How much of a time commitment is needed for volunteers? The Foundation does not mandate specific time commitments for any volunteers. Some wishes, like gift wishes, are quickly and easily fulfilled. Some, like travel wishes, could take longer because the family travels on their timetable. I'm not 18 years old. Can I still volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation®? Although all wish volunteers must be 18 years old to work on wishes, there are a number of other volunteer opportunities including helping at events, working in the Make-A-Wish® office or organizing a fund raiser at school. Do I have to contribute to the Foundation to become a volunteer? No, you do not have to make a contribution to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® to become a volunteer. However you will have to pay for a criminal background check which is required by the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America. Do wish volunteers travel with the family/child? No, there are 77 other Make-A-Wish® chapters around the country. When we send a wish family to another state, that chapter will help facilitate the wish. Why are wishes handled by wish teams rather than individuals? A two or three-person team provides a good support network when working on wishes. If one volunteer is busy, the other one can pick up the slack. And in emotional situations, it is good to have a wish partner to lean on. Finally, working in teams helps to protect volunteers from potential accusations of impropriety.