YOUNG LEADERS WISHING IT FORWARD R YAN CHAV OUS TIE, YOUNG LEADERS BOARD & WISH GRANTER I n December 2014, I was humbled to have been chosen to help carry the mission of delivering hope, strength and joy to our local wish kids. As an attendee to three magical Gala events over the years, I felt great admiration for the Make-A-Wish Hawaii mission and I was beyond excited to be a part of its efforts and have the ability to make a difference as an inaugural member of the Young Leaders Board. As a board member and current Secretary, I have had the privilege of helping raise funds to transform the lives of Hawaii keiki with life-threatening medical conditions in need of their one true wish. Through coordinated efforts and events, our Young Leaders Board surpassed our first year’s target fundraising goal by nearly double. Heartened by the mission, I sought additional ways to help. In November 2015, I took part in my first wish granting experience. Three Board colleagues and I signed up to help an 8-year-old boy named Leka discover his wish. Leka had recently undergone surgery for a brain tumor after he and his mother moved to Hawaii from American Samoa, away from the comforts of their family and home, for his surgery and various treatments. In all honesty, I felt nervous about the first meeting. I worried about meeting the expectations of the family; after all, experiencing his wish-come-true rested on our ability to capture everything he enjoyed and turn it into a truly magical experience. I was amazed at the energy level and enthusiasm Leka showed, despite how he felt physically; he was happy to share his love for superheroes and Disney cartoons and characters. This first encounter was completely life-changing. For the first time, I felt I could really make a difference to a family by uniting with others in our community. I could not be prouder of the progress that Leka continues to make in his recovery; his sheer strength is my true inspiration. There are two things I look forward to this year: the day we get to reveal to Leka that his wish is coming true, and my next wish granting experience. “LOOKING BACK, THAT FIRST ENCOUNTER WAS COMPLETELY LIFE CHANGING.” 2015 MAKE- A -WISH HAWAII ANNUAL REPOR T 13
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