630. From One Wish to a Movement: Disney & Make-A-Wish’s 45-Year Journey - Jamie Sandys + Tajiana Ancora-Brown

Summary

We Are For Good Podcast - Episode 630: From One Wish to a Movement: Disney & Make-A-Wish’s 45-Year Journey

Release Date: July 7, 2025
Hosts: Jon McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE
Guests: Jamie Sandys, Senior Brand Manager for Brand Communications and PR at Make-A-Wish America; Tajiana Ancora-Brown, External Affairs Director at Disney World Resort

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Introduction: Celebrating a Magical Partnership

In Episode 630 of the We Are For Good Podcast, hosts Jon McCoy and Becky Endicott delve into the extraordinary 45-year collaboration between Disney and Make-A-Wish America. This partnership has transformed countless lives by granting over 165,000 Disney-themed wishes, creating magical experiences for children facing critical illnesses. The episode features insightful discussions with Jamie Sandys and Tajiana Ancora-Brown, who illuminate the depth and impact of this enduring alliance.

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Meet the Guests: Champions of Hope and Magic

Becky opens the conversation by introducing the guests, highlighting their roles and the profound contributions they've made to their respective organizations.

Jamie Sandys shared his journey:
"A lot of what has brought me into wish granting is coming to work here at Disney World. I've been with Disney for almost seven years, witnessing firsthand the legacy and impact of our wish-granting programs" (05:14). His role involves developing and executing national PR strategies that have garnered over 60 billion earned media impressions annually for Make-A-Wish.

Tajiana Ancora-Brown recounts her long-standing dedication:
"Make-A-Wish is all I've ever known. From an internship to now, 13 years later, I love it so much. The boundless imagination of the wish kids keeps me engaged and excited every day" (05:25).

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A Legacy of Magical Wishes: Heartwarming Stories

The conversation takes a heartfelt turn as Jamie and Tajiana share memorable wish-granting experiences that exemplify the magic of their partnership.

Jamie describes a wish where a child met Mickey Mouse:
"We arranged a special baseball game at ESPN Wide World of Sports where Mickey played with a wish kid—capturing a smile that still warms our hearts today" (09:00).

Another standout moment involves Cora, a wish kid who met elephant Korra at Disney's Animal Kingdom during Earth Month:
"This interaction with the animals created a moment she and her family will cherish forever" (09:30).

Tajiana shares an imaginative wish:
"A child in Wisconsin wished to meet Bigfoot. We created a treasure map leading him to a trailer in the woods where he met Bigfoot by a campfire—a wish that felt incredibly real to him" (11:00).

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The Foundation of Partnership: From the First Wish to Today

Becky prompts a discussion on the origins of the Disney-Make-A-Wish partnership, tracing it back to the very first wish granted at Disneyland.

Jamie reflects on the cultural ethos of Disney that fuels their mission:
"The culture at Disney inherently wants to have a positive impact. Walt Disney himself visited children's hospitals, and that legacy continues today" (13:10).

Tajiana adds, emphasizing the collaborative spirit:
"The first wish saw Disneyland cast members come together to grant that wish, setting a precedent for the decades-long relationship that follows" (13:20).

This foundational commitment has fostered a ripple effect, continuously inspiring both organizations to enhance their efforts in making dreams come true.

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Behind the Scenes: Orchestrating Large-Scale Wish Events

John inquires about the logistics of managing multiple wishes simultaneously, using the example of the "Once Upon a Wish Party," which granted 50 princess wishes at once.

Jamie explains the meticulous planning and partnership involved:
"We collaborated closely with Make-A-Wish to create a Disneyland experience centered on Disney Princesses, ensuring it was meaningful for different age groups and inclusive for entire families" (14:55).

This event not only fulfilled numerous wishes but also strengthened the sense of community among the families involved.

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Measuring Impact: Beyond Numbers

Becky shifts the focus to the impact measurement strategies employed by Make-A-Wish.

Tajiana emphasizes the importance of capturing both tangible and intangible outcomes:
"We invest in speaking with medical professionals, parents, and wish alumni to understand the transformational impact of a wish. It often leads to improved treatment compliance, better quality of life, and enhanced medical outcomes" (17:35).

She highlights the profound statement from doctors:
"We heal the body, but the wish heals the soul. A wish is the medicine that we can't prescribe" (17:50).

This holistic approach ensures that the true essence of each wish is understood and appreciated.

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The DNA of a Lasting Partnership: Principles and Success Factors

John probes into what makes the Disney-Make-A-Wish partnership so effective.

