Hope, Strength and Joy!

As many of you may know my family and I have been involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of for over ten years now and the organization holds a very special place in my heart. My Dad was actually the first person in our family to hear about the foundation, due to the fact that Anheuser-Busch used to have something called the Bud-Run which was a charity fun run held at the plant in Baldwinsville and for a few years in the early 2000s it benefited Make-A-Wish Central New York. My Father's company being involved with MAW gave him the opportunity to meet their President & CEO, the amazing Diane Kupperman, my Dad, shortly after learned that Andy and I, being diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy a few years earlier would be eligible to receive a wish. 

In 2002, my brother, working together with a pair of outstanding Wish Granters decided to go to Walt Disney World. I was not able to decide my wish as easily being a horribly indecisive person, I was a huge fan of the Harry Potter books at the time and I thought that I would maybe like to go to England to meet J. K.  Rowling but that ended up not being a possibility due to her going basically going into hiding from the public to finish book seven. 

I finally determined that I would go to Southern California for a "trip of firsts" which we went to DisneyLand for the first time, where I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time, I also went to Lego Land, The San Diego Zoo and Mission beach, my Wish was a truly one of a kind, spectacular and life changing experience which I will always be eternally grateful. In 2005 I returned to Disneyland to represent our chapter for the celebration of the 50,000th child to have a Disney theme park wish granted, there I was able to meet the founders of Make-A-Wish! My family has managed to stay involved with MAW, my Dad was on their board for a time, I've spoken for them numerous times, had an impromptu neighborhood fundraiser and even served as the accessibility consultant when they were donated and then renovated their offices that I work at in East Syracuse! In September of 2010 I began volunteering two days a week as the Social Media Manager! My job entails spreading the word on their various social networks, I am always keeping up with the latest Internet trends and finding the best way that Make-A-Wish Central New York can utilize them, they currently have accounts with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube and Google +, some thanks to yours truly. Though I am not necessarily responsible creating content I make sure it's done in an engaging and powerful way, I work closely with Bethann Kistner, the PR/Communications Manager, also I direct the PR interns on how to represent the foundation properly. Some of the other tasks I do are; designing the Facebook cover photos, making videos for YouTube, occasionally being on commercials and TV and teaching staff how to use their smart phones. The other amazing staff I get to work with are people such as Olivia Colabufo, Amanda Timmerman, Debbie Simon, Christine Corbett, Alex Moore and Robin Mulpagano. I've also gotten to know some great college Interns like Kelsey Montgomery, Claire Stevens, Jamie Berman, Kelly Stier, Emily Wagner, Shelly Just (Whom I was friends with before) and Brittany Harris. 
This past September I received their highest volunteer honor: the Cindy Award(Read all about that day here: Good to Great)! 
MAW sometimes carries the misconception that they give wishes to the "terminally ill," this however is not true, they grant the wishes of children with "life-threatening" illness and many recipients go on to live long and successful lives always remembering their experience. I believe very strongly in Make-A-Wish's cause, the concept of giving a child their one true wish during an uncertain and difficult time in their live is such a pure and powerful act that makes this world a better place to live in. 

If would you like to help this great charity there are many ways to so, click on the link to learn more: http://cny.wish.org/ways-to-help 

If you're a Giants fan check out this story about Adam, who wished to meet them! 
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--pep-talk-from-teen-battling-illness-spurs-giants-to-rout-of-pack-----play-like-the-world-champions-you-are--072749654.html