The Community, Connections & Commerce Podcast, presented by OUE & St. Clairsville Chamber - Community, Connections, & Commerce Episode 3 with Annmarie O'Grady

Episode Date: August 2, 2024

Welcome back Community Connections and Commerce part two with you know after further discussion we've we've decided that we're going to lock the doors and keep Ann Marie O'Grady in here to continue talking about a special wish foundation, the Ohio Valley Chapter. We had an incredible conversation just a short minute ago, and there's just so much more to get into. I think, first of all, we wanted to talk about volunteers and how that works for you guys and what that looks like? Being a nonprofit organization, and I am the only employee, volunteers are essential to helping get things done, whether it's an event or a wish reveal. I can't stress enough how much volunteers mean to not only a special wish

but any local nonprofit. And just being a volunteer opens up so many doors for you wendy and i are both members of the st clarice rotary club and through that club we have the interact group which is at st clarice high school so it's for freshmen through seniors and this year coming i'll be the advisor for that and i cannot stress enough how important it is for young folks to learn the value of volunteering of giving back to your community and how it makes you feel good but also when you're in high school it's essential yeah i know in ohio that is now part of your graduation requirements is you're getting your local seal

that's what i was thinking if you want to go to college any application you fill out is going to ask about your volunteer hours what did you do what was you know the biggest project and what what it meant to you filling out financial aid scholarship applications all ask about volunteering and if you fill out if you're going straight into the workforce you may not have experience but if you volunteered you can put that down and that is experience yeah yeah so not only giving back to the community but how it can benefit you as well plus you never again you never know who you're going to meet the connections the networking and relationships you never know what one thing that you do will lead to something else because of who you've met.

The benefits for the volunteer and then also how that helps you guys and other nonprofits like that. Yes, absolutely. And we do an open house once or twice a year for our volunteers. They fill out the application. We do have to check on them because we're- We need that background yes and we work with children um but we want folks there that want to be there because

they have the passion for the organization and that's with anything you do with volunteering whether it's a special wish unite away ywca whatever non-profit it may be have passion for what they do and their purpose and their mission because it'll mean more to you. You'll want to be there and you'll want to be helping. Yeah. Exactly. And it also helps when you volunteer on a committee because not only are you volunteering, now you're learning the tools that it takes to have an event, how to start it from scratch to the end.

And you're learning those valuable lessons, you know. So you're giving back, but you're also getting. Oh, 100%. With every event that we do, Special Wish has four events a year. And three of the four, I have a committee that helps me because I couldn't do this by myself. And those committees are

volunteer members of the community there's some of our board members advisory board members that they are volunteers as well and it's just they're so essential to make anything happen and successful because again I could not do what I do by myself right and I get it. Your sponsors as well, you guys have that help you out. They do. Every event that we have has sponsors because our organization is 100% funded through

sponsorships, annual partnerships and events. We receive no other funding. We don't have a national organization that funds us for anything. It's every chapter. You raise your own money. How much of a challenge is that?

It's extremely challenging, especially right now. When I took over in 2021, that year was kind of easy because so many businesses and individuals had money to spend that they couldn't spend in 2020 because nothing was happening. So 2021 was a lot easier. But by now, 2024 is challenging. The expendable cash isn't there for a lot of folks or businesses. And you have many local nonprofits probably all knocking on most of the same doors. Right, right.

So, again, that's tough. And the small businesses are extremely generous. I cannot. Aren't they, though? Yes. They really are the most generous. They are. They're the first ones to step up and how can I help and get involved.

They're the backbone of the community and most of us nonprofits. Right. And not only do they sponsor, but they also volunteer. Yes. So they do double role. Yes. Which is so important. Right.

And if it's an event, they attend the events, which is also, you know, maybe you think, okay, I can't sponsor. I can't be an annual donor. But even just by attending one of our events, that is supporting the organization. And it all comes together to allow us to operate and to grant wishes. So talking about your events, I know you have one coming up in August. Yes, August 7th. Bling and Brew?

Yes, that is. Oh, I think this is probably the seventh year for Bling and Brew. And it's at Chaps Bar and Grill. Kevin Jordan that owns Chaps is so generous to us. He allows us to use his back patio. He donates the food. Like there'll be heavy appetizers. He's just so good to us.

And it's such a fun event so that's coming up august 7th at chaps and it's you know for anybody that wants to come out get a ticket it's a cash bar but we'll have lots of fun raffle items it's a lot of fun i've been there several years and we always have a live auction we have a gentleman that donates his time as a live auction he's a he's a. Auctioneer. He's fantastic. And so just saying like that, that Kevin Jordan donates to us, the auctioneer Jeff donates his time. If we had to pay for everything, it would be tough because that cuts into any profit we make to continue the mission of granting wishes.

So donations are of the utmost essential importance to any non-profit right well the trade-off also is that you know those businesses it's almost like they have a resume as well and it looks really good on there to say that they're partnering with you guys because of the cause um yeah i think i think that's that's important for those donations and those sponsors and volunteers to continue and i want to know your thoughts on how you promote that as much as possible and how you kind of get your, your voice out there to say, Hey,

it would be extremely helpful if we had, you know, more sponsors or volunteers. Right. Well, being a local nonprofit, we really do not have an advertising budget. Right.

So social media is extremely important we have a facebook page all instagram twitter all that um getting it out there that way as well as through the chambers of commerce they do newsletters they have events where you can stand up and speak about it i will come to wwva and talk to sam and otis and be on their show or just looking for every way to get it any way to get it out there sometimes donors will sponsor you to be able to you know have a billboard or get something on the radio or on television teaming up with the local radio stations tv stations so you just really have to look for every vehicle to use to get the word out there. We're lucky enough to have wonderful organizations that allow us to promote things, such as the chambers.

You just have to be creative. And the newspaper. If you can get a story in the newspaper, that's free. Well, that was kind of going to lead into my next question, was kind of before the world of social media and digital advertising. You know, you came on in 2016, you said? On the board of directors, yes. 2021 as executive director. So, I mean, that was the kind of there was a big digital presence then even.

But before that, like back in 92 when it started, I can't imagine how the, you know, because you're relying on, I'd imagine the newspapers and getting your word out there by being read about. Oh, absolutely. And I think, too, that's when newspapers flourish more. Yeah. You know, they didn't have online presence. Right. So, yes, being in the newspaper. And even still, I love it when we're able to get an article in about either an event or mostly the wishes.

That really puts the word out there, not only for donations and sponsors, but also to educate the public that we're here. If they have a child, God forbid, if it's their child or if they know of a child, it just gets the word out that we are here, that the organization exists. Yeah. And I'm sure the digital aspect helps a ton with that now that you have a much larger reach and it's easier. And so, you know, just kind of the generational thing, you know, that's a good aspect to what the younger folks are typically involved with. Well, that's why I was thinking the newspaper, you're going to hit one generation and then

with social media, you're going to hit one generation and then with social media you're going to hit another generation so you actually have blanketed yes all generations and and that's when it comes to the social media and all the digital content that's when it is nice to have a young student young person come in that can show me everything that i don't know yeah um that and that i appreciate that so much i'm like just there's so many things to do this. I don't know. Yes. I can answer my phone, and I can send a text, but I just can't do a lot of the stuff. It's just not that I can't do it. I just don't understand it.

Right. So with our website. Our board treasurer's son-in-law generously built us a professional website donated all his time putting it together it's beautiful but you have to know how to code to do anything yeah i don't know how to code yeah so when my son was in school one of his close friends who's extremely brilliant taught himself how to code he changes and runs the website for me. He's a freshman, now a sophomore at the Ohio State University. He's still the one that I'll send him, like, here's what I changed. And he does that for me.

And you need somebody to run the social pages as well. I can see now why companies have one person dedicated to social media. It's a lot to keep up with. And that's kind of like I'm involved in a different aspect. That's kind of what I do for completely different reasons. But yeah, there's definitely a market out there for that. Absolutely. I mean, I can keep up with Facebook.

Right. But then I feel like, oh, there's all those other pages we belong to and different apps. I'm like, oh, I have to do that too. It's a lot. I can see why it's a full-time job. Yeah. And there's not just, you know, it's anybody can type up, you know, an announcement or some sort of advertisement to get out there. But, you know, does that do as well as a pretty picture with lots of colors? Exactly. So, you know, that's where the graphic design aspect comes in. One of my passions. And what's the old saying, A picture's worth a thousand words. Yes. That's it. Yep. Exactly. It is.

So when you have another event after the Bling and Brew, which happens to be my favorite, near and dear to my heart, you want to talk about your lip sync? Sure. So we put on every year, this would be year number six, for the Lip Sync Challenge. It's our biggest event. It's our biggest fundraiser. It's held at the Capitol Theater, which is a beautiful venue to have it in. And they are fantastic to work with.

I cannot say enough good things about Kelly Tucker and her staff. They are phenomenal to work with. But it's our biggest event. We get between five and six community members, well-known community members, to compete. And they have to prepare two songs. And when I say they get up there, they do not just get up there with a microphone and move their mouth. They are recreating music videos.

They are putting on a show. And this year promises to be as exciting as always because that's another thing we're volunteering they're volunteering their time right contestant wendy knows because wendy was a contestant and it took a lot and i wish i i just want to say you should bring back the losers but just that's for another show um but it took weeks and weeks, maybe months, for me to get prepared to do what I did. Not only do I volunteer, but I had to ask people to volunteer to be on my team and to help me. But some of the performances just were amazing, over the top.

