so preoccupied with work and our daily lives that we forget to appreciate! I believe this is one of the main things that I have learned from volunteering. To be happy, to appreciate and to be thankful!” she said.

Rocio has granted many wishes over the years, but she says the very first wish she granted always sticks out in her mind.

“My first wish was a little 5-year-old named Alexis. All he was asking for was a birthday party! Not a trip to Disney, not to meet someone famous, all he wanted was a simple birthday party in his apartment complex backyard. During the initial interview, he mentioned that he wanted to be a cop. For the reveal party, where we let the family and the child know that their wish is going to come true, I asked the police station on the west side if we could have something small for him. I imagined a ride in one of the units, a little cake, a tour around the station and for us to present him with a certificate letting him know that his wish was going to become true.

“Well, two police officers came to my work and told me that the whole El Paso Police Department wanted to cooperate and help organize an amazing wish reveal that involved Alexis becoming a real cop! I was in tears! I could not believe that I had asked for something small, and I had received so much for this little boy. Each wish is very special, and I truly get so much out of them!” she shared.

Rocio encourages everyone she knows to become a volunteer. Her 17-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son are both passionate about Make-A-Wish, too, and her daughter can’t wait to sign up as a volunteer as soon as she turns 18.

We’re incredibly thankful for Rocio and her service to Make-A-Wish, and we can’t wait to see what wishes she helps grant over the next 10 years!

Want to be a rockstar volunteer like Rocio and help grant wishes for North Texas children? It’s simple to get started! Sign up now!