Jamie outlines the key elements:
"A clear understanding of each other's missions, open dialogue, and a commitment to long-term impact are crucial. We ensure that our contributions are meaningful and aligned with Make-A-Wish's goals" (21:35).

Tajiana echoes the sentiment, adding the importance of being open to feedback:
"It's vital to have candidness with our partners. When something isn't working, we address it openly to find better ways to support the mission" (22:00).

This foundation of trust and mutual respect has been instrumental in sustaining their collaboration over the years.

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Personal Reflections: Stories that Inspire

The hosts invite the guests to share personal stories that have shaped their commitment to philanthropy.

Tajiana shares a poignant childhood memory:
"When I was eight, my best friend passed away from leukemia. My dad arranged a Phoenix Suns experience for him through Make-A-Wish without knowing it would deeply influence my future" (30:29).

Jamie reflects on his upbringing overseas and his mother's influence:
"Growing up on a small island where philanthropy wasn't common, my mother started one of the first NGOs. Volunteering from a young age instilled in me the importance of giving back" (32:00).

These personal anecdotes underscore the profound motivations driving their dedication to making a difference.

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Final Insights: One Good Thing

As the podcast winds down, Becky invites the guests to share a piece of advice or wisdom.

Jamie offers a creative perspective:
"There's no one right way of doing things, but there's a wrong way. Embrace different approaches to achieve your goals" (34:22).

Tajiana emphasizes the importance of being other-focused:
"At nonprofits, it's crucial to prioritize others' needs. Building relationships that serve others first leads to long-term, fruitful partnerships" (35:08).

Their insights provide valuable guidance for nonprofit professionals seeking to foster impactful and sustainable relationships.

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Stay Connected: Joining the Movement

Tajiana and Jamie encourage listeners to engage with Make-A-Wish and Disney's efforts:

• Website: wish.org
• Partnership Info: wish.org/disney
• Social Media: Follow Make-A-Wish America and Disney Parks channels for heartwarming stories and updates.

Becky reiterates the importance of community and partnership in driving meaningful change, inviting listeners to contribute to the mission of granting every eligible child's wish.

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Conclusion: A Heartfelt Thank You

The episode concludes with heartfelt thanks to the guests for their inspiring work and dedication. Becky expresses deep gratitude for the magical experiences Disney and Make-A-Wish create, highlighting their role in bringing joy and hope to families in need.

Tajiana and Jamie reciprocate the gratitude, affirming their commitment to continuing this impactful partnership.

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This episode of We Are For Good Podcast serves as a testament to the power of collaboration, compassion, and creativity in transforming lives. Through the enchanting stories and unwavering dedication of Disney and Make-A-Wish America, listeners are reminded of the profound impact that thoughtful philanthropy can achieve.

Transcript

[Becky]

Hey, friend. If you've been feeling stuck in your mission, you're not alone. Impact up movement is happening July 10, and it's designed to help you unlock momentum with clarity, courage and community.

[John]

Yes, Impact up is a free one day virtual event for change makers who are ready to move their mission forward. Here you'll walk away with real practical tools like how to use your data to spark action, how to craft a clear and compelling elevator pitch, and how to create messaging that really cuts through and moves people.

[Becky]

We'll also tap into joy fueled fundraising inspiration and even slow down for somatic practices to help you lead with more grounding and alignment. Because real movement starts from within.

[John]

And here's what makes it even more powerful. The We Are for Good community is hosting local meetups in 20 plus cities around the world. From New York to Nairobi, from Calgary to Caracas, Venezuela. Changemakers are gathering in real life to connect, reflect and build community together.

[Becky]

So grab your free [e-mail] impactup and check the map to see if there's a meetup near you. That's weareforgood.com impactup let's get in motion together.

[John]

See you there, friends. Hey, I'm John.

[Becky]

And I'm Becky.

[John]

And this is the We Are for Good podcast.

[Becky]

Nonprofits are faced with more challenges to accomplish their missions and the growing pressure to do more, raise more, and be more for the causes that improve our world.

[John]

We're here to learn with you from some of the best in the industry, bringing the most innovative ideas, inspirational stories, all to create an impact uprising.

[Becky]

So welcome to the good community. We're nonprofit professionals, philanthropists, world changers, and rabid fans who are striving to bring a little more goodness into the world.

[John]

So let's get started. Becky, we got that feel good smile on.

