In 2019, when asked to serve on the board for Make-A-Wish, Mike accepted the invitation, eager to partner with an organization whose mission he fully supported. Pulling from his skills and experience as an audit partner for an accounting and consulting firm, Mike currently fulfills multiple roles within Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana’s board, acting as board treasurer and participating on both the executive and finance committees.
Make-A-Wish's mission is what inspired me to serve and support an organization with such a great cause
“I believe in Make-A-Wish because I have seen and heard many times from kids and their parents how transformative the high-quality, life changing wishes are to the children and their families.”
Mikes involvement with Make-A-Wish, though, extends beyond his place on the board. “I feel there are two duties of being a board member for a nonprofit organization. The first is to help govern, and the second is to help raise money and donate time to help further the mission.”
And Mike does just that, working to do his part in fundraising and spreading the mission of Make-A-Wish. Mike organizes an annual holiday fundraiser to raise money for the organization, sharing his passion for Make-A-Wish with attendees. "My wife and I personally donate and ask friends, family, and professional contacts to join us in supporting Make-A-Wish.”
Mike finds fulfillment in the opportunity to help others in a time of need. To him, Make-A-Wish means “bringing hope, joy, and strength to kids at a time they need it most.” He encourages people to become a part of Make-A-Wish, sharing with others that it's a chance to help make a difference in the life of a child battling a critical illness.
“Smiles a mile wide,” Mike says, reflecting on the impact he’s seen. “You can feel the excitement and energy a wish brings to the kids and their families—from wish reveals to them talking about the wish and how thankful they are for someone giving them a ‘lift’ during a difficult time in their lives.”