Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties currently has a critical need for 22 new Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County Volunteer Wish Granters. 20 New Wish Granters are needed in Lompoc, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria and 2 are needed in Paso Robles. Half of those new Wish Granters need to be bilingual to provide full coverage to the 40+ Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County Wish Children expected to be served in the coming year. Bilingual Volunteer Wish Granters living or working in Lompoc and Santa Maria are in greatest demand. North Santa Barbara and SLO County Wish Granters applications are due January 1. South Santa Barbara County Wish Granters applications are due February 1.

Volunteer Wish Granters are the heart of the Foundation. Wish Granters meet with the wish child and their family to learn the heartfelt wish of the child. They go out in teams of two to work with a wish family. All wish granting volunteers must complete a background check, online orientation classes as well as 6 hours of training. This position requires a strong commitment to the mission of the Foundation and a broad set of skills that cross into several areas including: fund development, finance, wish granting, and communications. Maturity, compassion, strong communication skills – particularly with children, positive attitude, ability to be resourceful, creative and reliability are absolutely essential. The amount of time required to fulfill a wish varies, depending on the child’s wish and the amount of preparation the volunteer needs to create the magic for each wish. Wish Granters must have dependable transportation and must check their email weekly.

To learn more and submit a volunteer application, go to http://tri-counties.wish.org/ways-to-help/volunteering/become-a-volunteer. If you have questions after reviewing the website call Candice at 805 676 9474 x0.

Santa Maria Volunteer Wish Granters Lela Alcocer and Ccci Grimaldo celebrate with Wish Kid Anthony Diaz of Santa Maria as he prepares for his wish – to meet Justin Bieber! 8-year-old Anthony lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and traveled to Canada this summer to meet Bieber and attend his concert.

ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH TRI-COUNTIES: Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties grants the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. With a staff of only four and the help of more than 100 volunteers, Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties has granted over 1200 special wishes to children in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. If you want to refer a child to the Make-A Wish Foundation, call 1-888-899-9474 [WISH]. Donations may be sent to Make-A-Wish at 4222 Market Street, Suite D, Ventura, CA 93003. To donate your vehicle or your airline miles call 676-9474. For information on these or other ways to help go to www.tri-counties.wish.org.

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