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I’d just like to welcome Jill, our new internet researcher. She’s getting some really great information for our wish funding specialists and is well on her way to becoming a real “Development Diva”! We’re glad to have you, Jill! Welcome to the team!
Melissa
Development Department
As a nation, we’re making it through a financially trying time, but I’m still so truly amazed by the giving nature of our sponsors. They continue to come through for all our wish kids here at Kids Wish Network. They dig deep and send what they can, knowing that a child is waiting who is enduring more than financial strife. Our wish kids suffer more in a day than most of us do in a lifetime and most of the time they do it with a smile. I’ve learned so much here at Kids Wish Network, not only about the suffering our wish kids go through, but also about the wonderful benefits of giving. Thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors across this great nation! We couldn’t keep the smiles going without all of your help!
Doris
Development Department
While working on fulfilling a wish for Michael in South Carolina, I had the pleasure to work with Jessica from the Pee Dee Federal Credit Union. She was GREAT – and everyone in her town must be proud to know such a caring woman! She went above and beyond for Michael’s wish; she set a date and put together all the preparations for a bowling event to help fund Michael’s wish. When I saw the pictures from the bowling night it made me smile! Everyone there looked so happy and I know they were all having a great time. Jessica, I want to thank you again, not only for your help but for just being such a sweet person to talk to.
Doris
Development Department
This has been a whirlwind week. We’ve been interviewing and have hired an addition to our Development Department as a Wish Funding Specialist. This is exciting for a number of reasons but mostly – we can fund more wishes. We have an enthusiastic, compassionate and dedicated department and we look forward to having a new person working with us.
Donna
Development Department
Sometimes my job at Kids Wish Network is tough and it can also be heartbreaking. Everyday we face the fact that our wish kids are suffering from life-threatening illnesses, and it’s only natural that it can take an emotional toll on all of us.
However, there are little things Kids Wish Network does to lift its employees spirits when they’re a little low. In our department we do little things and it’s kind of a rule: we dance and shake our “groove things” when we get really good news from a sponsor – we celebrate every donation and this helps keep our spirits high so we can do the best job possible for our wish kids! After all, every donation puts us one step closer to fulfilling a child’s wish!
And, the “Development Divas” also praise each other through the roof and that puts a bit of joy in our hearts. Another thing is our great Morale Committee (it’s actually just Kathleen) brings us delicious treats every Friday and that really helps boost our morale after a rough week. And Kathleen, I mean our Morale Committee, also plans special lunches where everyone makes their favorite recipes to share!
But, it’s not just treats and dances and shaking our groove things that bring us up when we’re feeling down – we also love reading stories about our wish kids and seeing their photos with huge smiles on their faces and those are the best “pick-me-ups” to get us through the tough times!
Megan
“Development Diva”
So I found myself in bed for a few days last week. I was feeling pretty sick and I have to tell you that when you’re sick, there really isn’t much you can do but lay around. At the very most for minimal entertainment and a little distraction I was able to watch television. Mostly all you can really do is rest, rest, rest.
I know this sounds pretty boring and what makes it even worse is you’re not feeling well. I found my thoughts wandering many times to our wish kids. See at the end of the day I knew I was going to feel better; I was able to say, this too shall pass and I knew I would be able to have fun again.
But what about all of our wish kids who don’t have the opportunity to think like that? They have to lie in bed a lot longer than I had to and for many they never get to go outside and play or run around with their friends. Being sick really put things in perspective for me. We all complain and whine when we have the sniffles or a headache, but these children suffer with real diseases and have a much worse time of it than most of us – their illness never goes away!
So, next time you’re feeling kind of crummy, put some of our wish kids’ stories in your head and thank your lucky stars that you’ll get through it in a short period of time, then put out a good vibe for the children who are really sick, who suffer with life threatening illnesses on a daily basis.
Megan
Development Department
I receive many calls a day regarding our sweepstakes mailings, direct mailings and donation inquires; I talk to people from all over the nation. I like speaking to these people and many have interesting stories they share with me. While the “Development Divas” are busy making calls, there’s always someone who wants to talk to me (how nice). What I like most is listening to their voices, knowing they are from a different part of the country. Also, I hear a lot of unique names, which I love. I feel like I visit all 50 states every day (it’s exhausting!).
Melissa
Development & Donor Relations
Even though we work with children who have life-threatening illnesses on a daily basis, Kids Wish Network has an upbeat atmosphere and a team of individuals who love to laugh. Our team will find a bright side to every challenge. Can you imagine being able to positively impact the lives of hundreds of children and their families? Can you imagine the joy of seeing a child swim with dolphins when that child lives in a wheelchair? Can you imagine how it can warm your heart to see a precious little one dress up as a princess and ride in a horse-drawn carriage to her shopping spree destination? Can you imagine being able to provide a hot tub for a little boy with the most progressive form of muscular dystrophy? If you can imagine these things, then you will understand that Kids Wish Network is not only about wishes but also about balloons, rainbows, butterflies and fairy tales.
Donna
Development Department
Today was an awesome day for me and my new wish kid, Dasha!!
When I work on funding a wish kid, I usually make lots of calls to find sponsors, but today was very different. It’s always exciting to start work on a new wish because you encounter many different kinds of personalities.
Ok, so today I called the local Fire Department near Dasha’s home and told a fireman and president of their union, Jeff, about her. Little did I know that Jeff was getting to work right away to help. He called me about an hour later to tell me he wanted to fund Dasha’s whole entire wish! I was overjoyed that it happened so fast!
