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George Bogdewiecz, CEO
I discovered Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime Foundation because . . . I was lucky. After many years leading for-profit businesses, volunteering and sitting on boards of directors, and serving as the Interim President/CEO of Goodwill Industries of Denver, a friend introduced me to Jeremy. He was a person who had a dream I could relate to and support.
I grew up in Bridgeville, PA, a small town southwest of Pittsburgh, with three sisters and a brother. I'm the second oldest. My parents were good, caring providers and parents. Both were children of immigrants from Poland. They taught us to work hard and "get good grades," but "Babcha" (Polish for Grandmother) was the real taskmaster. When my brother and I cut her grass we dared not leave a blade uncut because of poor trimming. Or when we washed the red-painted basement floor using only a sponge and bucket of soapy water, there better not be a cobweb missed under the utility sink. The 25¢ we received for these "big" jobs was the hardest we ever earned.
Reflecting back, I realize how those small lessons shaped my life: hard work is good. And that has been a guiding principle. In 1962, when I was a young boy, President John F. Kennedy said:
"Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolution, the first waves of modern invention, and the first wave of nuclear power, and this generation does not intend to founder in the backwash of the coming age of space. We mean to be a part of it--we mean to lead it. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."
President Kennedy was speaking for generations of people who worked hard to create the America we live in. They fought wars for a better country and many died for us. They created a democracy and lifestyle they dreamed not for themselves, but for their children.
I am honored and privileged to be part of Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime Foundation. Saying "thank you" to generations who have given us the America we live in is noble. Giving them the gift of a wish is priceless.
A Mission to "inspire an entire generation and to create a cultural shift on how we view aging," is an extraordinary goal, and it will be hard. But with our staff, volunteers, board members, donors, founder, and with you, we can do it.
Thank you for finding out more about us, and please join us on this remarkable journey.
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Tom Wagenlander, Assistant Director
Everyone has dreams they wish to experience in their lives. Everyone can relate to the heartache of yearning for one simple or extraordinary thing that you fear may never come true. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime and to assist in fulfilling those wishes for which hope may have been lost.
Interacting with and assisting the senior's whose wishes we fulfill and the volunteers and staff who make those wishes come true is truly inspiring. I am also inspired by my grandparents whose experience as immigrants highlighted the hardships of the twentieth century.
They were separated by World War II, my Grandfather was fighting in Europe for his newly adopted country while my Grandmother and their young son were trapped in occupied China. They arrived in the United States and faced the racism and prejudice typical of the time. But amidst the many obstacles and difficulties, they sought above all to provide their family the love, support and education necessary to achieve a better life then their own.
So many of the seniors we serve sought only to make the world a better place for future generations. Fulfilling their wishes is a small token of appreciation for all they have sacrificed. Yet many times the wishes I see are not elaborate or complex but for something simple, such as a walk through the park or a night out with a spouse.
The simplicity of these wishes expresses the need and importance of JBWOL's goal to cause a generational shift in how our society views and treats seniors. I am honored to help in furthering this goal. I have attempted to support causes and issues I find meaningful throughout my professional life.
I have extensive experience working in the nonprofit sector having served as Deputy Director of Volunteers, for the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, a bipartisan nonprofit organization created to plan and manage the Denver 2008 Democratic National Convention. I served as project manager for a consulting firm specializing in planning nonprofit events and worked closely with the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival and Denver Sister Cities International. I also possess experience in field organizing for local and national political campaigns.
I thank you for your interest in JBWOL and hope you will assist us in making sure our societies' senior population receives the appreciation and gratitude they deserve.
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Nick Eaton, Wish Coordinator
I came to Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime not entirely sure what to expect. I knew that the organization was dedicated to granting wishes to senior citizens, but not much else. It wasn't until my first day as an intern that I realized these weren't just wishes, but something more. They are life stories, dreams, and goals that many have been trying to pursue their entire life. It is a real pleasure to be able to come to work and get to know different seniors whose wishes have taught me that no matter how old you get, there is no reason to quit chasing your dream.
I come from a very close knit family and my grandparents are a key component to my family's structure. Since an early age my grandparents have always taught me to be polite, to have convictions, and to not let others stand in my way of accomplishing my goals. All of these traits have played a major role in shaping the person I am today. With every new task I take on, I try to demonstrate each of these traits to reach my full potential and be successful.
