Written by Chris Simschris.sims@indystar.com
Walk into the office of Indiana Children's Wish Fund Executive Director Terry Ceaser-Hudson, and you feel right at home.
The welcoming feel helps her deal with families battling serious obstacles on a daily basis and makes it easy for her to enjoy her job.
While there is a desk with a computer and shelf full of books, the room also has a comfy couch and a table and chairs for meetings and light dining.
Awards and celebrity autographs from the likes of Hale Irwin, John Daly and Dick Clark grace the walls. Behind her desk are photos of her family and former Wish families, not to mention artwork created by her three grandchildren.
"It has become a very family-oriented organization," Hudson said. "We work together as a team. Everyone does their job, and everyone knows everybody. Some of us have been together for over 20 years."
Hudson left a stressful job in sales after six years, only to find eight months of staying at home was boring. In 1985, a friend helped her get a position on the board of directors for the Indiana Wish Fund. With a name change accompanied by a new logo, the Indiana Children's Wish Fund had a fresh start.
The fund grants wishes for Hoosier children, ages 3 to 18, diagnosed with a life-threatening or terminal illness. The goal is to grant more than 100 wishes each year, and the group manages to beat that figure every year.
"It was a gift to me," Hudson said. "A door was opened, and I absolutely love it. I can't imagine my life without it. These kids are so special, and I am privileged to be a part of their lives."
What are some of the events used to raise money for the program?
At the first of the year, we do an Airplane Pull with Republic Airlines, which is very popular. Robert Mathis and Roy Hibbert do our celebrity softball event at Victory Field in June, followed by the Jack Trudeau Golf Classic. Our biggest event is the upcoming Black Tie Gala on Sept. 24 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. We'll have a British Invasion theme with a Beatles band, food, cocktails, silent and live auctions and an award presentation. The income from that event pays for our first quarter of the next year. The Christmas in the Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency Hotel is our last event.
What is the one thing in your office that best describes you?
Those pictures that my grandchildren gave me. They mean more to me than anything in the whole world. The awards and autographs are nice, but if there were a fire, I would be grabbing those little pictures and drawings off the wall.
Is it difficult to grant wishes for these children?
I have to look at them as any other child who get to do something really, really cool. Every child is special and is special in their own way. There have been some children that have touched me deeply, and you bond with their folks. I try to separate this from their reality. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to do this job. I would be walking around depressed all day.
Is there a wish contributor that stands out over the years?
We had a boy with a brain tumor, who loved to watch "The Apprentice" with his mother. He would go around saying, "You're fired." He loved Donald Trump. We arranged a meet-and-greet in New York City, where we put them in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, and they would get to meet Mr. Trump, see his office, get an autograph and go about their day. Mr. Trump allowed them to stay with him for three hours and even let him take part in conference calls. He set them up in a suite at the Trump Plaza for the rest of their trip, gave them a limousine to tour the city and paid for the remainder of their meals and expenses. He really went above and beyond the call of duty.
Is there any one thing you would like to change or adapt going forward?
We need to change. We've got to find other ways of fundraising besides events and make a bigger impact in the community so people are more aware of who we are and not confusing us with Make-A-Wish. I can't tell you the amount of money that has probably gone to them that was meant to go to us. We have to be more than an event-driven organization.
The welcoming feel helps her deal with families battling serious obstacles on a daily basis and makes it easy for her to enjoy her job.
While there is a desk with a computer and shelf full of books, the room also has a comfy couch and a table and chairs for meetings and light dining.
Awards and celebrity autographs from the likes of Hale Irwin, John Daly and Dick Clark grace the walls. Behind her desk are photos of her family and former Wish families, not to mention artwork created by her three grandchildren.
"It has become a very family-oriented organization," Hudson said. "We work together as a team. Everyone does their job, and everyone knows everybody. Some of us have been together for over 20 years."
Hudson left a stressful job in sales after six years, only to find eight months of staying at home was boring. In 1985, a friend helped her get a position on the board of directors for the Indiana Wish Fund. With a name change accompanied by a new logo, the Indiana Children's Wish Fund had a fresh start.
The fund grants wishes for Hoosier children, ages 3 to 18, diagnosed with a life-threatening or terminal illness. The goal is to grant more than 100 wishes each year, and the group manages to beat that figure every year.
"It was a gift to me," Hudson said. "A door was opened, and I absolutely love it. I can't imagine my life without it. These kids are so special, and I am privileged to be a part of their lives."
What are some of the events used to raise money for the program?
At the first of the year, we do an Airplane Pull with Republic Airlines, which is very popular. Robert Mathis and Roy Hibbert do our celebrity softball event at Victory Field in June, followed by the Jack Trudeau Golf Classic. Our biggest event is the upcoming Black Tie Gala on Sept. 24 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. We'll have a British Invasion theme with a Beatles band, food, cocktails, silent and live auctions and an award presentation. The income from that event pays for our first quarter of the next year. The Christmas in the Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency Hotel is our last event.
What is the one thing in your office that best describes you?
Those pictures that my grandchildren gave me. They mean more to me than anything in the whole world. The awards and autographs are nice, but if there were a fire, I would be grabbing those little pictures and drawings off the wall.
Is it difficult to grant wishes for these children?
I have to look at them as any other child who get to do something really, really cool. Every child is special and is special in their own way. There have been some children that have touched me deeply, and you bond with their folks. I try to separate this from their reality. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to do this job. I would be walking around depressed all day.
Is there a wish contributor that stands out over the years?
We had a boy with a brain tumor, who loved to watch "The Apprentice" with his mother. He would go around saying, "You're fired." He loved Donald Trump. We arranged a meet-and-greet in New York City, where we put them in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, and they would get to meet Mr. Trump, see his office, get an autograph and go about their day. Mr. Trump allowed them to stay with him for three hours and even let him take part in conference calls. He set them up in a suite at the Trump Plaza for the rest of their trip, gave them a limousine to tour the city and paid for the remainder of their meals and expenses. He really went above and beyond the call of duty.
Is there any one thing you would like to change or adapt going forward?
We need to change. We've got to find other ways of fundraising besides events and make a bigger impact in the community so people are more aware of who we are and not confusing us with Make-A-Wish. I can't tell you the amount of money that has probably gone to them that was meant to go to us. We have to be more than an event-driven organization.
Call Star reporter Chris Sims at (317) 444-6034.
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