Dear Wish Families, Volunteers and Donors,
It is my honor to serve as your new President and CEO of Make-A-Wish
®
Idaho! I joined the team in September, and I’d like to thank you all for the very warm welcome. A little about me:
I’ve been serving in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years. I began my career with the Boy Scouts of America, where I served in various roles for nearly 15 years. I gained tremendous experience in fundraising, volunteer recruitment, membership development and program administration. I then became an Executive Director for the YMCA, where my primary role was in fundraising and board/community development. I served as Director of Development for Children’s Bureau for several years, where I led several large fundraising campaigns. Most recently, I was the Chief Executive Officer for WHW, a nonprofit specializing in helping people get and keep a good job.
I was overjoyed to be invited to serve as Make-A-Wish Idaho’s President and CEO here in Boise. My family, including husband Rich, kids Ben and Joey, our dog and two cats have made the Treasure Valley our home, and I am looking forward to an amazing year ahead. We are blessed to have an amazing team of professional staff working with our wish kids and families. They are committed to insuring that every eligible child gets his/her heartfelt wish. Our Board of Directors, Wish Granters and many other volunteers give countless hours to make kids’ wishes come true. I am lucky, indeed.
I jumped right in as a wish granter, and it’s been a wonderful experience. I’ve met many other wish granters who give their Time. I’ve worked with professionals who donate their Talent to help us grant wishes. I’ve attended several large fundraisers already, including Serving Up Wishes and the Magic Valley Walk for Wishes. At those events, I’ve met very generous individuals and companies who give their Treasure to Make-A-Wish Idaho. Time, Talent and Treasure. That’s what I am celebrating today. For all of you who give your time, thank you. For those who give your talent, thank you. And for those who give your treasure, thank you. We couldn’t grant life changing wishes for children with critical illnesses without YOU.
I look forward to meeting everyone who supports Make-A-Wish Idaho. And I would love to hear from you! If you would like to share a story, make a suggestion or have a conversation, you may reach me at
JBest@idaho.wish.org
. If you would like to get more involved, we would love to have you. There are an infinite number of ways to help grant wishes.
Learn more about
volunteering
. Would you rather
invest in Make-A-Wish Idaho
? Thanks to your support, Make-A-Wish Idaho will grant 97 wishes this year. YOUR support makes all the difference in the world, for kids and families who need it most.
Gratefully,
Janie Best
President & CEO