My previous work experience focused on a much younger demographic. Having worked for 4 years as a Director of Youth Programs with the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department I got to interact and give back to today's youth. I soon realized that many of these children would not be here today if it weren't for their grandparents and the lessons their grandparents have passed on through generations. To say thank you to not only my grandparents, but to all grandparents across the country, I jumped at the opportunity to join the JBWOL team full time. Not a day goes by where I don't stop and think about how a senior's story has affected my life. It is a real joy to be able to give back to a generation that has taught all of us so much.
Your interest in JBWOL is greatly appreciated and I hope you will help us continue our mission to help deserving seniors.
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Sally Webster, Wish Fulfillment Supervisor
As a twenty-something coming into this organization, I had no real understanding of what it means to have a lifelong dream unfulfilled. The seniors I talk to every day have deep passions - some that have taken a lifetime to cultivate, and others that have always taken a backseat to the immediacy and hardships of life. Our seniors' wishes are all the more poignant for the things that got in the way. Whether it's caring for sick family or community members, or simply working day in and day out for a lifetime to support a family, these seniors have sacrificed something of themselves. By helping fulfill their wishes, we thank them for their sacrifice and show them that they are valued.
The senior in my life who I stand in constant admiration of is my grandmother, Shirley Black. She raised three strong daughters, and gave me opportunities growing up to become a more independent person. She cared for my grandfather in the later stages of his life, and though I'm sure those were incredibly heartbreaking and trying times for her, she persevered with humor and grace. She is exactly the kind of person that I strive to be.
I come to JBWOL having worked mostly with younger people. However, I did have one job which opened my eyes to some of the unique struggles of seniors. Working in post-Katrina New Orleans, I saw how the atmosphere after the storm disproportionately affected senior citizens. There were so many elderly homeowners we worked with who had been taken advantage of by insurance companies and fraudulent contractors. Many seniors had been robbed of tens of thousands in recovery money. I was saddened and angered at the situation these homeowners were put in. The disgraceful way that they were treated demonstrates the necessity of JBWOL's mission to create a cultural shift in the way we view aging.
I appreciate your interest in our mission to fulfill the wishes of those who have given so much of themselves.
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Suzanne Halvorson, Manager of Donor Relations and Marketing
The first time I heard Jeremy speak about his mission, the purpose for creating Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime, it bought me to tears. The tears came for many reasons. The realization that I had not taken the time to really honor and cherish my own grandparents, who had given me so much love and support during my upbringing. Also, that we, as a country, need to do more for our seniors. His words hit home for me. When I witnessed a senior's wish granted for the first time, I knew I found my passion.
I spent most of my 25 plus years in the corporate world working in the field of marketing for various financial institutions while raising two wonderful daughters as a single mom. There was always something going on, and while I always wanted to get involved in community outreach programs, not finding the time was my excuse. Deep down I knew, however, there are plenty of people who found the time while holding down two jobs, raising their family, and caring for their own parents. People who were much less fortunate then me and had much less personal time to dedicate.
I wanted a new career direction, one with meaning and purpose. Thanks to the wonderful support of my family I was able to work with JBWOL as an intern and now I have been given this amazing opportunity to help build this organization.
I feel honored to help grant deserving seniors their wish of a lifetime and create a cultural shift on how we view aging. I hope you will join me and be a part of something special.
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Rachel Greiman, Wish Coordinator
In college, my emphasis was not on academia, socializing, or my future. I focused on experience. I spent every fall semester at Messiah College, playing soccer and deepening my faith. Each spring, I would move to Philadelphia to study Photojournalism at Temple University and do volunteer work with children who lived in a housing project. The schools could not have been further apart on any spectrum, but I reveled in the experiences of both. I learned quickly that whatever I ended up doing, I wanted my work to be inherently fulfilling. I discovered that I didn't want to seek out goodness in the world, I wanted to live and work in it.
Right before my senior year, in 2009, I was given the opportunity to go to Africa as a photographer for CURE International. The job was ideal: traveling all over the continent to different CURE hospitals, interviewing and photographing disabled children that had received free surgery. I couldn't pass it up, so I went.
Africa had a dramatic effect on most things I thought about the world. It was beautiful, frustrating, hilarious, frightening, chaotic, and romantic all at the same time. The children's stories blew my mind and their resilience was unbelievably stirring. But it was obvious that Africa's people cherished a different demographic.
