Jennifer Bennett

About Jennifer Bennett

Since graduating college, I have set and completed specific goals in my career - work at Walt Disney World; live and work in Spain and work for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Each experience was more unique and empowering than the rest, and ones that I do not take lightly, and will hold dear to me for the rest of my life. Each step has given me invaluable insights and shaped who I am today. Working for a world-class company such as Disney, even as a College Program Cast Member, set the tone for my work ethic. Each cast member follows the Five Keys of Success daily to deliver a top-of-the-line experience for guests, and even fellow cast members, in every interaction they have. Working and living in Spain was a dream come true, and it instilled my confidence and independence while further igniting my love and curiosity for travel and other cultures. Living in a small city in Galicia allowed me to strengthen my Spanish skills in ways I would never have had the opportunity to do otherwise. Being a part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation is a journey that is hard to describe on paper. A wish\'s magic and the pure joy it brings to a child is unparalleled and fuels each person connected to Make-A-Wish: families, donors, volunteers, community members, and staff members. Every single person who works for Make-A-Wish wears as many hats as you can imagine to bring the wish experience to life. I have been fortunate to grow within the Mission Delivery team at Make-A-Wish NJ. Starting as a volunteer, I connected with the mission firsthand by visiting with families to discover a child\'s wish. I primarily helped Spanish-speaking families. Then, when I came aboard as a staff member, I started as a Wish Coordinator and over the years have held the roles of Senior Wish Coordinator, Senior Wish Manager, Director of Wish Granting and Senior Director of Wish Granting. I have been a part of two teams who have won the Power of One chapter award through Make-A-Wish America\'s Chapter Awards, for our team\'s diligence and excellence in wish-granting and finding innovative ways to assist other chapters. It is my role to continue to find ways to bring the mission to life, and guide and inspire a team to reach new heights in wish-granting while building them up professionally.

Experience

1. Assistant Vice President of Wish Granting

   Make-A-Wish New Jersey

   Sep 2024 — Present

   Supervise a team of Wish Coordinators and interns on individual and team goals for wish granting and Mission Delivery-Strategize yearly budgets for the Mission Delivery department in collaboration with the VP of Mission Delivery -Review unique requests and situations to align with equitable and fair practices within the organization -Identify and promote best practices through collaboration with peer chapters-Make certain all wishes are assigned, implemented, and evaluated in a systematic and cost-efficient manner-Reviews new wish packets and concept approve child’s wish request, participants, and any additional requests made by child

Education

• James Madison University

  Bachelor's Degree

  2009 — 2013

• Universidad de Salamanca

  Spanish

  2011 — 2011

• James Madison University

  Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

  2009 — 2013

• East Brunswick High School

  High School Diploma

  2006 — 2009