Make-A-Wish Iowa will kick off its 40th birthday celebration in September with a yearlong look back at four decades of Iowa communities coming together to create life-changing wishes while inspiring supporters to help spark what’s next for the organization.
“Our 40th birthday is a chance to celebrate the people and communities who have made more than 5,000 life-changing wishes possible across Iowa,” Sara Kurovski, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa, said. “This celebration reflects the challenges these families face and the achievements they reach while reminding us that our work is far from finished. Each year, 270 Iowa children qualify for a wish but have not yet found their way to us. Our goal is to make sure they do.”
As Make-A-Wish Iowa honors the people who helped shape its past, the organization is also welcoming new board leadership to guide what comes next.
Dan Huitink, vice president and general counsel at Vermeer in Pella, will serve as chair of the Make-A-Wish Iowa Board of Directors. Jennifer Bryant, president and lead consultant at Human Pivot, will become vice chair. Melissa Taylor, an audit partner at Deloitte, will continue serving as treasurer, while Allison Wallace, chief legal officer at Businessolver, joins the executive committee as secretary.
Three new members will join the board this month:
Jessie Weaver, Iowa Falls, is a community volunteer, bringing extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising, event planning and board service. She previously served on the Make-A-Wish Iowa Wishes on Deck Planning Committee.
Cory Bauer, West Des Moines, is the vice president of business development and provider engagement at Delta Dental of Iowa. He brings extensive experience in sales leadership, relationship management and community service.
Brianne Niedermyer, Logan, serves as senior training and development specialist at Homesteaders Life Company. Niedermyer has a long-standing connection to Make-A-Wish Iowa. She previously served as a wish granter and received the Make-A-Wish Volunteer of the Year recognition in 2015.
Together, the Board of Directors represents communities and organizations across Iowa while sharing a commitment to helping more children and families experience the hope, strength and joy of a wish.
Make-A-Wish Iowa extends its gratitude to Dr. Timothy Quinn, Cedar Rapids, for his dedicated service and leadership on the board.
In addition to welcoming new board members, Make-A-Wish Iowa will commemorate its 40th birthday throughout the coming year. The celebration will feature wish alumni stories, highlight kids receiving a wish, and share stories of the families, volunteers, communities and donors who have shaped four decades of transformational wishes.
Children across Iowa continue to face critical illnesses, and nearly 270 become eligible for a wish each year. Make-A-Wish Iowa has a birthday wish of its own: Help find every eligible child and grant every life-changing wish.
“Forty years has given us so much to celebrate, but this birthday is really about what we do with the next 40,” Kurovski said. “Children in our communities, all across our state, will continue to face critical illnesses, and we want every eligible child to experience the hope and strength of a wish. Reaching them and granting their wish will take each and every one of us.”
Get involved in the organization during its birthday year by sharing your time, treasure and talent. Learn how at Wish.org/Iowa.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.