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Julie Baron, President Make-a-Wish Foundation of NHFor many years now New Hampshire's ski areas have worked closely with Make-a-Wish Foundation of NH. We sit down with Julie to learn more about what they do and how you can help.
Q: Explain to everyone the goals of New Hampshire Make-a-Wish Foundation.
A: We are dedicated to ensuring every child with a life threatening medical condition in New Hampshire has their heartfelt wish brought to life.
Q: How many wishes do you grant per year on average?
A: Between 85-90
Q: What’s the most unusual wish you have heard since being there?
A: One of my favorites is a young girl who wished to dig for dinosaur bones. Make-A-Wish sent her to the badlands on a dig with a paleontologist and they found a turtle fossil. It is actually now being displayed at the university and named after her. There are lots of wonderful wishes I could share each one is so special and unique. (I can send you several if you would like.)
Q: Why do kids always want to go to Disney World instead of skiing in New Hampshire? Is Disney the most popular wish request?
A: Disney is our most popular wish request. It comes in many shapes and sizes a child may want to meet Buzz Lightyear, have lunch with the Princesses or meet Mickey Mouse. Each Child’s Disney wish is tailored specifically for them. If they knew how wonderful it was ……I think they would all request to ski in New Hampshire for their wish! We do fill one or two wishes to see snow annually. While they are here skiing is always on their want to experience list. Our ski areas have been such wonderful hosts to our Wish children.
Q: How is it working with celebrities and famous athletes, any memorable stories?
A: Some of our most favorite celebrity wishes are the ones that are granted right here in New Hampshire to meet NASCAR Drivers. Each race one of two children travel to NH to meet their hero’s. Some favorites are Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhart Jr. They are all wonderful to our wish children and take the time to bring lots of smiles. We also have many New Hampshire children who wish to meet a celebrity and we work with those celebrities to bring their wish to life no matter where that celebrity resides. One of my favorites was a wish to meet the cast of Harry Potter. Wish Child Jonah just got back from his wish to meet Bill Gates!
Q: You see a lot of tough/sad situations in your job, is there a trick you can share to keeping a smiling face (since this is a fun occasion for these families)?
A: We focus on the smiles and the sheer joy a wish can bring. We know that a wish come true helps a child feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their life-threatening medical condition. For many of them, it marks a turning point in their fight against their illnesses. Knowing that we had a part in that gives us great pride.
Q: You’ve been granted a “wish” (no, you can’t give it to someone else), where are you off to and who are you bringing along?
A: Well if I can’t give my wish away or use it to help our wish children I would love to experience Washington State and Alaska. It would be amazing to travel there with my wonderful husband and My parents Hugh & Doris. I have had the wonderful opportunity in my life to travel first during my childhood with my family when my dad was in the Air Force and later with my husband Chip who also has a great desire to see our county. Washington State and Alaska are the only 2 states the three of us have not visited.
Q: If someone wants to support NH Make-a-Wish, what’s the best way for them to do so?
A: They can visit our website at www.newhampshire.wish.org , give us a call at our office at 603-623-9474 or visit us at 814 Elm Street, suite 300, Manchester, NH 03101. We would love to share the many opportunities available to help bring wishes to life.
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