About Me:
My name is Melissa, and I’m a resident of the Boston area and a 22-year volunteer for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Besides volunteering, I keep busy as a project director at UMass Medical School, going on long walks, and exploring different restaurants and bars with my husband.

In what ways do you volunteer at Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island?
I am a wish granter and I also volunteer for special events.

Why Make-A-Wish?
When I was 16, my 11-year-old cousin, Ruth, passed from cancer and was unable to complete her wish with Make-A-Wish. I do believe that just imagining her wish brought her some joy. I volunteer in Ruth’s honor, with the hope that every child who suffers from a critical illness has the opportunity for a wish. A few years after Ruth passed, I had the opportunity to be with my friend Greg, who was living with heart disease, when he received his wish for a 12-string Tom Petty Rickenbacker guitar and amps. I remember that experience fondly, still smiling 24 years later as I picture Greg in his hospital bed strumming his guitar.

What is your favorite Make-A-Wish memory?
After seeing the power of a wish with Greg, I have been dedicated to Make-A-Wish, wish children, and families across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. I cannot name a single most meaningful wish moment, because they have all made a lasting impact on me. One memory that comes to mind was the wish of Maddie, a very ill 12-year-old Harry Potter fan who wished to fly to Universal Studios to have a wand “choose her” and cast spells. I was incredibly moved as my fellow Make-A-Wish volunteer and I cheered for Maddie and her family while they boarded the plane for Florida. I truly enjoy each and every wish that I get to be a part of, and the simple moment of meeting a wish child for the first time and hearing their story is my favorite part about being a Make-A-Wish volunteer.  

What keeps you volunteering? 
I have continued volunteering because I am passionate about the mission. Bringing joy to the life of a child and family facing a critical illness is such a pure intention. I love being part of the work. Volunteering with Make-A-Wish has allowed me to grow as I’ve drawn heavily on openness, curiosity, empathy, and passion in wish granting. I have become a better communicator and have learned how to quickly establish a rapport to make a connection with children and families. The staff at Make-A-Wish are incredible and so appreciative of us volunteers. I truly feel like I am contributing and making a difference whenever I am part of a wish or a special event. The other volunteers are also amazing. I have made connections that I still sustain decades later.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a Make-A-Wish volunteer?
Granting wishes is like being a fairy godmother. I’ve had so many people tell me, “Oh, I don’t think I could do that, I think it would be too sad.” But in my experience, wishes are all about joy!