Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Make-A-Wish®. Our volunteer program is designed to give each volunteer a diverse and rewarding experience while working towards fulfilling our mission to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
HOW DO I BECOME A VOLUNTEER?:
In order to provide wish children and their families with the best experience possible, we require all potential volunteers to go through an assessment before becoming an active Make-A-Wish volunteer.
Please allow for two to three weeks to process and approve volunteer applications. After your application is processed, you will be contacted for a phone interview based on the opportunities you selected. Please note, volunteer needs may vary by chapter.
WHY DO I NEED A BACKGROUND CHECK?:
Due to the nature of our work, all volunteers must successfully complete a criminal background check every three (3) years. Make-A-Wish does not employ or utilize as a volunteer any individual who has been convicted of a crime that (a) victimizes children, (b) is sexual in nature, or (c) involves violence, fraud, or significant theft. Please contact us with any questions related to past convictions and/or our background check screening process.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SEARCH/ADDRESS HISTORY:
Select volunteer opportunities (those that require volunteers to handle money and/or confidential information, and/or volunteer with children) require a criminal background check performed every three years. Our criminal background check search includes a social security number verification and search of all aliases used by the individual, as well as all records in the counties in which the individual has resided for at least seven years and in a national database.
Please be advised:
WHOM DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS AND HOW DO I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?:
Our team is happy to answer any questions and/or address any concerns that you may have.
Our chapter covers Metro and Western New York. Below is contact info for each coverage area.
Metro New York
(the 5 boroughs of New York City and Nassau County)
Phone: 646-558-5626
E-mail: volunteer@metrony.wish.org OR volunteer@wny.wish.org
Western New York
(counties surrounding Buffalo and Rochester)
Phone: (716) 810-9474 ext. 4537
E-mail: volunteer@wny.wish.org
PRIVACY & PROTECTION OF INFORMATION:
Security of information is extremely important to us. All information submitted is only available to and accessed by relevant personnel. Information is never sold or shared outside of Make-A-Wish.
Please note that all volunteer opportunities require completion of this application and a signed Conflict of Interest and Ethics Statement. Volunteers are also required to successfully complete training relevant to the desired opportunity. In addition, all opportunities require a criminal background check performed every three (3) years.
Unfortunately, Make-A-Wish requires our volunteers to be at least 18 years of age in order to complete a background check by our vendor First Advantage. For any questions related to this statement, please contact Jamie Siegal, at jsiegal@metrony.wish.org. We appreciate your patience in this matter, and your attention to the special lives we serve here at Make-A-Wish!
Some of the below information is optional.
The heartbeat of our organization. Wish granters are paired up in twos and meet with the family, help the wish child determine the wish, complete paperwork with the family and act as a liaison between Make-A-Wish staff and the wish family during the wish process.
Work with the team to educate the medical community and community partners about eligibility requirements and the referral process of potential wish children. Conduct intake assessments with families over the phone.
Assist various departments with miscellaneous projects at the office, including phone calls, wish research, scanning, filing, data entry, etc. Must be knowledgeable in computer and database systems.
Speak at local community, school, business, or civic events, increasing awareness of and support for Make-A-Wish while educating audiences about the Make-A-Wish mission.
Assist in events throughout the year including registration, sign-in, coat check, raffles, informational table, etc.
Experts in their field who assist in elevating a child's wish experience. Give guidance on specific wish types. Provide discounted or donated services, material, or labor towards the wish.
Assist in identifying and introducing us to local organizations, health care facilities, and community members.
Select those skills in which you have a professional capability and/or fluency
Please Specify
By selecting the boxes below you agree to the terms and conditions outlined by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and Western New York. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions outlined will void your opportunity to volunteer with Make-A-Wish.
As a volunteer of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® (the "Foundation"), I have an obligation to the Foundation and the constituencies it serves to comply with the highest standards of ethical conduct. I will not commit acts contrary to those standards, and I will promptly report to appropriate Foundation representatives – either directly, or through MySafeWorkplace (a 24-hour confidential whistle-blower hotline that can be accessed at www.MySafeWorkplace.com or by calling 1-800-461-9330) – the commission of any such acts by others within the Foundation. I understand that my responsibilities include the following:
