The Heart of Volunteers

At Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, volunteers are at the heart of every wish experience. From airport greeters and wish discovery experts to wish design volunteers and wish experts, our volunteers truly make a difference in the lives of our wish kids. We consider our volunteers extensions of our staff, and we love hearing stories from dedicated volunteers like Tommy on the impact of Make-A-Wish. Read on to learn about his journey.

Make-A-Wish has changed my life more than I ever could have imagined. When I first signed up to volunteer, I was nervous, wondering what I could possibly have to offer such an amazing organization. After watching the first training video and learning about how the community rallied around Chris Greicius, I stopped wondering what I had to offer and started questioning why it took me so long to figure this out!

After that first day, I was full of excitement, I couldn’t stop talking to my family members about the difference that I was going to make. However, after meeting the Wish Kids, I realized that they were making a difference in my life! Their strength, their fight, their determination … I noticed it reflecting back in my life as well!

When I hear a family say that they’re blessed because of something I did, that’s powerful! When the parents cry happy tears, I couldn’t help but to carry that feeling over to my everyday life. Because of Make-A-Wish, I now care deeper, love more intensely, and smile brighter than I ever have before.

With most Wish Families, you may only interact with them once but you’ll never forget them. I’ve pictured Jamar playing basketball with Steph Curry, Joseph playing on the beach, and Richard heading off to Universal Studios to meet my childhood hero, Spider-Man!

My time with Make-A-Wish is just beginning, and I’m excited to see where our Southern Nevada chapter is headed over the next 25 years!

Tommy Facer

Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada Volunteer