In this episode, we chat with chapter supporter and wish dad, Bob Dazi.

Ethan’s wish to go to the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight was granted in 2017, and the entire wish experience motivated Bob to start fundraising in order to pay the experience forward and keep Ethan’s Dream alive.

In this episode, we chat with wish dad and volunteer, Mohammad Shakil. Mohammad's motto of being kind and paying it forward is apparent in the way he gives back to his community.

His love of WWE is shared by his son Ahmed, who had a wish granted in 2018 to meet John Cena.

Wish dad and long-time chapter supporter, Mike Kwinn, has both seen and has been a part of the impact a wish can have in a child’s life.

Mike's dedication to our mission of granting the wish of every eligible child has not only impacted the lives of wish kids and their families, but also the lives of those in our community; all united in the pursuit of granting wishes for kids with critical illnesses throughout the Hudson Valley.

In this episode, we chat with dedicated volunteers Darren Scala & Monica Guidotti. Awesome and liberating are just two words that encompass the heart of the work and energy that Darren and Monica bring to Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley.

“This is an organization that treats its volunteers amazingly, the communication is unbelievable. Obviously, the mission is wonderful, but all the other mechanisms that drive Make-A-Wish, all the behind-the-scenes stuff…it all comes together and works for the kids.”

In this episode, we chat with wish mom and volunteer, Diane Tarantelli. After her son Stefano’s wish to go to Walt Disney World, Diane found a way to not only give back to the chapter, but to pay it forward with her kindness.

In this episode we chat with volunteers and Board Directors, Cathy Sifre & Debbie Flynn. The impact that Cathy and Debbie have had on the chapter has been profound; in the 18 years of volunteering - they’ve granted over 65 wishes together, raised over one million dollars at their annual event thanks to their supportive community and the relationships they’ve built over the years, and are currently serving on our board as Chair and Vice Chair.

In this episode, we chat with our very own Vice President of Program & Operations, Denise D'Amico.

In the nearly 24 years that she has been with the chapter, Denise serves as an essential pillar of Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley. Her vision, compassion, and dedication to the mission has anchored employees and volunteers in the pursuit of empowering wish kids throughout the Hudson Valley.

In this episode, we chat with Make-A-Wish America President & CEO, Richard Davis. For Richard, “hope” and “joy” are the two words that describe what our organization stands for.

In his own words, “…it doesn’t matter what the kid wishes for, but as usual kids teach adults things about life that we miss, and I’ve been taught more about the goodness of life through the kids I’ve met in these last couple of years, than in my entire life up to this moment in time.”

In this episode, we chat with President & CEO, Tom Conklin. For almost 20 years Tom Conklin has been involved with Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley, first as a volunteer on the Board of Directors and then serving as President & CEO. Through it all, his leadership, guidance, and trust has worked in tandem with staff and volunteers in navigating the ever-changing landscape of wish-granting and fundraising, while always focusing on granting the wish of every eligible child.

In this episode, we chat with former chapter President & CEO, Jane Sherman. When Jane joined Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley as CEO in 1998, she worked on growing the Board of Directors as part of her main focus.

During her tenure the chapter saw growth in the community as more people participated and became involved, moved the office to a new location with easier access to the 8 counties we serve, and continued to grant life-changing wishes - all while keeping the mission at heart.