Explore every episode of the podcast Beyond The Wish

After hearing Andrew's perspective, guest host Kayla Hanley sits down with wish alum Mara to hear her side of the wish journey. Mara reflects on her own wish journey and shares what it was like to support her brother through his, offering a unique perspective on two wish experiences within one family.

Help make wishes possible for kids like Mara by visiting wish.org/illinois.

On this episode of Beyond The Wish, guest host Laurie Honza sits down with wish dad Andrew Herrington-Gilmore. Andrew has had the unique experience of navigating the wish journey with both of his children, Mara and Jay. In this episode, he reflects on two different medical journeys, two wishes, and the lasting impact those experiences have had on their family.

Then, tune in next week as we sit down with Mara to hear about her wish experience and what it’s like to be both a wish kid and a wish sibling.

To learn how you can become a WishMaker, visit wish.org/illinois

In this episode of Beyond the Wish, we explore the lasting effect of a single wish and the legacy it can create long after it’s granted. We’re honored to be joined by Ellen, an extraordinary alumni mom whose late son, Simon, left a legacy far greater than anyone could have imagined.

Simon’s wish to attend the Super Bowl brought joy and hope during an unimaginable time, and inspired him to Wish It Forward so other kids could experience that same joy. Through Ellen’s courage and openness, Simon’s journey has brought together a community, sparked a movement of generosity, and raised tens of thousands of dollars for Make-A-Wish Illinois. Her heartfelt Mission Moment at Wish Ball 2025 alone inspired more than $800,000 in giving.

In this conversation, Ellen reflects on Simon’s wish, how its impact continues to shape her life, and how she inspired Simon’s Squad to come together, raising more than $56,000 for the Penguin Plunge community event. She shares why she remains deeply involved with the mission, even after the hardest loss a parent can face, and how honoring Simon’s spirit helps bring hope and joy to children still waiting for their wishes.

This episode is a moving testament to resilience, love, and a wish that never stops giving.

If Simon’s story moves you to continue on his legacy of being brave, kind and generous, you can give to the Simon's Squad page, and help Ellen reach her fundraising goal of $10,000.

Learn how you can support Make-A-Wish Illinois through volunteering, donating, or sharing the mission at wish.org/illinois.

In this episode of Beyond The Wish, we sit down with Elaine Cesar a social worker at Lurie Children's hospital, a passionate advocate for Make‑A‑Wish Illinois and a trusted referral source. From the front lines of pediatric care, she shares a powerful perspective on how the wish journey becomes more than a moment of joy, it becomes a meaningful part of a child’s overall care.

Through her firsthand experience, we explore how a wish can positively influence a child’s medical engagement, emotional resilience, and social well‑being during the most challenging season of their life. From renewed motivation during treatment to restored hope, connection, and identity beyond a diagnosis, this conversation highlights the profound ripple effects a wish can have on children, families, and even care teams.

At Make-A-Wish Illinois our mission is powered by a community of incredible supporters, in this episode, we're focusing on one of the vital pillars of that support: our corporate partners. Their generosity doesn't just fund wishes—it creates a legacy of hope.

Host, Sloan McHugh, sits down with WishMaker John Sbragia, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Quality for GATX, whose commitment to our mission is simply unparalleled. We dive into the story behind GATX's incredible partnership with Make-A-Wish Illinois, exploring the impact their generosity has on both our wish families and their own company culture.

If you would like to get your company involved, WishMakers at Work is a turnkey fundraising program for a company to provide employees the opportunity to support a cause that brings hope to children when they need it most. Research shows that employees are wanting to engage in charitable activities. Partnering with Make-A-Wish serves as an occasion to bring them together as a team making a lasting impact for a child with a critical illness.

For more information visit wish.org/illinois

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.

Make-A-Wish serves children who are battling critical illnesses, which involves collaboration from local and national health care providers. From verifying eligible conditions to ensuring that their patients enjoy their wish safely, medical teams are working in the background to make these wishes possible.

