Our Chapter

Our History

Since receiving its charter in 1986, Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley has granted the wishes of more than 3,000 children in the Hudson Valley region with critical illnesses. Our first office was located in Mt. Kisco, NY over Danny's Cheese Shop. In 2001, we moved to the Wish House in Tarrytown, NY. 

Serving the eight counties of Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester, the Chapter’s mission is to ensure that every child residing in the Hudson Valley who qualifies for Make-A-Wish services is granted his or her fondest wish. While wishes are referred and completed on an ongoing basis, we average 120 wishes granted a year. 

A volunteer Board of Directors and staff of 11, together with volunteers, donors and medical professionals from throughout the region, make wish granting possible. Among the Hudson Valley Chapter’s recently completed wishes include: to have online shopping sprees, meeting celebrities (virtually), traveling to Hawaii, a trip to Disney World and being a pop star for a day, to name a few.

Make-A-Wish® America provides the Hudson Valley Chapter with technical assistance, training, national coordination and support; however, all funds required to grant wishes are raised entirely within the Hudson Valley.

For more information, call Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley at (914) 478-9474 or e-mail us at [email protected].

Counties We Cover

Counties

Our Staff

Abraham Almanza

Abraham Almanza

Director of Marketing

My Wish
I wish to go to an over-the-water bungalow and watch the sunset with my wife & kids.
Nancy Stricker

Nancy Stricker

Wish Coordinator

My Wish
I wish to have my own treehouse and invite my family and friends over for tea.

Our Board

Andrew Quinn

Andrew Quinn

Board Chair

Jason Kaplan

Jason Kaplan

Vice Chair

My Wish
I wish to be the General Manager of the New York Jets for the NFL Draft.
Jessica A. Rosh

Jessica A. Rosh

Secretary

My Wish
I wish to meet Howard Stern.
Elizabeth (Liz) Elser

Elizabeth (Liz) Elser

Treasurer

My Wish
I wish to play The Old Course St. Andrew’s in Scotland

Our Medical Advisors

Dr. Jay Boyer

Dr. Jay Boyer

Pediatric Pulmonologist

Dr. Markus Erb

Dr. Markus Erb

Pediatric Cardiologist

Dr. Claudio Sandoval

Dr. Claudio Sandoval

Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist

Careers & Internships

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. 

At this time, we do not have any open positions. Good luck in your job search and consider volunteering with our organization. 

Managing Our Funds 

Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley 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. 

At Make-A-Wish, we take our responsibility for the monies donated to our cause very seriously and are pleased to confirm that according to the fiscal year 2022 audit results, Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Hudson Valley spent 67% of every dollar on wish granting and related program expenses. Only 17% of every dollar was spent on management and general costs and 16% was allocated to fundraising. For full financial details please review our most recent FY22 Audited Financial Statements or our latest 990.  

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

Media Center

Access news releases, background information and recent news about Make-A-Wish and connect with our Communications team. 

Wish kid Becca

News Releases

View our latest news releases to learn about major wish-granting events, new sponsorships, campaigns and other news.

Wish kid Abena

In the News & Blogs 
 

Newspaper and magazine articles, blogs and other media often tell stories about wishes. 

Wish kid Juliana

Media Requests

Fill out this short form and our Communications team will respond as soon as possible.

Wish kid Dakota

Media Kit

Access background information about Make-A-Wish, our history, accomplishments, creative assets and more.

Wish Night (Virtual)

Wish Blog

Wish kid Gavin

Newsletter

Social Platforms 

Facebook

Facebook 

@makeawishhv

Instagram

Instagram 

@makeawishhv

Twitter

Twitter 

@makeawishhv

YouTube

YouTube

LinkedIn

LinkedIn

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