[Becky]

We do. I mean, if you love Disney and you love the extraordinary organization that is Make a Wish, this is going to be a magical conversation for you, an emphasis on the magical. Because today we are talking about how to build a movement of magic and hope and Disney and make a wish. Like, we know about this partnership. It is one of the great partnerships of the world. Like Reese's and Peanut Butter, like they go together. Disney and make a wish. And they have worked together for nearly 45 years to grant more than. Drum roll. 170 65,000 Disney wishes together, including the first official wish that was granted at Disneyland. And their president, Jeff, that talks about this as one of the most important things that we get to do as Disney cast members is make magic for wish kids and their families. And it is an honor that Disney is the world's largest wish granter with one granted every hour of every day. And so we are so excited to have Tajiana and Cora Brown. I'm going to call her Taji because we're friends in that way already. Jamie, here to the podcast. I want to give some brief background on them. Taji is the external affairs director at Disney World Resort, where she leads the CSR team, which is responsible for all the strategic philanthropy and Disney volunteers. So each year, they're granting thousands of wishes that are filled with magical, memorable Disney experiences at times when it is needed most for these children and their families. And Jamie is a senior Brand manager for brand communications and PR at Make a Wish America. He leads the national PR team in the development and execution of national earned media strategies for brand campaigns and sponsor programs. Increase awareness, familiarity, and revenue. And his team's efforts have Contributed More than 60 billion earned media impressions annually for the organization. Y', all, this is a story about love. It is a story about hope and joy. And we are so excited to have Taji and Jamie on the podcast. I'm going to quit talking, y'.

[Tajiana]

All.

[Becky]

Welcome to the We Are For Good podcast. We are a little excited you're here.

[Tajiana]

Amazing. Yeah. Thank you so much for the nice intro.

[Becky]

Before we get into this beautiful and historic partnership, we want to get to know each of you. So tell us about, like, where you grew up and what led you kind of into this work. And, Taji, I'm going to start with you.

[Jamie]

That's great. You know, a lot of what has brought me into wish granting is coming to work here at Disney World. So I joined the company almost seven years ago into this role, and I, you know, worked with a team who had a really long set of experience audiences doing exactly this work. I think it says a lot to work for a company here at Disney World over 50 years. Disneyland is celebrating their 70th, and it tells you about the legacy of a company coast to coast or even globally, and its impact and what it can do. So wish granting is part of that legacy. And I think that what really draws you into the work is seeing the number of team members and cast members who have been involved year over year over year and seeing the impact for itself. So coming together and working with a great brand and a great organization with a very clear mission, it's hard not to get drawn in. And I'm really glad I've been drawn in and that we play such A big role in the work that happens every week here at Disney World.

[Becky]

Incredible. Jamie, what about you?

[Tajiana]

So for me, Make a Wish is all I've ever known. I was at Arizona State University as a senior and I found out about an internship program at Make a Wish. Thought I was walking into one of the local chapters and was blown away and very happily surprised to find out that I was actually at our headquarter building. And from there it was really. I knew a little bit about the organization. I knew it was an incredible. They were doing incredible work, but I didn't know how deeply it would impact me. For me it was an internship, a chance to get some experience and I thought that would be the end of it. I was going to go into the for profit space, but ultimately it really caught me by the heart and never let go. And it's been over 13 years now I've been with Make a Wish. I've grown through the communication space to the role that I'm in now. But really for me, I need variety in my life. I love to same. I have a lot of different hobbies, lots of different interests, and for Make a Wish, it scratches every one of them. You never know what a kid's going to come up with. Their imagination is boundless. And so the types of stories that I'm working on and the backgrounds that you hear of in the interests of these wish kids, it really keeps things interesting and that's what's allowed me to stay engaged and so excited. Now, 13 years later, I love it so much.

[John]

I mean, from intern to just casual 60 billion earned media impressions.

[Tajiana]

I mean, I can't take credit for all of those.

[John]

Yeah, maybe a couple billion of them.

[Tajiana]

Or something like that.

[John]

But still, I'm curious if there was a moment that you really, I don't know, get captured personally. And I think this conversation is going to invite this because walking alongside missions, so many of our listeners are in missions that we have to hold the personal piece while we're also showing up to deliver for families and be the support. Is there a moment that, I don't know, I wish really captured you and brought you into wanting to pour into this work. I'll start with you, Taji.

