This month's challenge on ActiveRain includes Sharing an Act of Kindness of Someone You Know. I am writing to tell the world about a man I greatly respect, Doug Raper.
He used to work for an non-profit that grants wishes to children. That is still a great and noble cause; however, one day he had a wish for an 18 year old. That person couldn't receive their wish because they were "too old".
Doug Raper looked around and couldn't find any other organizations to refer them to, so he did the best possible thing . . . he started a non-profit that would! In July 2010, Wish Granters was born. To date, they have granted over 375 terminal wishes!
I first learned about this great organization in 2014 when a friend of mine's wife was granted a wish. They went to Alaska and were able to see the Northern Lights. This was her terminal wish and they created positive memories that will stay with her husband and son forever. This is critical because too often, the memories are of the pain and suffering that many times accompanies the dying process.
My friend took some amazing photos of the Northern Lights and after his wife passed, I asked his permission to print 3 of the photos on metal so we could auction them off the following year at our annual charity fundraising auction. We raised more money for those three prints than it cost so send the three of them on the trip! It was the proverbial gift that keeps on giving!
Doug has never taken a dime for all his time and energy that he has devoted to this organization. The organization has had multiple Presidents so far (including me in 2022) and none of us has ever taken a dime for their efforts either. As a matter of fact, we instituted a policy a few years ago called "Give or Get" in which each one of our Board of Directors has to "Give or Get" $3,000 for the organization each year! Our board members need to bring value, not just build their resume.
Doug retired as Wish Granters' Executive Director back in 2006 but still is on their Board of Directors and tirelessly works on getting donations and discounts to help grant wishes! His daughter is the current President and is carrying on his legacy as well.
Please check out current wishes here:
https://www.wishgranters.org/current-wishes/
If you or a company you know might be able to help with any of these wishes, please contact Doug at Doug@WishGranters.org
One of the many reasons I am so grateful for what Doug has done, and continues to do, for Wish Granters, is that when I joined their Board of Directors in 2018, none of them knew my wife had been diagnosed with two simultaneous Stage IV uterine cancers. She passed in February of 2020. I use that as "My Why" when I help others obtain their terminal wish.
I hope you might consider helping grant a wish through this great organization. One thing that really helps them a lot is in kind donations! This might be: donated flights from airline employee's that get a certain number of free tickets a year; gift certificates for free nights lodging; use of a time share; gift certificates for restaurants; tickets for experiences (theme parks, movie theaters, concerts) etc. Since Wish Granters, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit, they would gladly provide a receipt for you to share with your tax guru for potential deductions.
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