The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont, one of over 80 chapters
within the United States of America of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, grants wishes
to qualified children within the State of Vermont who have a medical condition
sufficiently life threatening such that there is the probability of not
surviving his or her eighteenth birthday.
The Foundation, through
personal interview with the child, makes sure that it grants each child his or
her special wish. In every case, the entire immediate family is included as part
of the wish to help create special family memories. The purpose is to emphasize
the joy of the wish fulfilled.
Neither the child nor family is ever
asked to pay for any portion of a fulfilled wish.
Types of wishes:
Wishes are grouped into four categories (with Vermont
examples):
Travel (e.g. DisneyWorld, fishing trip to Montana)
Gift (e.g. Computer, horse, piano)
Occupation (e.g. Television producer)
Celebrity (e.g. Larry, Darryl, and Darryl; Billy Ray Cyrus; Danny DeVito,
Jim Carey)
Referrals:
Make-A-Wish Foundation only accepts referrals of children
from the child's family or attending medical professionals (physician, social
worker). If you are aware of a child who might qualify for a wish, please have
one of them contact our office at:
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont
100 Dorset Street, Suite 14
(802)
864-9393
How you can help:
There are several ways you can become involved with
Make-A-Wish of Vermont. Volunteers are always welcomed to help us with fund
raising events, annual giving drive, public relations, volunteer coordination
activities, wish granting, or administration. You may volunteer as little or as
much time as fits your schedule. Please note that if you are interested in wish
granting, you will be required to attend a Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
certification training session (held annually and locally). All volunteers, upon
application, are also subject to a reference check.
Another, and very
important, way to assist Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont is through donations.
These can be cash (individual, annual giving, or corporate) or in-kind (products
or services). The cash helps us fund each wish, and the in-kind donation can
help us with both wishes (products, travel, enhancements, etc.) and office
needs.
Please contact our office (802)864-9393 if you wish to help in any
way.
Tax Status
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont is a 501c(3) organization.
All contributions are tax deductible to the extent that no product or service is
received in return.
Contacts:
President: Dennis DePaul
Executive Director: June Heston (864-9393)
There is an answering service, 24 hours/day
Highlights
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont completed a very busy
fiscal year 2000 with the largest number of wish referrals and several major
fund raisers throughout Vermont. We completed the year with 24 granted
wishes.
And, as we approach the conclusion of fiscal year 2001, we can
see that ths year has been even busier. Wish referrals are way ahead of prior
years. As I always say, this is a bittersweet message. It is unfortunate that so
many children may qualify for our services. Yet, I am so pleased that we are
here to provide a few moments of joy for those who do.
We have many
gracious sponsors who run external fundraising events for us. In addition, we
annually hold our flagship event, the annual All-Star Hockey Classic which has
high school all star seniors from New Hampshire and Vermont competing each July.
The 2001 game is at Gutterson Field House, UVM, on July 14th. Several other fund
raisers added to our success this past year, and we very much appreciate the
effort, support, and dedication of all involved. Also, our Annual Giving and
Corporate Donation programs are running well ahead of last year.
All of
the dollars this year, as in every year, are raised within Vermont for Vermont
children. Thank you to those who contributed. Thanks also, once again, to the
many volunteers from our seventeen wishgranters throughout Vermont who meet our
children and arrange the wish to everyone who contributes time in the office, at
events, or in any of several other capacities. We are deeply indebted to all who
help us.
Roger L. Crouse Past President and Board Member
For more information on the Vermont Chapter, click here.
"Make-A-Wish Foundation" and the logo are registered trademarks of
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.