[Jamie]

Yeah, I'll start with kind of an early story. Learning about the Disney wish granting program and all of the things that the team has created over the years. What we aim to do is help make a wish grant a child's one true wish. And so sometimes, as Jamie said, it gets a little creative. One of the first ones that I had an opportunity to learn about and see how it all comes together was a wish kid who wished to play baseball with Mickey Mouse. And it takes a lot of work across all of our teams and colleagues to arrange for Mickey Mouse to be available. He's very busy. And we sort of created a very special experience and moment at ESPN Wide World of Sports. So we're in a very themed setting of a baseball diamond with Mickey Mouse, who is appropriately dressed to play baseball, and had a really great moment and morning with that wish kid. And the. The image that stands out most to me is at the end, there's this photo that we still look at it every now and then, of course, the smile of the wish kid hugging Mickey Mouse. And, you know, it's kind of really hard to beat those moments because, you know, in the background, there are a lot of people who played an important role in sort of creating this experience and making it happen and bringing it all together with the aim of the mission, which is to grant that one true wish. And so, you know, and there's so many. So many stories like these that we have. I mean, we have about 9,000 wish families at Walt Disney World throughout the year, and so many of them wish to be here at Disney World and, you know, come to. Come to our parks to have these experiences with their families. You know, all these moments where they're, you know, riding the rides and interacting with their favorite characters. But then we still also get these, you know, really interesting stories recently. Earlier this year, we had a wish kid who wanted to create her own Cinderella dress. And so that entire experience was actually created with our cast members who work in costuming. So it's a little bit outside of a park experience, but it's a true Disney wish. And so these are moments that we can create. I can keep going. There's one more that I really love. Yeah, I mean, they're just. They're all so beautiful. Last year, we had wish kid Cora, who had kind of an Animal Kingdom animal wish during Earth Month, and she got to meet elephant Korra. So Cora met Cora, and she went backstage and interacted with our animal science and environment cast members who work at Disney's Animal Kingdom and got to see the elephants in a way that is super special and probably a moment she and her family will always remember, and that happened right here at Disney World. So this whole podcast, I can kind of probably talk about all of the moments, but those are some that just in those examples show you just how uniquely different and creative and knowing that we can make that magic for that individual wish kid along the way.

[John]

That's what it's all about. Like, just the story of one and how that has a ripple for families forever. Jamie, what's one that sticks out to you personally?

[Tajiana]

It's difficult for me. It's usually my favorite is whatever was the most recent wish that I've heard, because, as you can imagine, over 13 years, I've seen. I tried calculating this before. We've granted more than 150,000 wishes just since I've joined. So every 33 minutes, on average, we're granting a wish somewhere in the country. And so it's an incredible operation. And each one of those is so unique to the individual. But the one that I remember first, really capturing my interest, and my nerdy side is going to come out. But we had a wish kid in Wisconsin who was convinced that bigfoot lived somewhere in the woods behind his house. And his wish was to meet Bigfoot. Yeah. And. And I. I think what was so powerful about is it shows just how resourceful and creative the folks at our chapters are to be able to take this kid's vision from his head and bring it into reality. Where we had a trailer that was placed out in the woods in Wisconsin, we gave the kid a treasure map. He went off in search of a bigfoot and ultimately was able to find this trailer. And he knocks on the door and opens it, and there's bigfoot hanging out. He was. I think he was sitting by a campfire, maybe reading, you know, the New York Times or something. He was just. He caught him during his daily routine, and they got to spend time together. And for that kid, he honestly felt like he got his wish to meet Bigfoot. And that's something that I would have never thought was possible. I wouldn't have. Me personally wouldn't have known how to even begin to create that experience, but something our chapters do every single day, and they do it multiple times a day. So it's really incredible to see things like that.

[Becky]

There is something about both of your organization that makes nuance and makes those special, tiny little touches that tell someone it is not business as usual. You see this extra layer of we're gonna. We're gonna take it up a notch. We're gonna. We're gonna add more magic to it. And I. And I thank you for that because I think so many of us get focused on the wish and the moment and the day, and I just think about the. The weeks, the months, the years after the legacy of that joy that just keeps going and going. But I like, want to take us back to the very beginning. And Taji, can you tell us about that first wish? Like the very first wish that was granted at Disneyland and how did that like set up the foundation for what would become this 45 year relationship? And such an indelible impact. That is that ripple that John referenced. And what I'm talking about that just goes on and on after these wishes are granted.

[Jamie]

I think when you read about the history of the first wish granted, what stands out to me is a culture of Disney that I get to live in because I work here every day. And that is there is an inherent nature of wanting to have a positive impact on others. And you see that in sort of how they stepped in to participate and make a difference. I mean, there's, there's this long history of Walt visiting children's hospitals. And I think these themes live on today and sort of the ethos of how we show up to work every day for a brand like the Walt Disney Company. And I think that that's what you see. So the first wish from Make a Wish and Jamie jump in as well, because this was a really special wish where the Disneyland cast members at the time came together to be a part of that wish granting group for that first wish. And it's these stories and these reference points that we look at and that continue to inspire us and fuel us. But I think also more than anything else, it's just sort of this observation of knowing that there's this culture within our company that we get to live up to every day.

