Jun 8, 2021
What does it take to grant a wish? In this episode, Kate Vickery, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Maine, explains how the organization has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic whether through their ability to grant wishes or raise the funds to make wishes come true. Kate describes the media and business partnerships Make-A-Wish Maine has formed to spread the word and keep wishes coming true. Kate also addresses some common misconceptions about Make-A-Wish and shares how to get involved.
2:37 – Kate explains how Make-A-Wish Maine has navigated COVID-19.
5:44 – Kate shares the most common misconception about Make-A-Wish.
9:16 – Kate talks about the wish discovery process.
10:26 – Kate describes how Make-A-Wish Maine makes connections to grant wishes.
11:27 – Kate shares some of the most memorable wishes she has helped to fulfill.
15:10 – Kate explains how public relations has helped spread the word about Make-A-Wish.
22:40 – Kate talks about the frequency of wishes granted in Maine.
26:37 – Kate lists some of the coverage Make-A-Wish Maine has received in local media.
30:45 – Kate describes some of the brand partnerships Make-A-Wish Maine is building.
35:54 – Kate explains how to get involved with Make-A-Wish.
40:02 – Kate shares a resource that has helped her in her non-profit career.
Quote
“I love to talk about the power of a wish. It goes so far beyond the actual wish itself. There are all of those residual impacts that it can have, not only for the kids but for their families, their siblings and the larger communities that support them.” – Kate Vickery, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Maine
Links:
WGME Wish Wednesdays: https://wgme.com/features/make-a-wish-maine/
VIP Tires & Service: https://www.vipauto.com/
Maine Huts & Trails: https://mainehuts.org/
Sugarloaf Outdoor Center: https://www.sugarloaf.com/the-outdoor-center
Trailblaze Challenge and Wish Night: https://wish.org/maine/signature-events#pwish-night-p-73851
Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/Joan-Garrys-Guide-Nonprofit-Leadership/dp/1119730481
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About the guest:
Kate Vickery is the president and CEO of Make-A-Wish (MAW) Maine, responsible for the organization’s achievement of its vision, mission and financial objectives. Kate started with the Maine chapter in 2005 as the volunteer director and then spent the majority of her tenure as the chapter’s program director, overseeing and executing all of the organization’s wish-granting operations for 10 years. She became president and CEO in 2017 and focuses on working together with their dedicated board of directors to increase the chapter’s annual revenue, oversees day-to-day operations and partners with the MAW Maine team to deliver life-changing wishes to children throughout our great state.
Before joining MAW, Kate began her career in the non-profit sector in a marketing role at United Way of Greater Portland. Before that, she worked as a freelance web designer and as the assistant director of athletic communications at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. Kate is a graduate of the University of Maine with a B.A. in Political Science.
Looking to connect:
Email: kvickery@maine.wish.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-vickery-135320101
Make-A-Wish Maine Twitter: @makeawishmaine