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  How Can I Help?

How Individuals Can Help - How Businesses Can Help - Kids for Wish Kids - Featured Supporters

Giving Magic
How You Can Make Wishes Come True

Circle of Angels

While eighteen-year-old Brandi, of Sidney, Maine, was going through treatments for cancer, she received many guardian angel pins from friends and family. The pins boosted her spirits so much that when it came time for her to make her wish, she asked to travel to New York City to give guardian angel pins to children who lost their parents in the September 11th attacks that had occurred the year before. She handed out more than 1,000 specially designed guardian angel pins to children who lost parents as well as to firefighters and police officers who lost colleagues. The Circle of Angels recognizes individuals who donate $1,000 or more to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine. Donors will receive one of Brandi's angel pins.

Wishmaker

To qualify as a Wishmaker, a donor or group must raise or contribute a tax-deductible gift of at least $5,000 in cash or securities within one year. Wishmakers are recognized by having a wish granted in their honor, and will receive an album containing photos and stories about the children's wishes they sponsored. Click for more information on becoming a Wishmaker.

Chris Greicius Societies

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America began in 1980 when officers of the Arizona Department of Public Safety granted the wish of seven-year-old Chris Greicius, who was living with leukemia, to be a police officer for a day. The power of that wish in his life provided the inspiration for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which is now the largest wish-granting organization in the world.

The Chris Greicius Society of Joy recognizes individual annual giving of $10,000 or more based on the calendar year. Members receive a Society pin and specially designed collectible box with star keepsake inside.

The Chris Greicius Society of Strength recognizes individual cumulative lifetime giving of $100,000 or more. Members receive a Society pin and custom-created Make-A-Wish wand.

The Chris Greicius Society of Hope recognizes individual deferred or planned gifts of $10,000 or more including:

  • Bequests received
  • Inclusion in a will or estate plan
  • Charitable trusts
  • Charitable gift annuities
  • Gifts of life insurance
  • Endowment gifts
  • Pooled income fund gifts

Members receive a Society pin and personalized wish journal.

Hope Stout Society

When twelve-year-old Hope Stout was asked in 2003 to make a wish, she instead inquired about how many children were still waiting in her state of North Carolina to receive their wishes. Hope's wish was to grant the wishes of all 155 children on the waiting list, which meant raising $1 million dollars. With Hope's determination and a generous community, her wish came true. The Hope Stout Society recognizes individuals who have reached $1 million in cumulative lifetime giving. With a minimum of $250,000 in cash and/or securities, the remainder can be a deferred gift. Gifts can be a combination of donations to the Maine chapter and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. Members will receive a Society pin and a customized gift.

The following criteria apply to all levels of giving except the Chris Greicius Society of Hope: Only gifts where the donor has received nothing in return can be included; In-kind gifts are not included; Gifts of readily marketable securities are included based on the value of the date received; Gifts can be a combination of local chapter and national gifts; Gifts from individual or family foundations can be included.

Volunteer

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine depends on volunteers statewide to help make magical, memorable wishes come true. Children provide the inspiration, volunteers provide the passion. There is no financial obligation to volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the rewards are priceless.

Wish Granters
This specially trained group of volunteers comes into direct contact with the wish children and their families, working as a liaison between the family and the staff to fulfill each child's dream. Wish Granters work in teams of two and most Wish Granters complete one or two wishes per year. There is no financial responsibility - all expenses are paid for by Make-A-Wish. Wish granting volunteers must be 21 years old or older, and must attend a one-day training. Click for more information on becoming a Wish Granter.

Wish Assistants
Volunteers are needed to assist in our Camden and Portland offices with light office work - such as preparing mailings, photocopying, data entry, etc. Wish Assistants also work from home on certain needs, such as phone surveys or research projects.

Wish Ambassadors
These volunteers are called upon to do a variety of tasks. They represent Make-A-Wish at local events or presentations, speak to community groups, send-off and welcome back wish children and their families at the airports, and help with our Kids for Wish Kids Program in local schools.

Event Volunteers
Each year the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine holds an auction in the summer, and Walks For Wishes in the spring and fall. Volunteers are needed at these events to assist with everything from blowing up balloons to organizing walk teams and collecting pledges. In addition, other organizations throughout the state host fundraising events on our behalf throughout the year, and volunteers are always needed to help out in various ways on the day of each event.

Fundraising
Fundraising volunteers assist the foundation in direct solicitation of individual and corporate cash gifts. They help identify donors, and work with our board and staff to approach prospective donors for gifts of all levels, including membership in our Circle of Angels giving club.

For more information on volunteer opportunities, contact Kate Vickery at (207) 221-2306 or kvickery@maine.wish.org.