[John]

It's like it just keeps growing. And I think that's what we wanted to talk about as we look at this is like the movement that's inspired. I mean, you look at either one of your organizations and they're both larger than life on many different scales. But I think, like, let's talk, let's take it down a grain further to say that Once Upon a Wish party. So this is an example of when you had a lot of wishes coming together in one moment. And I believe the number right is like 50 princess wishes happening simultaneously. Take us in behind the scenes. Like, how do you actually pull that off? Because all of us that ran galas and golf tournaments already feel overwhelmed by this moment. So take us in.

[Jamie]

Yeah, well, it starts with a really great partner in Make a Wish of America, Jamie and his team. Because what happens is we start to learn about the number of wish kids and their specific wishes. So there are wish families across the country who wish to go to Disney World. And then right behind that are wish families who have their wish kids that are interested in a Disney Princess wish. And so it became pretty clear to us that we had a really good strategic opportunity to help make a wish, grant many wishes, and sort of reduce, you know, wish granting wait time and that sort of thing all at once. But specific to Disney Princess wishes because they were so prevalent. So we just held Once Upon a Wish party earlier this year in April. It was actually held on World Wish day, which is April 29th. And that gave us a really great opportunity to come together as a team, our corporate social responsibility team, in partnership with Make a Wish and sort of really create a Disney experience where wish families would visit us here at Disney World. And for about a day and a half, their entire experience is centered on Disney Princesses. So the interesting thing is, is we had, you know, wish kids from as young as you could be and their family members and their siblings to, you know, teenagers. Oh, this is a big party. Yeah. Well, and also the age range of. Of wish kids who have an interest in Disney Princess wishes. And so thinking very creatively about an experience that will feel meaningful across age range to those wish kids, but also ensuring that their siblings are having a wonderful time with them as well. And that was really important to us because when we think about the impact of a wish, we start with the wish kid and their true wish, but also think about the ENT family and their experience. So it's just a beautiful experience for all of them.

[Becky]

And just, again, the extra touches are just so kind and so generous. And I just think that the impact of what you're doing has got to be so far reaching into the sort of legacy that we talk about so often in our work here in philanthropy. And I want to talk about impact a little bit with you, Jamie, because from the make a Wish perspective, I would just be really curious how you all measure the impact beyond not just the number of wishes granted, but the. What we would call, like, the intangibles of what you all see happening.

[Jamie]

How do you.

[Becky]

How do you track that, and what do you guys measure?

[Tajiana]

Yeah, well, it's really important to us because we know that when we're talking with potential corporate partners and with donors and fundraisers, people want to know the impact that they're going to have. And, you know, you have to go deeper and be able to show that there is something tangible to it in order to really hook people and bring them along on a journey that's going to be more than just a transactional moment in time. And so we've invested a lot in speaking with medical professionals, parents of wish kids and wish alum who are now wish kids, you know, many years removed from their wishes.

[Becky]

Who can we know a couple of them. Yes. Love it.

[Tajiana]

Yeah. So we do surveys and we speak with these folks and we ask them what is the impact? And time and time again we hear that the wish is more than just a nice moment in time. It's truly something that's transformational for these families and it can change the entire trajectory of their medical journey. We see better compliance with treatment. We see improved quality of life, we see improved medical outcomes. And these are things that there's a lot of research coming out about the mental affecting physical and vice versa. And I think a wish is a. Is a beautiful kind of case study in how that comes to fruition. One of my favorite things I hear doctors say it makes me feel good about the work that I'm doing is they say we heal the body, but the wish heals the soul. And a wish is the medicine that we can't prescribe. And so we love to kind of walk side by side with medical professionals in their journey. And a lot of them look for the right time to offer up a wish because they know that can really change how that child's going to be feeling and kind of approaching what might be coming in their treatment. And so it really is a strategic tool in these doctors tool bags. And incredible. When you have partners like Disney that really get that and they want to be more than just surface level partners. They want to see the impact. They want to make that impact. And if I can, one of the things that I think was most incredible about that Once Upon a Wish party and really shows the level of detail that Disney goes into, is there was a moment at the very end of this royal ball, which was the culmination of the entire event, where they were presenting these princesses with the crowns that they helped to create the day prior. And it could have been something that got handed out and they would have been beautiful and these girls would have cherished them forever. But they went one step further and they created this whole moment where they had the parents ringing around this ballroom with their princesses, and the parents were the ones who actually got the crowns. And they all simultaneously chanted this proclamation that is basically an affirmation about how strong and how beautiful and courageous these girls are. And then all simultaneously they put this crown that the girls created on their heads. And you could tell from the smiles on the kids faces, the tears on the parents faces, that it was a moment that they will never forget. And it takes intention to create those types of moments. You've got to be detail oriented, and your heart's got to be in the right place, because it does take a lot of extra work and resources to bring those moments to life. But for everyone involved, including myself in the ballroom, it's something you just. You won't ever forget.

