Page 16 - MidWeek - March 30, 2022

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FROM PAGE 14
to make children’s wishes come true. From the time a critically ill child gets re- ferred to the nonprofit (either by a doctor, family member or friend), they’ re partnered with a Make-A-Wish Ha- waiʻi volunteer who helps them identify their wish. Then, depending on the wish, the nonprofit works with ad- ditional businesses, organi- zations and individuals to make the wish come true. Dreams, desires and goals of all shapes and sizes float through the Make-A-Wish Hawaiʻi office every year, and each request gives the staff and its myriad volun- teers something to fight for.
“All wishes are special, and I’m not just saying that,” says Clark. “To see the joy on a child’s face and the emotion and gratitude on the family’s faces, it’s hard to describe.”
Clark recent-
ly celebrated her
third year with the nonprofit, but giv-
ing back and doing
good for others has
long been her pas-
sion. Since her days with KHON2 News, where she spent nearly two decades, Clark has been using her time, talents and energy for good, most notably leading the station’s philanthropic efforts via the Laulima Giv- ing Program.
lieved in and wanted to be a part of.
Instead of shrinking its sphere of influence, the pandemic allowed Make-A- Wish Hawaiʻi to grow and expand, especially in the virtual realm with its online talent show “Stars at Home” (check it out this April) and signature gala event (this year titled “Wish! Through the Decades”; see additional story on this page). That abil- ity to pivot and adapt leaves Clark confident that the or- ganization will overcome any challenge to ensure the state’s critically ill children can experience joy during tough times.
“As that became a bigger part of my job, helping the community and giving back became a bigger and more important part of my life,” she says.
“The power of a wish has an amazing effect on wish kids, their families and our community,” she explains. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to bring some much needed joy and hope to local families when they need it most.”
“A wish gives children battling illnesses a choice and some control in their life during a time when the challenges they face feel daunting,” she says. “A wish gives a child hope; it em- powers them and gives them strength as they look forward to brighter days ahead. A wish brings joy not only to a wish kid, but to their family, their wish granters and our wonderful community of volunteers and supporters.”
It was around that time when the position to lead Make-A-Wish Hawaiʻi came about, and Clark found that the organization’s mission was one that she truly be-
Clark joined Make-A- Wish Hawaiʻi in January 2019, and was the right per- son to lead the organization through an unprecedented time. Though the pandemic altered the way the nonprof- it operated, the mission to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical ill- nesses never stopped. Clark
(Left) Puanani wished to have her own videography equipment. (Below) Manuel IV, better known
as Mano, got his wish of having his family’s 1992 Mustang refurbished. He’s pictured with dad Manuel III and mom Tracy.
PHOTOS COURTESY MAKEAWISH HAWAI‘I
many of which are particu- larly poignant at this time: wishes for gaming computers so friends can stay connect- ed while in isolation, a cell phone to call family from the hospital and backyard play spaces.”
and the rest of the team made sure of that.
(Left) Disney is a popular wish among Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i keiki. Skyla-Rose (second from right) wanted more than anything to go
to Walt Disney World for Christmas. She, along with brother Ezekiel (second from left), were able to make lasting memories together with their family.
(Right) Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i currently has more than 140 children waiting to have their wishes granted.
“We’ve been innova- tive in developing novel ways to continue deliver- ing strength and hope to our local wish kids and their families — and engaging our supporters in the process,” she notes. “We’ve still been able to grant lots of local wishes,
MARCH 30, 2022 MIDWEEK 15