Yes. And I think that's what the community wants to see, right? Right. Because it's entertaining. Yeah. And you never, when they throw in even, excuse me, a surprise aspect. Like one year we had the high school drum line coming down the aisles that nobody knew was coming.

It was amazing. It is. And the contestants, when they agreed to do this, I do try to stress, this is a lot. I'm asking a lot of you for this organization. And they are fantastic because they are giving so much of themselves and their time all for the kids that we grant wishes to. So again, even though it's an event, still the volunteerism comes into play because as Wendy told you, she was a contestant. It's a lot of work.

You have to prepare two songs and you're going to do them both. And you have to lip sync it. Yes. And it's up on stage and everybody can see you and it's a lot. What's the capacity of that theater? Capacity I think sold out would be 2,300. I think so. Oh, wow.

Yeah. Do you guys get- I've not reached that yet. Close? I've got to imagine you're close. It sounds- It's growing every year. I think so. Oh wow. Yeah. Do you, what's the, do you guys get? I've not reached that yet. Yeah. Close? I gotta imagine you're close. It sounds, oh. It's growing every year. Yeah, it's growing. For sure. It's growing. For sure. Yeah. There's a, there was a similar event, almost logistically exactly like the one you're talking in Cadiz a few months ago. And it, you know, it, now it's a smaller auditorium, but it almost, you know, packed it out and they did incredible numbers. And I can only imagine how that helps you guys for an even better cause. I think that's a great idea.

Yeah, it's a lot of fun. And actually, it's October 19th this year at the Capitol Theater. I encourage anyone that has never been there to come. I cannot tell you how many of my friends have brought their husbands, dragged them there the first year because they didn't know what to expect. After they came one time, they're like, I never will miss this again. And some of them actually were like, I want to be a contestant. So it's definitely something to see and probably nothing that you would expect. My favorite, I got to say, was Adamizer.

God, that was amazing. It was. But it brought people up off the seats, on their feet, and it was, talk about your community coming together. I mean, we were all together and just cheering and yelling and singing. And that's what brings other people back year after year after year. Absolutely. And wanting to do that if you ask someone to be involved yeah you know yes um and what's great is jonathan burkhart that owns one jb digital media volunteers there's that word again volunteers and donates his time and record to the

show the last two years this will be your number three and if you go on our website you can watch the videos the performances from 2022 and 2023 which is great to be able to go back and watch them and it's all because he he donates his time he and his staff that's amazing it is it is it's again these small businesses that step up and ask how how can I help? And I don't know where we would be without them. Yeah. And that those words, how can I help is so important. When you are in a nonprofit. Listen, I know. Because we're nonprofit. So that how can I help you is so important to be able to ask, you know, your friends or the small businesses and have an answer for them. Okay, you could do this, you could do this, you could do this, and I really would appreciate it. Oh.

You know. So true. Yeah. Because this has been a very big year for a special wish um we just granted one wish um with avery who was able to take his trip but we have two more wishes that'll be completed in july um two more by the end of the year and then we have about three other children that are not um ready to do a wish yet they're not in the hell where they're still going through treatments and they're not there yet that'll probably happen next year so we had eight eight children with wishes in the works wow and

with our organization you know what makes us a little different we grant wishes to children from birth up to the age of 21 yeah the only one in the country does that right yes we're the only one so we can serve a broader audience which is nice because we can grant more wishes and our wish recipients have life-threatening illnesses determined by their medical specialist i don't make the determination my board of directors does not it's their medical specialist because they know yeah right um and if they say they qualify then it's we move forward and get the process started. So it's been a big year, a lot of wishes, lots of events. But OK, that's why we do what we do.

There you go. Kind of logistically, how do you go about the process of granting a wish? Who makes the first email or phone call and where does it go from there? I'm glad you asked that because there's several different ways. Sometimes previous wish families will refer a family that they know because maybe it's their child's going through the same thing that their child did. A lot of our wish moms are very vital with connecting us with new wish children because they have different support groups.

They're in different groups. They meet a lot of people. Getting the word out there. The more events we do or the more wish reveals and it gets out the more, I get more feedback from local people that know of a child. Or Facebook. A lot of families put a Facebook page together for their child when they're ill. And I see that. My board sees it.

And that's one way that we do find wish children. And that's where the process starts. If they come to me directly, then I just can talk to them. If I see the Facebook page, I see a flyer. There's a benefit for a child. You do digging. Why is there a benefit? What's wrong?

