How are you connected to Make-A-Wish?听
My听younger听cousin,听Jim,听was听diagnosed听with听stage听2听Hodgkins听Lymphoma in 2018听at听just听14 years old.听He听had听just graduated from 8th听grade听and was entering his听freshman听year of high school.听听听
I am happy to share,听Jim graduated from Arizona听State听University听in May of 2026听with a听degree in听Financial听Planning.听The doctors at Stanford听declared听him听cured in January of 2019 with continued checkups, all with positive results.听I am so proud of him听and all that he has听accomplished.听
听
When did Make-A-Wish become part of your life or your family鈥檚 story?听听
My cousin received his wish听in 2019, a year after his听diagnosis.听听My cousin loves video games and technology.听 His wish was for听a听hand build听personal computer from Corsair that had not been released to the market yet.听The wish for my cousin brought our family a sense of hope, joy, and听comfort,听knowing he had something to look forward to.听
听
What did the Make-A-Wish experience mean to you or your family?听听
For听me,听it provided a sense of comfort knowing that my cousin had something to look forward to.听 After听his听diagnosis,听the听treatments,听doctor’s听appointments,听a new听school,听Jim听was able to know听he could come home and work on his computer or game with friends.听That brought a sense of peace.听听
听
Was there a particular moment from the experience that stands out most to you?听听
The entire journey felt so surreal听to听me as his big cousin.听I am close with my听family听and to know听not only was听he听suffering,听but that听my aunt and uncle and his siblings were听hurting听and worried听put听everything into听perspective.听I just remember thinking why and how and that he was so young.听
听
How did family, friends, or the community support you during this journey?听
How did family, friends, or the community support you during this journey?It is incredible to see how my cousin鈥檚听friends and the community came together to support him, my aunt,听uncle,听and cousins. Jim听s a warrior, and he had a tribe supporting him every step of his journey.听听My aunt听rallied听a team to听participate听in听a听Light the Night听walk in听SF,听benefitting听and raising awareness for听Hodgkins Lymphoma.听I was听able to donate my hair in honor of听him,听there听was a Facebook听partnership,听and听we wore Jim Strong merch.听听
听
What does it mean to you that SJVC/麻豆传媒 supports this foundation?听听听
It means a great deal听to me听that SJVC/麻豆传媒听is听involved听with听the Make-A-Wish foundation.听 I believe in giving back and this is one way we can do it.听When I was asked to lead the Make-A-Wish campaign across our organizations, I听immediately听thought of my cousin and how Make-A-Wish听impacted听my family during a trying time. I can only hope to give back and provide the same sense of comfort for another wish kid and听family in need of hope.听
听
What would you want others to understand about the importance of organizations like Make-A-Wish?听听
Make-A-Wish provides hope for children with illnesses.听听Wish听kids听are children听that should be having fun听and being able to be kids.听听They should be听looking forward to their听freshmen听year of high school听and all that comes with being a听child,听not the stress of听all that comes with their diagnosis.听
听
What would you say to someone considering donating or听participating听in this campaign?听听
I would say that every dollar counts.听听Even by听participating by sharing a post or spreading听awareness,听we can make a difference in children鈥檚 lives.听听By coming together as a community, we can make a difference.听
听
How has this experience stayed with you over time?听
I had the honor of attending a Make-A-Wish gala in Frenso, CA and听hearing听the stories of other children听brought up听the emotions I had when I first heard of my cousin having cancer.听Knowing these wishes听brings听hope to families will always stick with me.听
听
In what ways has it inspired you personally or professionally?听听
Make-A-Wish has inspired me both personally and professionally.听听I have a newfound appreciation for our healthcare workers. Especially those who work with children and have to see kids with critical illnesses听every day.听 I am proud to not only be a part of an organization that trains these healthcare providers but also is actively engaged in giving back to those in need.听
听
Looking back,听what鈥檚听the most meaningful lesson听you鈥檝e听taken from this experience?听
The power of support and coming together.听听This听really makes a difference in times of need.听I have also learned that if you cannot donate, you can listen, be present and to be kind.听 You never know what people are听going听through.听听
听
Is there anything else听you鈥檇听like to share about your experience or message to our campus community?听听
I鈥檇听like to thank the Perry family and our senior leaders for supporting and encouraging our institution to听participate听and听bring听awareness听to such an amazing organization.听 It has been an honor to see听us come together across听all campuses.听 I am looking forward to seeing what we听accomplish听this year!
听 
