Comparison of Make-A-Wish and H.E.R.O.

Comparison between the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the H.E.R.O. Program

Make-A-Wish

• Learns about desires of terminally ill people
• Uses donated funds and enlists services to fulfill the wish
• Results in tremendous joy for truly suffering individuals and their families while providing cherished involvement for concerned citizens

The H.E.R.O. Program

• Learns about seemingly minor, yet significant, desires of desperate and/or poor citizens whose needs do not qualify them for aid from existing programs. Verifiable knowledge of a true need could be derived from schools, social agencies, charitable organizations, etc. Virtually anything would be eligible based upon consideration of an evaluating committee. Examples could be a) a family that lacks an important product (TV, washer and dryer, etc.) b) someone needs dental care c) a child needs a musical instrument d) home modifications are required for a handicapped person e) funds are needed for traveling to visit a dying relative… AND ENDLESS OTHER EXAMPLES.
• The needs would somehow be publicized (one thru five of them weekly or monthly) on TV, radio, newspaper, at business locations, on websites, etc.): hopefully, some group believing in and desiring to increase its community service would be a leader and incur any costs.
• A non-profit organization would be established to collect and disperse necessary funds or to coordinate services.
• Interested citizens would donate for a specific publicized need and be acknowledged. If donations result in a surplus, extra funds may be used for other needs.
• MANY lives are very favorably altered for needy citizens, and benefactors earn pride for their charitable efforts.

         I can envision that this project has various appealing elements for involvement from youth groups at schools (high school thru college), religious organizations, and/or town programs.