Our Chapter

About Us

Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that fulfills the wishes of children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 who have critical illnesses. Founded in 1984, we serve 17 counties in Northern California, from Siskiyou to Monterey. Our chapter has granted more than 9,000 wishes to date and grants around 350 life-changing wishes per year.

Our Staff

Our Board

Catherine Aker

Catherine Aker

Director

Vice President, Communications & Community, Oakland Athletics
Ash Baraghoush

Ash Baraghoush

Director

Managing Director, Structured Finance, Pacific Urban Investors
Kara Baysinger

Kara Baysinger

Director

Co-Chair, Insurance Regulatory Practice, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Dana Green

Dana Green

Director

Realtor, Compass
Charles Halladay

Charles Halladay

Director

Senior Managing Director, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc.
Peter Hilliard

Peter Hilliard

Director

Chief Human Resources Officer, Corsair

Our Advisory Councils

Our chapter is supported by several generous and active Advisory Councils, a Youth Board, and our new Wish It Forward alumni community. Read more.

Our Diversity Statement

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Organizational Goal Statement 

To better fulfill our mission of creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses across the greater Bay Area, we are committed to making urgent and thoughtful changes. We will continually work to become a more diverse and inclusive organization by:

  • Examining and confronting our own internal biases 
  • Nurturing a culture of accessibility and equity across all areas of our work
  • Challenging and addressing structural racism in our everyday policies, practices, and procedures

News & Publications

Wish kid Miles

For The Media

Best Wishes Collage Header

Best Wishes

Managing Our Funds

Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area finances endeavors through corporate sponsorships, special events, foundation grants and individual contributions. However, we do not solicit funds by telephone and receive no federal or state funding. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, all contributions are deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our financial statements are audited locally by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. 

For full financial details please review our most recent FY21 Audited Financial StatementsFY22 Impact Report or our latest 990.  

We are proud to be a BBB Accredited Charity Seal Holder, having met all 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. 

Careers and Internships

Join the Make-A-Wish team! 

Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area is committed to a diverse work environment where people from all backgrounds are welcomed and valued. 

At Make-A-Wish, we are more than a great place to work—our work is life-changing. We are an inclusive and diverse group of people who, through a mosaic of backgrounds, thought and experiences, are united in purposeful work. We are fueled and guided by our values—values that are represented in the inspired people we work with and the life-changing work we do, every day.

Current positions:

Bilingual Program Associate

Development & Alumni Manager

VP of Operations & Finance

Volunteer & Governance Associate

Contact Us

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