"Mzee" is a Swahili word and it means "old man." Like most Swahili words, mzee implies more than just one meaning. To be called a mzee, one must be considered wise. And if an African man is wise, mzee becomes not just a title, but it actually replaces his given name. So if I was introduced to someone as mzee, I knew immediately he was a man to be respected. I loved the way Africans viewed seniors: as a source of knowledge and wisdom, a piece of invaluable history.
JBWOL takes on that same reverence for seniors. There is a true desire to revolutionize the way America sees our eldest generation. And there is goodness in that. There is truth in that. Working for this foundation fulfills every qualification I had for a job, and then it does more. It's provided me, the staff, and the volunteers the opportunity to better the lives of someone every day. Not only do we reap extreme benefit from that, but we get to show others the value of it as well.
I invite you to read the stories, see the change, and be a part of spreading the goodness.
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Faustino Payan, Wish Fulfillment Specialist
Raised in a Mexican-influenced household, I was taught at an early age to respect my grandparents and to cherish their knowledge. When I was five, my grandfather arrived at my parent's home and taught me how to plant and grow corn. The knowledge he bestowed assisted me on my parent's farm and taught me patience, self-sufficiency and to appreciate life.
At a young age, I knew my grandparent's wealth was their knowledge and they were willing to pass it down. I spent many mornings with my grandfather in his old Chevy truck where I observed him, mimicked his mannerisms and aspired to become as intelligent, strong and hardworking as he was.
After spending much of my adolescent years in Colorado, I returned to Texas and witnessed the passing of my grandfather. I stayed many nights at my grandmother's house, as she adjusted to a life without him. We talked for hours, cooked and laughed. I learned about my grandmother and in turn, learned about myself. As an immigrant with a third grade education, my grandmother taught herself how to read, write and speak English. She's been an inspiration to me throughout my life, reminding me that no matter the obstacle, I have the strength, knowledge and courage to overcome the challenge.
After graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso, I moved back to Colorado to earn my Master's in Public Policy at the University of Denver and to shift gears in my career. After many years working for corporations, I decided to shift to the nonprofit sector, and as I began my search, Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime stood out in comparison. To give back to seniors who have inspired, loved and taught generations, offers a rewarding experience and I am privileged and honored to grant wishes to deserving seniors all across the country.
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Allison Eggert, Wish Fulfillment Specialist
My grandparents have always been amazing volunteers, using their passions and hobbies to help those in need. Growing up around that kind of philanthropy instilled in me the idea that no matter what you have, you always have enough to give back and make someone's day.
I carried this mentality with me when I went to Colorado State University and joined a sorority that supported St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The more I learned about this amazing hospital the more I wanted to get involved. The summer before my senior year, I became an intern for the organization. The experiences from this opportunity made me realize how rewarding it is to make people happy every day. It was then I decided I wanted to work for a non-profit.
I am thrilled to have found Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime and to be able to incorporate all the things I have a passion for while making dreams come true for others. Thank you for your interest in JBWOL. I hope that you too will have passion for our mission and help us in granting wishes for amazing seniors.
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Elizabeth (Lizzie) Phillips, Wish Fulfillment Specialist
Throughout my academic career, I kept one ideal in mind of eventually having the opportunity to work to bring joy and fulfillment into people's lives and give back to those that had given so much to me. This goal led me in many directions but I eventually settled on my hopes of working in the non-profit sector. As a recent graduate from The University of Iowa, I was privileged to come across Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime, an organization that focuses on the values I have long treasured. Involvement in this organization has deepened my appreciation for the seniors in my own life and exemplified the importance of helping to the grant the dreams of the generation that laid the groundwork for today's world.
As a young child growing up in Minnesota, family relationships and get-togethers were an essential part of life. I always admired the way my grandmother was able to bring our family together and the sheer joy she experienced seeing her loved ones under one roof. As I grew up, I was inspired by the life she lived and her passion for giving back to her family and her community. Her selfless drive was focused around the importance of bringing the best to everyone in her life. Working with Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime has introduced me to similar stories of seniors who have given so much throughout their lives.
The opportunity to hear the stories these seniors share and the wealth of knowledge they have obtained throughout their lives has furthered my passion to make the seniors I work with wishes come true. I am privileged to be part of this organization and work to give back much deserved dreams to a generation that has given me so much inspiration.
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