And I'll reach out to either a family member or directly I'll message that mom or dad to see if they would be interested in talking to me about hopefully granting their child a wish. That's so interesting so how many um what's the highest number that you've had of wishes for per year um since i've been director yeah um five okay a year we did five in one year um that's a lot it is it is and like i said right now we have eight one just completed his wish yeah so there's seven more that we're working on. And probably about three of those will not have to, they won't happen until next year because the children are just not in a place to, if they want a trip, they're not there yet. Yeah.

I'm so excited. We'll be doing an above ground swimming pool that we'll be revealing next month. Another little one, she's going on her beach trip next month and her wish was to go to the ocean for the very first time and she did not care which ocean as long as it's the real ocean and so she will be going to north carolina carolina beach right in july and i think she's still a little skeptical if it's going to be the real ocean if we're going to try to send her to lake erie so is there a wish that you couldn't grant? Was there anything that you couldn't do that we thought we could? That you thought you could?

Luckily, no, not yet. That's amazing. Yeah, that's a great thing to be able to say. I will tell you, so my first year in 2021 we had lydia with the reptarium yeah and i kept calling and calling and whoever answered the phone the gatekeeper would take my message and that's where it would stop okay to one point she said i know who you are and uh and i'm like she is not getting my messages through so that's when i with the help of our columbus chapter that knew people at columbus zoo that miraculously knew him.

And he said, sure, give her my cell number. Yeah. Because I'm like, I am not sending her there. Yeah. If she's not going to meet him, if I have to drive to Michigan myself and knock on that door until I get their attention. Because I'm like, if that's what she wants,

that's what we're going to do. Oh, that's wonderful. That's wonderful. But no, we've been fortunate. And Disney is, again, our number one wish. And those wishes are, I want to say they're the easiest wishes to put together logistically because of the help of Kids the World Village. That is where children from any of the wish granting organizations can stay while they're

at Disney. And that place alone is a vacation. That could be a wish. Oh, I was lucky enough to get to see it for the first time last November. And I can't even put into words how wonderful this place is that our wish families get to stay. Okay. Is it on a Disney property?

No, it's about 20 to 30 minutes from Disney. Okay. And Kissimmee. And it's called Give Kids the World Village. It's 89 acres. Each family gets their own villa. And that villa was better than my first apartment. I mean, it's beautiful as it should be. And the wish child and their siblings get a gift every single day. Every week they celebrate Christmas and Halloween. Because sadly enough, that child may not live to the next Christmas or Halloween

everything for them at the village is is free because it's taken care of through the wish sponsorship it's just I think that's the the most magical place on earth in all honesty and it's just fantastic and and like I said the child and their sibling get a gift. And that's one thing that our organization puts so much emphasis in is the siblings that live at home with the child. Because their lives are dramatically turned upside down as well if you have a sick brother or sister. You miss out on parent time, family time. Yeah. So everything that the wish child gets to do, so does their brothers or sisters. Okay?

That's great. That is great. And that's a call you've had to make several times. You said that was kind of your number one. How many roughly times have you had a child go down to Florida? Oh, probably a good dozen. And that makes it easier every time you do it it's kind of you know what you're doing right right like anything you the more you do it the better you get at it

and planning the visits um but they are our most requested wish um so it's again it's you know making the airline flight arrangements yeah making the arrangements and reserving the space to give kids the world um but like with the beach trips, it's like being a travel agent. Sure. Absolutely. Doing everything, start to finish. So if somebody wants to volunteer and or donate, how do they do it? How do they get a hold of you?

There's several ways. You can email me. You can call the office. You can get on our Facebook page or website, message me. Which is what? A special wish? Yes. So our website is aspecialwishohiovalley.org. And Facebook is aspecialw9-2063 and then my email is also on the website or the facebook page you can email me directly okay or stop in if i'm there yeah there you go and i have to tell you about our office so we are in the respects plaza in the old building that used to be the

board of elections at one time this is in st claire so at one time it was the skating rink it's in between burger king and dominoes our office space was donated to us by the late john goodman and his children emily and jay carry that on and donate our office space to us so we are so blessed to have known john and em and Jay and they're very involved with the organization but they that's amazing it is they allow us to have a very nice office and a central location and what a huge help that is not having to rent a space every sure sure so again it's just the generosity of the local community that also allow us to do what we do. Well, is there anything else you'd like to add? Again, if you know of a child, please send them our way.

Thank you so much for letting me come on here and talk about the organization. I love any chance to make people aware that we're here. Well, we talked about giving back to the youth earlier in maybe a different context, but I think you're doing an incredible job, and that's maybe the most important job. Yeah, I mean, it's been incredibly insightful, just like the previous part. I feel like we've said this before, but yeah, super interesting talking to you. We really appreciate your time, and we hope it was as interesting to listen to it as it was to talk about it. I hope, because I love to talk about A Special Wish.

Well, that's all from us. For Enrio Grady, Wendy Anderson, I'm Drake Watson. Have a good day.