Creating Meaningful, High‑Impact Experiences That Bring Stories to Life
Event planning has been at the heart of my work throughout my career. At Make-A-Wish, I led the strategy, design, and production of dozens of events each year — from large‑scale media moments to galas, walk events, luncheons, and unique experiential activations like Swish Madness, featuring former NBA players including Bill Walton.
Across every event, my role blended creativity with operational precision. I developed concepts, built run‑of‑show programs, managed logistics, coordinated production teams, and ensured every detail supported the mission and guest experience. I also created all marketing collateral — from invitations and email campaigns to signage, presentations, auction materials, and on‑site branding — ensuring cohesive storytelling from first touchpoint to final moment.
My work extended beyond planning and production. I wrote scripts, shaped narratives, collaborated on videos, secured photographers and videographers, and partnered with media outlets to promote events before and after they took place. Whether engaging 1,100+ walkers, producing a gala for 500+ guests, or designing intimate donor experiences, I focused on creating events that were memorable, mission‑driven, and deeply human.
A Celebration of Wishes Through the Decades
For Make-A-Wish’s 35th Anniversary Gala, I designed and produced one of the most meaningful events of my career — a night that honored the organization’s history while showcasing the lasting impact of wishes.
Concept & Storytelling
The creative vision centered on celebrating wishes from 1986 through 2017. I proposed highlighting one wish kid from each decade, sharing their stories as a way to demonstrate that wishes aren’t just for terminally ill children — they create lifelong impact.
The challenge: our database didn’t go back far enough. To solve this, I dug into our archive of old newspaper clippings, tracked down former wish kids using press details and online research, and personally interviewed each one to ensure their story aligned with the event’s narrative.
Production & Experience Design
Once identified, I wrote scripts and produced a series of short videos — each featuring a voiceover from the wish kid (now an adult) sharing their journey, their illness, and the day their wish was granted. During the gala, each video played as the honoree walked onstage to a standing ovation. The emotional arc built decade by decade, culminating in a powerful moment where all four honorees helped reveal a new wish for a child hoping for a service dog — symbolizing Make-A-Wish alumni passing the torch to the next generation.
Program Enhancements
To transition guests from cocktail hour to the ballroom, I coordinated a performance by The Young Americans, who delivered a “through the decades” musical showcase. Their energy set the tone for the evening and created a seamless flow into the main program.
We also tied in key media partners: Ellen K. from KOST 103.5 emceed the event, and we honored the cast of The Real for featuring the story of two teens who raised enough money to adopt a wish.
Impact
The gala became a defining moment for our chapter — a blend of storytelling, production, and mission that left guests inspired and deeply connected to the organization’s legacy. It showcased the full spectrum of my event planning work: concept development, creative direction, logistics, production management, scriptwriting, video creation, media partnership integration, and on‑site execution.