A wonderful email was waiting in my ‘in box’ when I booted my computer up this morning. My Supervisor had informed the team that my colleague and I had received one hundred HERO OF THE MONTH Nominations for the month of October, surpassing last month’s total of 93. For us, it’s more than just a numbers game. Sure, everyone likes to break records and surpass quotas, but receiving – and fulfilling – these nominations means that 100 brave children will have the opportunity to be recognized and honored for overcoming difficult personal and/or physical obstacles in their young lives.

Our hopes are that these HOTM gift packages – which includes a personalized certificate, medal, t-shirt and gift card, will distract them – even for a brief period of time – and show them that they are special, unique, strong and heroic despite their illness(es) or circumstance(s).

A special thanks to all the facilities that participated and help us reach this milestone. We’ve said it before and we’ll keep repeating ourselves… we couldn’t do this without you! You are more than a liaison between us and the children – you are the lifeline that keeps the HOTM Program ticking. We realize there are times when you get sidetracked, but please know that it is always appreciated when you take the time to submit your paperwork so we can do our part. It is truly an honor to work our facilities’ counterparts each & every month in making wishes come true!

If you are interested in participating in the HERO OF THE MONTH Program and/or have any questions, please call 888.918.9004.

Susan
HOTM Facility Coordinator

Today I received a survey from one of our facilities regarding the pallet of toys we sent to them. After rating the program a “5” (out of 5), this is what the facility had to say:

“The other day a little girl (age 4) who had been in for a full abuse assessment, including a comprehensive medical exam, told her mom, or rather insisted that her mom take her to “the doctor”. Her mom was confused until the little girl described the building. The mom called to ask if it was OK, which of course it was, and the little girl came and played in the kids’ waiting room. Your generous gift of toys makes it possible for us to offer not only a safe, welcoming environment, but a place kids want to be. Thank you!”

It’s responses like these that makes the long days worth while! Good job KWN!!

Margo
HOTM Facility Coordinator

Our Kids Wish Network newsletter will be hitting your inboxes soon. It’s full of new stories about our wish kids, and what’s been going on over here lately. Check out all of our new stories, including pics and videos of some recent wishes. It even has the story of one heroic boy who risked his own life to save another, and was severely wounded in the process. Because of his bravery and quick response to a friend in need, he was awarded Kids Wish Network’s Hero of the Month for the medical facility he was treated at.

There is also a compilation video, which includes the story of Gildiana, our 6-year-old wish kid who has cancer. Her wish was for a shopping spree, and she got to dress up like a princess and take a horse-drawn carriage to the store she chose. It is such a touching story. You won’t want to miss it!

Elizabeth

One thing I love about KWN is sitting at my desk and seeing all the smiling faces from the pictures of my wish kids on their wishes. It is so nice to get photos back from my wish families, and it is probably my favorite part of being a wish coordinator. So all you wish families out there, make sure you send in those photos!

Vanessa
Wish Department

My favorite wishes to grant are for those children to whom you offer the world, and all they want is a PETCO gift card for their dog.

Jennifer
Wish Department

Today I received a short, but sweet email from one of our families regarding their daughter receiving the Hero of the Month award:

“My name is Berta and I am the proud parent of Lauren. Lauren was chosen as HERO of the MONTH … in September. I would like to personally thank the Kids Wish Network because she was so excited when she received the gift card and the t-shirt. This child has been through so much in her 7 years of living but expresses her gratitude for even the smaller things.

Again, thank you from the Foster family. Your organization has made a small child smile again after such a major surgery.”

It’s responses like these that makes the long days worth while! Good job KWN!!

Margo
HOTM Facility Coordinator

I’ve spent my entire career in sports & entertainment marketing. My daily responsibilities would touch upon areas such as: advertising, branding, writing, special events, and promotions. Selling was never my “thing”; I’ve never been assertive/aggressive in that sense. My thoughts… If you don’t want it, no worries – don’t buy it!

Needless to say, I was nervous when I started at KWN and was informed that one of my duties was to contact children’s/pediatric facilities nationwide in an effort to have them join our HERO OF THE MONTH program. (“Do I have to actually pitch these people? Do I have to maintain a quota each month? What if they reject me???”)

After eavesdropping on my colleague – who seamlessly & smoothly delivers the parameters of the program to her respective contacts like a pro each and every time – I began reaching out to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, burn units and shelters to inform them of HOTM. There are days when I simply have to “step away from the phone”, tired of hearing the sound of my own voice, but when I do manage to get a facility representative on the phone, it is with great pleasure that I get to introduce them to the rewards of HOTM. I’ve had a few facilities sign with us since I’ve started (Welcome!) and have many others who have expressed interest. In communicating with these people who dedicate their lives to children in need, I no longer look at these phone calls as “selling”, but “sharing” because that is exactly what we are doing! There is never a cost to the facility to participate, so it’s a win-win situation for all involved!

If you would like to honor some brave children that walk through your doors every month, please call us at 888.918.9004 so you can join our roster of esteemed facilities who participate in KIDS WISH NETWORK’s HERO OF THE MONTH Program!

Susan
HOTM Facility Coordinator

All of the surveys for wishes granted, heroes recognized and gift banks delivered come through me. As I was going through a small stack today, I realized that there were some words that were constantly repeated in surveys from people and facilities all around the country, so I decided to post a few for you all to see. See?

