THE Make-A-Wish Foundation Guam Chapter does what it can to grant about 20 wishes a year for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Victor P. Camacho, executive director for Make-A-Wish Foundation Guam Chapter, spoke before members of the Rotary Club of Northern Guam yesterday at the Hyatt Regency Guam about how the nonprofit operates and how there are many ways to give back, as he has demonstrated through his line of work.
Make-A-Wish Foundation is a wish-granting organization formed in 1980 that aims to enrich the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Before granting a child’s wish, the organization must determine a child’s medical eligibility through confirmation by a physician.
“If they are eligible and they reach our office and are confirmed by the doctors, they will get a wish granted from us,” Camacho stated.
Camacho said there are many ways to contribute to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and that it doesn’t necessarily have to be through monetary donations ... or volunteering one’s time."
“With Make-A-Wish, what we try not to do is hold so many events,” Camacho said. “It doesn’t really go toward fulfilling our mission. We’ve shifted a lot of our focus to the kids.”
Instead, Camacho said, people can donate their airline miles to the foundation which would help with the airfare for the child and his or her family.
“If you just had some miles on your account that you’re not going to use or you don’t have enough for a ticket and you want to make a donation, that would be very well appreciated, but that would only go towards our wish kids,” he said. “We don’t use any of the donated miles for staff travel or anything.”
Budget
On average, a wish costs about $6,500 per child. If 20 wishes are granted a year, then the Guam Chapter must plan a budget of about $120,000 to 130,000 a year.
“Every year we have about 20 wishes,” Camacho stated. “When we do our budget, it’s about 20 wishes at an average cost of $6,500 per wish – and that’s on the low end, like a computer, iPod or iPad or something like that. On the high end, it’s trips to Europe or something for a family of six."
He added, “So with $6,500 we have to plan – for just wishes alone – $120,000 to 130,000 a year that we have to raise, and then there’s of course staff and utilities cost.”
Before he concluded, Camacho recalled why he became a Rotarian and reminded the other members to be proud of how they strive to give back to the community.
“I joined the Rotary Club about a year and a half ago and the reason I did was because I was tired of going to people and asking for stuff, and not getting anything in return,” he said. “So what I wanted to do was give back in some way, to say ‘thank you donors, I’m with you too ... I want to give my time as well.’”
Click here for more information about the Make-A-Wish Guam Chapter.
