June Heston, long-term President & CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Vermont, is leaving the organization for a position in a larger, recently merged non-profit. When she leaves on December 30, 2009, she will leave a legacy and many accomplishments. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont, which has been in operation since 1989, grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Heston served as a wish granter for the organization, personally bringing joy to many children in Vermont. Under her guidance and leadership, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont has granted hundreds more children their wishes. Since taking the helm in June, 1999, Heston increased the number of wishes granted each year to children in Vermont from 10 to 35-45, as well as increased staffing and fundraising to meet that demand. The organization now grants almost 80 percent of its wish potential in the state and recently reached the milestone of granting the 500th wish. Heston’s abundant development experience helped launch corporate donations and increase individual giving. She started the Walk for Wishes®, which is a two day walk occurring each September in Chittenden County. The event has grown quickly and has become the single largest fundraising event for the organization. Through her fundraising efforts, Heston brought the Foundation to the number three spot in fundraising per capita among all 65 Make-A- Wish Chapters. Her skill, commitment and dedication to the organization was no more evident than when she managed to hold together her wonderful family and continue to successfully run the organization while her husband, Mike Heston, served two tours of duty overseas.
Heston was also influential on a national level. She served on the National Make-A-Wish® committees for chapter performance, national branding, resource development and strategic planning. Her leadership in Vermont and the successes thereof resulted in several of the national programs having a significant Vermont influence. Heston’s contributions were recently honored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America through a donation to grant a wish for a child from Heston’s hometown, Barre, Vermont. As she embarks on her new journey, Heston comments that working for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont “has been the most rewarding opportunity of my life. It is hard to believe more than ten years have gone by, but I have a mind full of memories that remind me of all that has been accomplished in these ten years, and a heart full of hope that this is just the beginning for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont. I feel blessed to have been involved with such a great organization.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont Board of Directors extends its heartfelt appreciation to Heston for all of her contributions and the wonderful legacy she leaves behind. Her ten years with the foundation brought stability, change and substantial growth. Board Chair Carol Shea stated, “June’s effect on this organization will be felt for years to come. She has assembled a strong team at the office, kept the organization fiscally responsible and has helped build an effective governing Board. Her leadership and dedication have built a foundation that is solid in mission and growth. When she passes the torch, it is a torch that burns brighter and stronger than when she took control. We couldn’t have asked for more.”
A search for a new President/CEO for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont has begun and the organization hopes to have a new leader in office by late winter.
