Make-A-Wish Utah

Make-A-Wish requires that wish granters be over 21 years old, provide 2 references, and pass a background check. People who are creative, self-motivated, good communicators, and reliable would be great wish granters, but there are other opportunities to volunteer if those aren’t your strengths! Make-A-Wish Utah specifically can always use more volunteers around the entire state of Utah, as well as Spanish speaking volunteers. Visit utah.wish.org/volunteer to learn more!

Every wish is a memorable experience. I’ve been lucky to be part of some great wishes, including military member for a day, shopping sprees, room and backyard makeovers, zookeeper for a day, and countless travel wishes. Many wishes we grant are for kids on their way back to living a normal life but, as you can imagine, some wishes truly serve as a once in a lifetime opportunity. Those are what I remember most. Two years ago I worked with a 3 year old boy who had wished to go to Disney and was unfortunately deemed too sick to travel just days prior to departure. We immediately pivoted to plan a local memory making wish that included time at the zoo, his favorite restaurant, Build A Bear, and a handprint keepsake while riding around in his favorite vehicle- a school bus! When the day arrived, though, we were crushed to find out he was too sick for the adventure we planned. His parents graciously thanked us for our time but said they were catching a flight the next day to return to their home country to spend his remaining days with family. Not to be deterred, we arranged for his family to be transported to the airport. I’ll never forget the smile on his face as he got to ride on a school bus for the first time.