[Becky]

Every story is, like, better than the next.

[John]

I mean, I think what's really cool is that just looking at how both your organizations just keep leveling up at this and to find a partner that's. It's so trite to say 1 plus 1 equals 3 or 1 plus 1 equals 11. But it's like, I feel that energy with you both. It's like you're both bringing your best to the table. And what's created as a result is so magical for these kids and families. So would y' all kind of help us extrapolate that a little bit? Like, what is the DNA of that partnership? What makes it really work and really sync together when you're bringing together CSR teams of a global organization and a global nonprofit, and probably lots of layers in between. What's that secret sauce? I'd love for both of you to jump in here. Just some principles that those listening could can kind of dial into. Taji, we'll start with you.

[Jamie]

It starts with a very clear understanding of the mission, which Make a Wish does a really good job of, you know, what you're working together toward. And then secondly, it's also a very clear understanding of, you know, from a corporate perspective where we can play a meaningful role. So there's something to be said about the fact that a majority of wishes are Disney wishes. And so that's pretty clear to us that that's important. It's an important way for us to give back and make a difference when we know that there is this community of kids that can choose to wish for anything. As Jamie said, they can. They can choose to meet Bigfoot, or they can choose to visit Disney World, but a lot of them are choosing Disney or they have a Disney wish. And so that does come with a really, really great responsibility on our part, but also a knowledge of what are the most meaningful ways, from a company perspective, that we can engage that will make a difference. And that comes with open dialogue, partnership. I mean, you have to have a level of, you know, candidness with one another, because I would want our Nonprofit partner. I would want Make a Wish to tell me that's a really great idea. I don't think we need that though, because then we can bring our best, yes, we can bring the best parts of ourselves to the impact and then Make a Wish has the confidence in knowing that, you know, if they were to turn down one idea, that doesn't mean that as corporate partners and supporters, we, we will, you know, choose to not do more again or try something different. We absolutely do want to do that. And I think that that's, that's an important partnership. It's that open dialogue. It's that, you know, feeling, you know, that surety that we both have the same goals in mind and that, you know, we're in it for sort of that long term impact. And so as we think about everything that's been successful, where do we go from here? Because I think we want to evolve with the Wish kids and knowing what the impact is. And, and so that, that's really places us in, in this really good kind of cohesive partnership that we can continue because it's important for us to hear when it's not quite working for the nonprofit, right? When we're not like, these are great ideas. We love that you'd want to donate these things, but it's not really kind of helping us get closer to the impact. And I think that's important for Make a Wish or any organization that we work with from a corporate social responsibility perspective. And it's one area that we like to, that we create a good business environment where we can have that open dialogue.

[John]

Such sage advice.

[Becky]

I mean, this is, this is what we talk about, friends and listeners, when we talk about trust based philanthropy. This is what it looks like. And I'm going to turn the tables on you both a little bit. I want to ask you a question and I want to know if you had a wish. And I don't mean like, where are you going to travel? Are you going to beat the yeti? I mean, like, when you look at this beautiful experience that has been cultivated here, what would you wish for? If you had unlimited funds, unlimited dreams, what would you wish for this beautiful community that we're talking about today? Jamie, I'm putting you on the spot first. What do you got for me?

[Tajiana]

I think the thing that, that always inspires me the most is when I hear from the families that have been impacted following the wish. And we historically haven't always done a great job of staying connected to these families afterwards. And now that the vast majority of Wish kids are living well into adulthood and going on to do some incredible things. Yeah, yeah, it is. It's incredible. And we, we have wish kids who are now doctors who are referring kids of their own that they treat, and we have staff members who are wish kids. And I think now we're getting to a point where we're ready to really lean into that community, that alumni community, and following these families long afterwards. And so many of them have had these Disney experiences, but we haven't necessarily been able to hear how those have impacted them long term, although we know it has. And so I think for me, it's continuing to improve on that long term storytelling and really building this community as something that endures well beyond the wish itself.

[Becky]

Someone please manifest that. I want that to happen. Taji, what about you?