Medical professionals can learn more about the referral process at wish.org/refer-a-child

To learn more about our mission and how you can get involved visit wish.org/illinois

Wish parent, volunteer, donor, and all-around WishMaker joins us for this episode of Beyond The Wish. His number one recommendation: take the leap and get involved!

Visit wishmaker.org/illinois to get involved.

Have you ever wondered how wishes are granted? How do families find out about Make-A-Wish? How does a kid decide what their wish is? Who makes that wish a reality? What happens when the wish is over? Learn all of that and more in this special four-part episode.

Last, but certainly not least in this four-part episode, Amy shares the lasting impact of the alumni community.

Alumni Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18ixGBcww9/

Alumni LinkedIn Group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13054023/

Visit wish.org/illinois to help grant a wish.

Have you ever wondered how wishes are granted? How do families find out about Make-A-Wish? How does a kid decide what their wish is? Who makes that wish a reality? What happens when the wish is over? Learn all of that and more in this special four-part episode.

In part three, Ariel walks us through the creation phase of the wish journey. The creation team takes a wish from determined to granted, turning its essence into a reality.

To get involved visit wish.org/illinois/get-involved

Have you ever wondered how wishes are granted? How do families find out about Make-A-Wish? How does a kid decide what their wish is? Who makes that wish a reality? What happens when the wish is over? Learn all of that and more in this special four-part episode.

Watch part 1 here: https://youtu.be/n0ANDjfuzd0

Kayla shares the second step of the wish journey, Onboarding & Discovery. In this step, families kick off the wish journey and wish children start to imagine what their perfect wish would be.

Cyrus's wish to be a superhero: https://youtu.be/I-WeD0-8b2I

Join our team of volunteers: wish.org/illinois/get-involved

Have you ever wondered how wishes are granted? How do families find out about Make-A-Wish? How does a kid decide what their wish is? Who makes that wish a reality? What happens when the wish is over? Learn all of that and more in this special four-part episode.

Starting at the beginning, Andrea walks us through the referral process. This is the start of every wish journey, and Andrea is one of the only team members who will interact with every wish.

Learn more about Make-A-Wish Illinois at wish.org/illinois.

If you know a child whose condition may be eligible for a wish, visit wish.org/refer-a-child to start the wish journey.

For medical providers, contact Andrea at ashindeldecker@illinois.wish.org to learn more about how you can refer your patients.

Join us for a journey through time as we sit down with Linda, the first Executive Director and longest standing staff member at Make-A-Wish Illinois. Get ready to be inspired by the incredible stories of hope, courage, and the power of a wish.

In this special episode, Linda shares her firsthand experiences from the early days of Make-A-Wish Illinois to now. Discover how our chapter grew from Linda in 1988 with a team of 40 volunteers to becoming one of the largest chapters granting over 700 wishes a year with help from 1,000 volunteers.

From heartwarming tales of granted wishes to the challenges faced in scaling the organization, Linda offers a unique perspective on the impact of Make-A-Wish Illinois.

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

Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.

Resources for topics discussed in this episode

• Legacy gifts to Make-A-Wish Illinois
• Donor Advised Funds
• Gifting stocks

Since being founded locally in 1985, Make-A-Wish Illinois has granted more than 18,000 wishes and continues its mission to share the power of a wish® with children in all 102 counties across the state.

Life-changing wish journeys are made possible by dedicated staff and more than 1,000 caring volunteers who help each child discover, create, fulfill, and experience the lasting impact of their most heartfelt wish.

Join us for the inaugural episode of Beyond The Wish, where we sit down with Stephanie Springs, the inspiring leader behind Make-A-Wish Illinois. In this heartfelt conversation, Stephanie shares her journey with the organization, shedding light on the profound impact of granting wishes to children with critical illnesses.

To learn more about Make-A-Wish Illinois and how you can get involved, visit wish.org/illinois

You can watch this episode on YouTube.

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