Our Chapter
On This Page
Our Mission
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina serves 51 counties in North Carolina from Burlington (Alamance County) to the west.
Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina has granted more than 5,500 wishes since its inception in 1985. We seek to bring every eligible child's wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness.
Our Local Impact
Since our founding in 1985, our chapter has granted over 5,500 wishes. Over 250 wishes granted every year.
A wish is a necessary part of the medical treatment journey, improved the odds of survival, provided a support system and better health outcomes, and gave the child a better chance of recovering from their critical illness.
Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina grants wishes for children with critical illnesses at a time when they need it the most. The majority of Make-A-Wish alumni, parents, and medical providers overwhelmingly agree that the wish experience contributes substantially to physical, mental, and emotional health.
Check out the 2022 Wish Impact Study for more details.
Our Board
Terri Zandhuis
Board Chair
Steve Baruch
Vice Chair
Glenn Tynan
Treasurer
Wendy Barnes
Secretary
Peter Smul
Governance Chair
Our Staff
Meredith Morris
Sr. Director of Mission Delivery
Jacqueline Howells
Sr. Director of Business Operations
Chris Webber
Sr. Director of Development
Media Center
Access news releases, and learn more about local wish stories.
News Releases
View our latest news releases to learn about major wish-granting events, sponsorships, campaigns, and other news.
In the News & Blogs
Newspaper and magazine articles, blogs, and other media often tell stories about wishes.
Managing Our Funds
Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina finances endeavors through corporate sponsorships, special events, foundation grants and individual contributions. However, we do not solicit funds by telephone and receive no federal or state funding. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, all contributions are deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our financial statements are audited locally by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP.
For full financial details please review our most recent Audited Financial Statements or our latest 990.
Careers & Internships
At Make-A-Wish, we are more than a great place to work — our work is life-changing. We are an inclusive and diverse group of people who, through a mosaic of backgrounds, thought and experiences, are united in purposeful work. We are fueled and guided by our values — values that are represented in the inspired people we work with and the life-changing work we do, every day.
We are currently hiring for: Office Manager, Medical Outreach and Intake Manager, and Corporate & Events Intern.
Office Hours
Office Hours are to be the following:
Monday – Thursday: 9-4 PM EST
Friday – By appointment only.
Contact Us
Make-A-Wish® Central & Western North Carolina
Charlotte, NC 28203
Make-A-Wish® Central & Western North Carolina, Triad Office
Greensboro, NC 27409