[Jamie]

I'd have to say I think I feel very similarly to Jamie because when I look at Once Upon a Wish Party or when we've done other types of experiences that have brought more than one wish family together at the same time, there is something special that maybe we haven't measured yet, but I think just being able to observe it yourself or see it. It take place, see it happen in the moment, you know, that there's something really special happening between the families, between the wish kids or the siblings. And, you know, I think that if. If I could wish for anything here, it would be looking at ways and opportunities to bring these wish experiences together for those who choose to do that, where they can kind of experience it together and create that new kind of connectedness and camaraderie that, you know, that you're. You're sort of in an experience that is very relatable to someone else when maybe in your day to day, you're. You're having a difficult time finding experiences where it's very relatable to other kids or other families. And so it would be nice to. To see how we bring that together. And maybe like Jamie said, through the alumni group or bringing alumni with current wish families, that would be something that would be, I think, a meaningful way to have an impact long term that maybe we haven't quite tapped into fully yet.

[John]

I mean, my wish is to go to Bora Bora and y' all are bringing together people and alums and families. Thank you for centering us on humanity here. Story is so much of this podcast. It's what we believe creates change in the world too. And I would love to ask y', all, as we start to kind of wind down, like, what's a moment of philanthropy that has stuck with you and it could be through make a wish or it could be something that happened in your childhood. Like when you saw generosity play out in front of you and you're like dang, that's it, Jamie, what would you say? Hey friends, here's a bit of real talk. This movement doesn't happen without community and that includes our incredible ecosystem partners, big.

[Becky]

Gratitude to give butter, RKD group donor doc feather whiteboard and so on. These aren't just sponsors, they're mission driven allies showing up to fuel change alongside us.

[John]

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[Becky]

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[John]

You want to learn more, head over to weareforgood.com Rex that's weareforgood.com recs for VIP access to orgs and amazing humans doing really great work.

[Tajiana]

I had an experience when I was a young kid that I didn't really connect to Make a Wish at the time because it happened outside of the organization. It was a really organic moment that happened. But one of my best friends when I was eight years old, he ended up passing away. But he had leukemia and my dad actually took it on himself as well. Thank you. As close family friends, he was a huge Phoenix Suns fan and my dad really took it upon himself to. I don't know if he was even aware that Make a Wish was operating at that time, but he wrote some letters, I'm assuming they were handwritten letters and made some calls. But he got got an incredible full day experience for my best friend to join the Phoenix Suns. And that moment, I remember it as an 8 year old and I never would have said that's what led me to make a wish again. I was looking for an internship. It wasn't as deep as I would like to pretend it was when I first started. But since joining I've made that connection and I do think just seeing that wish fulfillment and the positivity and the hope and the joy that came out of that, I think that that stuck with me long term and kind of led me down the path that took me where I am.

[Becky]

What is your dad's name? We must know.

[Tajiana]

Mr. His name is Cliff. He's a great, he's A great guy.

[Becky]

Just like, yes, I'm gonna raise my water to cliff. Like, what a beautiful modeling. I think those things matter. Absolutely.

[John]

Taji, how about you?

[Jamie]

I didn't think it'd be this difficult to answer this question. And I was listening to Jamie thinking, okay, I'm going to have some time to. Because my first reaction was, how am I going to pick when I'm surrounded by incredible work every week? And that's because I'm in a role with a team that works so closely with the nonprofit community in Central Florida and beyond. I'll just take a moment and kind of touch on growing up. I grew up overseas in a small island, and philanthropy is not really common internationally. It's sort of that volunteering, that sort of thing that's just not very common the way that it is here in the US and really early age, I, my mom became very involved with conservation environment issues and kind of started one of the first NGOs. And so I spent most of my weekends doing beach cleanups and road cleanups for as long as I could remember, sort of how I spent all of my time. And I think it says a lot about, you know, being in a, in a, in, in a sort of a. Your day to day where you're doing something that's not just for yourself, but for others around you, some who you may never meet or, or, you know, may never cross paths with. And so I think there's, there's so much that happens around us all the time that is just so meaningful. And I, I do reflect on one Disney volunteer experience that I had when I first started. And so Disney has this tradition of our Disney chefs and the culinary teams cooking Thanksgiving dinner every year at the Coalition for the Homeless in downtown Orlando. And so when I first started about seven years ago, I said, well, I'll spend Thanksgiving with the Disney team. This is new. I want to kind of see what. And I, I don't think I could have imagined the impact that that experience had or has had on me and still has on me, because in that evening serving Thanksgiving dinner, I met toddlers and high school kids with their families and parents and so many others. And so it was just, you know, there's so much around you. I think it just again, speaks to this sort of long legacy of giving back that just lives within the ethos of Disney and Disney cast members. And so that's really special to be a part of. So it's a really great question that you asked. I didn't realize that it would, it would be so meaningful just to even answer that question. Thanks for that.