Just reading these words will give you a feeling for the sorts of emotions and thoughts our programs cause all around the U.S. I think it’s just great to know.

~Alicia
Editorial Department

Yesterday I got a new batch of applications back in the mail from the families of some of our potential wish kids. I always get excited when I get new applications and I get to see the new and special kids that we will be trying to fulfill wishes for.

Part of the application requires that a current picture of the wish kid is included, and I think it is so wonderful to be able to see the faces of the children that we grant our wishes to. Since we have kids all across the country that we grant wishes to, we don’t get to go on all the wishes or meet every child in person. But at least we get to see their bright and smiling faces in the photos that their families include in the application.

So thanks for sending in all the applications and the photos to accompany them. Keep ‘em coming!

Elizabeth

With the assistance of Kids Wish Network and some generous sponsors, Shawn from Scott City, MO received his wish for a brand new laptop computer. Not only did he receive what he had requested, but he was also gifted a multi-tasking printer to accompany it (among other items)! J

“Thank You!” Computer21, LLC for assisting me to grant Shawn’s wish of a laptop computer! It’s sponsors like you, who make what we do possible.

Jennifer
Wish Coordinator

Kids Wish Network is so excited about doing another Holiday of Hope party at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. It’s going to be a great time for all of the kids at the hospital. Each child and their siblings will receive lots of toys. We’ll have a DJ, party food, games, and contests. We may even have a few surprise guests! The Holiday of Hope parties are always a big success. It’s amazing to see the faces of the children as they walk into the party. We’re just in the planning stages, but I’ll keep you posted as we get closer. Stay tuned!

Madeline
Wish Department

Below is a heartwarming e-mail I received from one of my wish kids that just went on a shopping spree. A wish can go a long way!

Hello Vanessa,

Thank you so much for making my wish come true. I had a great time. On my shopping spree I got an HP laptop for college. I also got an Xbox. I got a nice tour throughout the whole store. I liked so many things but the laptop got my attention really quick. The managers were very friendly and nice. At Sizzler’s I got a good meal. I was extremely full when I came out from their. It was nice. Thank you so much.

Love, Felix

Vanessa Covolo
Wish Coordinator

Kids Wish Network, in my opinion, has one of the most amazing “reward” programs out there! While we do normal wish granting for those children with life threatening illnesses, we realized there was a void for those kids who don’t suffer from a life threatening illness but are still going through a rough time, in and out of the hospital.

Enter the Hero of the Month Program!

Jakob is Our Hero

This AMAZING program recognizes those children who are going through really hard or traumatic experiences – car accidents, chronic conditions, abuse situations, etc… One a facility, be it a children’s hospital, child advocacy center or homeless shelter, joins our program, they are able to recognize one child a month who they believe is a Hero. This is a child who has overcome such amazing odds and is going through a rough time and need something, anything really, to put a smile on their face.

The Hero will be recognized by the facility and Kids Wish Network as a Hero of the Month and will receive a Hero packet that consists of a t-shirt, a medal and a certificate. The really awesome part is they also get a gift card to either Wal-Mart or Target that ranges in value from $200-500, depending on the Hero’s age!!! This is money for them to use to buy whatever they wish for!

This is a really awesome program that has made such a difference in the lives of many children. We currently have 128 facilities all across the United States participating and we would LOVE to have you join us! If you feel this program would be a great fit for your facility and would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Be part of this life changing program and help us recognize those kids who have been through so much, those kids who can only be called “Heroes”!

Margo
Wish Department

I’m not really awake until I arrive here at Kids Wish Network headquarters, get buzzed in the door and the neon lights shine their luminescence into my squinting eyes.

Once I blink a little bit, I can see the same happy faces in frames that have lined the walls since the day I was interviewed for this position. As you go down the hallways here, you are greeted by dozens of smiles surrounded by all sorts of happy children. Some are at Disney World, some are hugging their favorite celebrities, some in a new pool or hot tub and some are just smiling up at a camera from in front of a brand new computer or game system.

Honestly, I don’t get tired of seeing them all. Who could? I still find myself looking into these smiling young visages every single day as I traipse through the corridors and cracking a smile of my own, knowing that these are the faces of wishes granted.

~Alicia
Editorial Department

There is an old adage that states, “you can’t always get what you want.” But here at Kids Wish Network, we have never heard it before.

When we work on granting a wish for a child who has a life-threatening illness, there is nothing that stops us from making sure we get the job done. My co-workers understand how important these wishes are and what they mean to these children, and they strive to make sure they grant a wish that the child wants. Not only do they provide the child with their wish, but they go above and beyond to make each experience special, and create a memory that these kids will cherish for the rest of their lives.

I am not a wish coordinator, but I do get each application started, and take all the necessary steps to ensure the application is complete and ready to be assigned to one of our wish coordinators. Getting each child started on their way to his or her wish is an awesome job, because I get to learn about them, and see what they desire most of all. It is so neat to be able to read what their wish is, and look forward and imagine what an amazing time they will have once their wish is finally granted. It is nice to know that although these kids have a dark cloud that follows them around, we can be that little ray of sunshine that brightens their lives.

Elizabeth