Make-A-Wish® Arizona’s Post

#WishStory | Jaime's fascination with animals began at a young age. He wasn't just a casual admirer; he was a true animal lover. His days were filled with exploring the world of creatures big and small, from lions to tortoises. 🦁🐢🐾 Life took an unexpected turn for Jaime when he was diagnosed with cancer in kindergarten. When Make-A-Wish came into Jaime’s life, he wished to connect with the animals he loved at the San Diego Zoo. 🐘✨ “It was exciting for Jaime to look forward to his wish. It motivated him to keep working on his physical therapy to build stamina to see all the animals at the zoo," said Leticia, Jaime’s mom. Jaime's visit to the San Diego Zoo and Aquarium was extraordinary. The zoo staff gave him a private tour, allowing him to get up close and personal with the animals, even feeding the tortoises. Jaime's wish to visit the San Diego Zoo and Aquarium had a profound physical and emotional impact. “When we returned home, it was as if he had brought back a newfound confidence. He now approaches strangers with ease, confidently answering questions about his wish,” Leticia said. “This transformation left us in awe of how the wish gave himself assurance and comfort in his own skin.” 💙 Jaime thought his wish was, “Awesomeness!” Your support is urgently needed if we are to give more children like Jaime a piece of their childhood back, the possibility of better health outcomes and the belief in brighter days ahead. ⭐ Give today at arizona.wish.org/donate.

#VolunteerSpotlight 💫 Like many of her fellow volunteers, Deb Nencheck’s connection to Make-A-Wish is personal.⁠ ⁠ “I had a dear friend who lost their nine-year-old daughter to cancer but spoke so highly about her wish and Make-A-Wish was instrumental in helping them get through it,” shared Deb. ⁠ ⁠ “It’s like everything traces back to Make-A-Wish in some way. It really enhanced their lives, and we still talk about it, so I knew I wanted to get involved in the mission.”⁠ ⁠ Ever since volunteering as a WishMaker in October 2022, Deb strives to transform lives for wish kids. Her favorite part is getting to know each kid. “I think the kids give back to me as much as I give to them.”⁠ ⁠ “They're all different ages and I've been fortunate to help on so many types of wishes. I’ve had a puppy wish, that was a great reveal and so much fun. I had a shopping spree recently and I’m working with a boy in Flagstaff who wishes to give helmets to his football team because he wants this to be his legacy,” she said.⁠ ⁠ For anyone interested in volunteering, Deb shares one piece of advice: “If you are going to volunteer, make sure it's something that really is making an impact in your community.”⁠ ⁠ Use your skills and time to help grant life-changing wishes to kids who need it most. 🔗 arizona.wish.org/volunteer.

WISH GRANTED! 🌟 Meet Joshua, 15, who after being diagnosed with cancer wished to have a gaming computer! When thinking about his wish, he wanted something that would allow him to do what he enjoys most — video editing, coding and something to help him pursue his education. ⁠ ⁠ Thank you to Flying Phoenix PCs for becoming community partners and partnering with Make-A-Wish Arizona to help grant wishes like Joshua’s! 💙 An additional thank you to Crust Simply Italian for making Joshua’s wish extra special. 😊

Congratulations to Nicole “Nic” Berndt on her 2-year milestone as the Alumni Manager at Make-A-Wish Arizona! Here’s to creating one alumni connection at a time as we continue granting wishes for critically ill children across Arizona! Cheers! 🌟

Happy birthday to our Senior Director of Wish Delivery at Make-A-Wish Arizona, Marissa Astrain! 💙 May your day be filled with as much joy and smiles as you deliver to wish kids! ⭐ Here's to another year of creating life-changing wishes! 

Whether you're planning a family barbecue or just relaxing by the pool this #4thOfJuly, we couldn't help but share these summer recipes inspired by our wish kids' favorite foods! 😋🍽✨⁠  ⁠ ⭐ Emily’s favorite food: Flamin’ Hot Cheetos ⁠ ⭐ Nyadoi’s favorite food: Sour Patch Kids⁠ ⭐ Jean’s favorite food: Wings⁠  ⁠ The recipe for a wish starts with you! 💙 Like every meal needs key ingredients, a wish starts with your support. For a child facing a critical illness, a wish can provide the sprinkle of joy and dash of hope that creates a turning point in their life.⁠ ⁠ Make-A-Wish Arizona is granting 100 wishes in 100 days, and we need your help to make it happen. Will you give today to brighten a wish kid's summer? ☀ Donate today at arizona.wish.org/donate!

Thank you, Penske Truck Leasing, for stopping by and volunteering at the Parsons Wish House! With your help, we assembled a computer gaming desk, computer chairs and created airport greeter signs — all of which will help us in our goal this summer to grant 100 wishes in 100 days! ☀ ⭐ Did you know that summer, when our demand to grant wishes is the highest, can also be when we see support for our mission slow down the most? Create brighter days for wish kids by volunteering today. Visit https://lnkd.in/eUeHwHqz to get started. 

Congratulations to Make-A-Wish® Arizona's President and CEO, Fran Mallace, for being named a 2024 Phoenix Titan! 🏆 This prestigious recognition honors Phoenix’s top CEOs and C-level executives who demonstrate exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. As a people-first leader, Fran takes the time to understand what motivates, challenges, and inspires her team to thrive. We’re incredibly proud of Fran’s achievements and delighted to see her recognized among this exceptional group of leaders. 👏 Congratulations to all the recipients! See the complete TITAN 100 list here: https://lnkd.in/gVgyK9Eq. #Titan100 #Titan100Phoenix #TitanCEO #Leadership

Happy birthday to our Chief Administrative Officer, David Raber! 🎉 We hope your day is as entertaining as our favorite huddle topic: #DavidsData! ⭐ Let’s continue granting wishes!