In this episode of Beyond The Wish, we sit down with wish alum Conor O’Brien to hear his journey from wish kid to volunteer. Conor shares the impact of his wish experience, his continued involvement through the Associate Board, and his excitement for the upcoming I Wish To Party event.

🎉 Join Us at I Wish To Party: Get early bird ticket pricing through December 15th.

📅 Explore More Events: Check out the full Make-A-Wish Illinois Event Calendar.

In this special birthday episode of Beyond The Wish, we celebrate 40 years of hope, joy, and transformation with the founder of Make-A-Wish Illinois, Diane MacWilliams. Diane shares the heartfelt journey of launching the Illinois chapter, from our humble beginnings to becoming a beacon of light for more than 19,000 children and families across the state.

Join us as Diane reflects on the early challenges, the unforgettable triumphs, and the community that rallied around the powerful idea that a wish can change a life. Her story is one of compassion, resilience, and the enduring impact of kindness.

Whether you're a longtime supporter or new to the Make-A-Wish mission, this episode will inspire you to believe in the magic of a wish and the extraordinary people who make them come true.

You make wishes come true, donate today, https://secure2.wish.org/site/TR?px=11319814&fr_id=6673&pg=personal

Mike’s journey with Make-A-Wish Illinois began in 2019 as a wish granter, and his passion quickly led him to join the board of directors. His professional expertise and firsthand volunteer experience have been crucial to the chapter’s growth and stability. He has served in key leadership roles, including leading the Fund Development and Compensation committees, acting as vice chair, and ultimately being elected board chair in 2023. A true strategic thinker, Mike and his wife, Stefanie, have also been incredibly generous philanthropists. Their leadership gift to the "Wish Kids Need Us Now" campaign inspired others and helped sustain the organization through the pandemic. Their commitment extends beyond a single campaign; they have supported the chapter in numerous ways, from contributing to new office space to including the organization in their estate plans. Mike is a strong advocate for having board members serve as wish granters and often mentors new volunteers. As his tenure as board chair concludes, his dedication remains as strong as ever, recently demonstrated by a record-breaking $3 million gift to the chapter, bringing their total commitment to over $4 million*.

Tune in every month as we delve into the power of a wish, the unwavering dedication of volunteers, and the transformative experiences that shape lives forever.

Discover the incredible stories of hope, resilience, and joy that fuel Make-A-Wish's mission. Learn about the challenges and triumphs faced by these extraordinary children and their families and how Make-A-Wish provides a beacon of hope in their darkest moments.

You can grant wishes too! Donate today, wish.org/illinois/donate

Be a wish celebration volunteer like Mike, https://wish.org/illinois/volunteer

*The audio of this episode references their gift as $2.5 million. Shortly after recording, Mike and Stefanie Warmuth increased their generous gift from $2.5 million to $3 million.