ONTARIO, Calif., Jan. 14, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of Orange County and the Inland Empire, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, will host a special Volunteer Orientation day on Saturday, January 22, 2005 at the Ontario Police Department located at 2500 S. Archibald Avenue, Ontario, Calif., (just off the 60 fwy) from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The local chapter is urgently seeking over 200 volunteers to help make wish kids' dreams come true over the next twelve months. To RSVP or for more information, call 714-573-9474.
Last September, Make-A-Wish Foundation announced the merger of the Orange County Chapter with the Inland Empire Wish Center, and at that time, formed a single, local chapter: Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of Orange County and the Inland Empire. The integration enabled the new chapter to increase the number of wish children it serves each year, as well as eliminate administrative redundancies and amplify outreach efforts.
Now the chapter is actively enlisting volunteers to support its wish program in the field, kicking off volunteer outreach initiatives with a unique Volunteer Orientation Day at the Ontario Police Department facility located at 2500 S. Archibald Avenue in Ontario, Calif.
Interested, potential volunteers are invited to find out more about Make-A-Wish Foundation and attend one of three orientation sessions being held between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., plus meet staff members and current volunteers. Onsite fingerprinting and background checks will be available for a $15 fee. Potential candidates are also encouraged to bring a copy of their drivers' license and proof of auto insurance so that their applications can be completed that day.
"We have over 200 wish kids waiting to complete their wishes in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties," stated Robyn Wilson, Director of Volunteer Services for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire. "Realizing our need to enlist volunteer support quickly and efficiently, we opted to create an easy access, all-day volunteer orientation opportunity. We are so thankful that the Ontario Police Department opened their facility to the community to make this special day possible."
The chapter's vision is to reach every eligible child within Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties with the opportunity of a wish and anticipates granting upwards of 275 wishes this year, in addition to assisting another 400 wish children who will be visiting Orange County and the Inland Empire as a wish destination from other Make-A-Wish chapters.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire urgently seeks over 200 volunteers from a variety of backgrounds and specialties, particularly those with bi-lingual speaking skills, hoping to make a sincere impact on that need on January 22nd in Ontario. Together with the support of the community we can make dreams come true.
About Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of Orange County and the Inland Empire
Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) has established itself as the world's largest wish granting organization, with 74 chapters across the United States, including 28 international affiliates. As a chapter of the national foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of Orange County and the Inland Empire fulfills wishes for children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 who confront life-threatening medical conditions. Granting wishes helps these children find the hope they need to transform their life-threatening illnesses into life-affirming triumphs. Formed in 1983, the merged chapter has fulfilled the wishes of more than 2,500 children.
For more information about the chapter, visit the company's Web site at: www.wishocie.org. Phone: (714) 573-WISH (9474). E-mail: orangeco@wishocie.org.