[Becky]

Well, if you're a heartwired human, like both of you are, you're gonna have a lot of experiences to draw from. And we cannot talk about Cliff without talking about your mother. What is your mother's first name?

[Jamie]

My mother's first name is Shadira.

[Becky]

Shudira. Thank you, Shudira, for taking care of your community. Thank you for the way I think, like, we talk about philanthropy, we talk about generosity. This is about, like, neighborliness. This is about kindness. This is about love and joy. And this work is so big, and what comes with it is so heavy. But I just think what you all are doing in this earth, especially when I look around at the state of the world, this is the stuff that really, really matters. This is the stuff that resonates. And so, as we wind down our podcast, we famously ask all of our guests the same last question. What is your one good thing? It could be a piece of advice, a quote, or a life hack you have that you would leave to our audience. Taji, I'll start with you. What's your one good thing?

[Jamie]

I like to say that there's no one right way of doing it. There's a wrong way of doing things, but there's no one right way. And I like to bring that up when we're all sort of sometimes in the heat of what do we do or how do we do it, and sort of give confidence that maybe we can do something different or unexpected, expected, because it still gets us to that very goal, you know, that very goal that we've defined for them, for ourselves, or that we know is, you know, what we've defined as what success looks like, and that there's all sorts of ways that we can get there. So hopefully it sparks creativity and an openness to doing things differently, just to kind of give us that confidence to know we can still achieve this, but there's no one right way of doing it.

[Becky]

Love that. What about you, Jamie?

[Tajiana]

I'm going to keep my nonprofit lens on knowing who a lot of your listeners are. I think we have a tendency at nonprofits to believe that because we know how great our mission is, that everyone else should just want to support us as well. And I think we operate and move through our conversations and relationships in that way a lot of times. And for me, especially in the communications role, working with external parties like the media and folks like that, I think it's been really important for me to remember that it's not about me it's about them and what they're trying to accomplish and what their goals are and what their needs are. And so in corporate partnerships, it's the same way with donors. It's the same way you've got to put the other person first and help to fill their needs and find a way that your mission can serve in that role. But it has to really be other focused first if it's going to be a long, fruitful relationship and not something that's, you know, quick and transactional and, you know, leads you looking down the road for, for what's next quickly afterwards.

[Becky]

I like you guys so much. I really do.

[John]

The dynamic duo right here in front of us. I mean, friends, there's going to be a lot of people listening that want to get connected with Yalls mission that you've shared about today. What's the easy way for people to plug in? Or if y' all hang out online, point us to all the places people can find you and follow up to.

[Tajiana]

We're always looking for people to get involved in the Make a Wish mission. In fact, when Once Upon a Wish party came about, it was in the middle of, you know, World Wish Day, as Taji had mentioned. And we're focused on really capturing more wish makers and getting more wish makers involved. There's still for every one wish we're granting, there's two that we're not. And there's a lot of work to be done for us to be able to grant the wish of every eligible child, which is really that North Star that we keep working towards because we know how impactful these wishes are. And so we want to reach every eligible child. And there's plenty of ways to get involved, whether it's as an individual or as a Corporation. And wish.org is our website where you can find out all the different avenues. But specifically, you can go to wish.org disney if you want to learn more about this incredible partnership. And something that hasn't been mentioned is it's more than just theme parks that get involved. Every aspect of the Walt Disney Company is granting wishes. And people would be so surprised, I think, to see just how vast the Disney family is and how popular so many different types of wishes are. And so if you go to wish.org disney you can and get a little taste of all the different types of wishes that we're granting together.

[Jamie]

Yeah. And I know that sometimes you talk about storytelling and how important that is as well. And I think that when you're inspired by brands or organizations or even other nonprofits following just their general channels for us is the Disney Parks channels. And that's where throughout the year, we do share very specific stories about a wish that we've granted in our parks or otherwise. And ESPN does some amazing wishes as well. And so those are always ways to kind of follow along and kind of see those stories come to light. We know that that storytelling is important for so many, but especially to help share the importance of the mission and the impact.

[Becky]

This has been such truly magical conversation. We always thank our guests for coming on, but I also just want to thank you and your teams from the depths of my heart. Hearts for how you show up for these families and the amount of joy that you infuse into this experience is so encouraging. And it is the light that I think we're all chasing. So thank you for that and thank you for just continuing to build something good in this world. We are absolutely rooting for it.

[Tajiana]

Amazing. Thank you so much.

[Jamie]

Yeah. Thank you guys.