Meet Carla, one of our wonderful wish granters who enjoys mentoring new volunteers and working with families across our chapter! Carla grew up in Mexico, and she was unfamiliar with Make-A-Wish until she moved to Florida to pursue an internship at Walt Disney World in college. During her days off, she enjoyed exploring Magic Kingdom, and she often spotted families wearing Make-A-Wish t-shirts around the park.

“One day I asked one of the families what that meant, and we got to chat about what Make-A-Wish was and the wonderful, positive impact the wish was having on their child’s emotional well-being,” she shared. “It was then that I decided that I would one day become a volunteer for Make-A-Wish.”

As a bilingual wish granter, Carla helps both Spanish and English-speaking children discover their wishes. She enjoys helping families learn about the wish journey, and she takes detailed notes about the child’s favorite foods, activities, school subjects and more. She then works closely with the Make-A-Wish staff to create a personalized wish experience the family will cherish for years to come.

“I feel very blessed and grateful to get the opportunity to hear a child’s wish,” she shared.

Since 2019, Carla has granted five wishes and helped countless new volunteers learn about the wish-granting process. She’s currently working with sixteen wish families who are just beginning their wish journeys.

“Volunteering for Make-A-Wish has had a wonderful impact on my life. I love getting the opportunity to bring a smile to our wish kiddos’ faces,” she expressed. “I would tell a prospective volunteer for MAW to learn more about the different volunteer roles because there’s something available for everyone, and any role makes a difference.”

Carla works as a district relations manager and dyslexia expert for an EdTech company. Outside of her career and volunteer efforts, she enjoys spending time with her sassy 16-year-old Yorkie, going to Broadway shows, watching baseball games and attending French class.