It just goes to show you that sometimes it only takes that one special phone call and that one special person to make things happen. Today was awesome!
Megan
Development Department
I’m coming up on my one year anniversary at Kids Wish Network. My job is to raise funds for childrens wishes. My first year went by so fast and I have tons of memories, but if I could choose my favorite, I’m reminded of Kim, who turns out to be one of the most favorite wish kids I’ve worked on funding. I couldn’t wait for her to get to go to Disney World!
Kim was one of the first children I ever worked on. I spoke to so many wonderful people who wanted to help her just as much as I did. But it wasn’t just about fund
ng her wish, it was a real learning experience for me and I made a new friend with just about every person I spoke to. My favorite part was seeing the photos Kim took while on her wish. That made it very real for me.
All of these children suffer from life-threatening illnesses. As hard as it is sometimes, you have to try to put yourself in their shoes. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to hear all the horrible things these children face daily. Many of them have to take medication every single day. Many don’t get to go outside to play and have fun like other children. Try to imagine being sick almost every day; I can barely handle getting the flu. It’s important to remember that each child we fulfill a wish for is a truly courageous. They deal with more in a few days than what some of us deal with in a lifetime.
All the wish kids I’ve helped are special and I hope they all know what a true inspiration they are to those around them!
Megan
Development Department
I truly believe that we are purposely put in the paths of certain people… and such was my destiny with Chris.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Chris, a very special guy from the California Police Youth Charities. When I told him about Ludwick and his wish for a Playstation 3 and a TV, Chris not only got the game console and Ludwick’s favorite games and the TV, but he went way above and beyond.
Because he related to Ludwick’s love of football and everything that goes along with it, he was determined to make Ludwick’s wish special. And boy was it special! Chris scheduled former Denver Bronco player, Glen Cadrez and his wife, model-actress, Brande Roderick, to present Ludwick with his Playstation 3 & TV. It was way more than Ludwick or I ever expected.
Thank you Chris, for being that one special person to make a world of difference!
Doris
Development Department
Most of our days at KWN are lots of fun. We have a great team, a wonderful mix of personalities and we all share a common goal – to make a wish come true for a child with a life-threatening illness. We have fun and we stay focused on our goal though sometimes we have little dark clouds that hang around, waiting. Today that little dark cloud not only rained on our parade, it broke our hearts. We just heard that one of our little wish girls passed away. When we work for these children and their families to make their wishes come true, we know the wish child may not survive their illness. This thought is very difficult to come to grips with, especially on a day like today.
Yes we are saddened, but at the end of the day we know we must come back tomorrow to help another child and we know we are blessed to have the opportunity to give some hope by making dreams come true for some very special kids.
Donna
Development Department
Since I started at Kids Wish Network in May, I’ve met new friends in the office and have heard so many inspiring stories from some really brave kids. Just like my fellow “development divas” say, Kids Wish Network is truly an amazing experience to be a part of.
I am the administrative assistant for the development department and I am responsible for a variety of things, but recently I was asked to help out the wish funding specialists. When they are working to fund a wish for a wish kid they need to send out that child’s information along with information on our organization to whomever they get in contact with. The “divas” make up to 100-150 calls each a day, so it’s very time consuming for them to get together a packet to send out via email, fax, or mail. That’s where I come in! It’s now up to me to make sure these packets are sent to the right people. At first I will admit that it was difficult juggling my administrative duties with my new found responsibilities, but now that I have the hang of things it’s working out pretty well.
I feel I am more involved with helping our amazing wish kids get their wishes and I feel honored that I have a bigger role in what Kids Wish Network does, and that’s to bring hope to children across the nation! Yet another bonus, I now have two very close friends: the office printer and the fax machine!!
Melissa
Development Department
It has been almost eight months since I started at Kids Wish Network. Boy has time flown by! I can’t tell you enough how lucky I am to be working at such an amazing organization.
I work in the Development Department, and my official title is Research Specialist. When we get a new “wish kid,” our department is asked to try and get the wish funded, and that’s where I come in! Before our amazing funding specialists can actually start working to fund the wish, I work my magic and research the city where the child is from. It sounds pretty easy, at least that’s what I thought, but it’s a lot of work!
I love doing what I do because as I research each new wish child, I’m learning about where they’re from and what that area is known for. I’ve heard of so many new places now that I never would’ve otherwise. Every time I research a new city, completely different from the last, it’s like an adventure!
I’m truly lucky to be doing what I’m doing because I can help so many children out there that deserve to have smiles on their faces!
I’m also very fortunate to be working with such great people, especially my “development divas!” Without these amazing women, I couldn’t do what I do.
Angela
Development Department
It’s not a secret that times are tough. However, even during these tough times, there are still kind-hearted people out there; People who let nothing get in their way to help a child who needs a wish granted. They have a special place in their hearts for children and the story of a child with a life-threatening illness really touches them. They even think “outside the box,” coming up with special ways to raise funds, like the Credit Union who came up with the idea of doing a 50/50 raffle. Then there’s the college that gets all the teachers to come together to help fund a child’s wish, or the American Legion who digs into their own pockets to help a child in need. I wanted to thank all the creative donors out there who go the extra mile to put a smile on the face of a child with a life threatening illness.
Megan
Development Dept.
