Carrie started working as the Social Media Manager at Wish Granters in March of 2021, and she loves working for such an amazing organization that changes lives everyday. Carrie is currently working towards her Psychology degree at Idaho State University.

She got married to her husband in 2019 and has 2 beautiful children. Carrie is passionate about the outdoors, traveling, and books!

Carrie first learned about Wish Granters through her father-in-law, Jim Paulson, who is the current Board President. She witnessed her mother-in-law go through stage-IV uterine cancer, and saw all of the ins and outs of the care that she received. She unfortunately passed away in February of 2020 – that is when Carrie decided to get involved in helping other terminally ill adults and their families make a lasting memory.

Olivia started working for Wish Granters as the Executive Assistant in June 2022, became the Executive Director in June 2023, and then shifted roles into the Marketing & Events Coordinator when she moved back to Alabama in July 2024.

She and her husband moved to Boise from Atlanta, GA at the beginning of 2021 because they wanted to try something new and experience living out West. They loved Boise and all of the great things it had to offer, but after having their son, Ryder, in October of 2023, they decided it was time to move back to the Southeast to be closer to family. They also have a Boxer named Spud that joins along in all of life’s adventures with them.

Olivia graduated from Auburn University in 2015 with a degree in Business, and she has worked in several industries since then. She loves being a part of Wish Granters and is proud to help such a wonderful organization that has made a huge impact on so many deserving people!

Amanda served in the United States Army National Guard for 13 years and was an intelligence Officer in the Central Intelligence Agency. She is now the founder & owner of Athena Tactics, where her mission is to help women develop, build, and instill self-worth, awareness, confidence, and strength.

Amanda also founded a women’s ministry Grit, Grace & Godly Women life group. Amanda loves spending time reading, especially John Maxwell books. Amanda loves networking and meeting people to help them discover their passions. She has 2 fur babies, Anabelle a Pekingese, and Achaia a Tibetan Mastiff.

She got involved with Wish Granters because we believes in the mission and the work that is done through the organization. When she has seen the people that she loves suffer from terminal illness, she felt that she could help the organization grow to serve a greater community.

Elizabeth joined the Wish Granters board in 2021 after years of supporting the organization through fundraisers.

“I have seen wishes granted and knew I wanted to be a part of that.”

While her boys were young, Elizabeth was a school bus driver for the Nampa and Meridian school districts. When her boys became adults, Elizabeth went back to school and is currently a full-time university student.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, bowling, and fishing with her husband.

“Be Strong and let your heart take courage”

This is something he has learned over the years and has seen the Lord give him the strength every day to make a difference in our community. Frank was fortunate to be asked to join the Wish Granter’s board when Doug started the organization 2010 and he served as Board president for 9 years. At the beginning of 2019 Frank step away from the board because his youngest daughter had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Frank felt he needed to be there to help in any way with her family and by the grace of God she was healed.

Frank spent 7 summers in the mid to late nineties working with the youth on the mission field in Ensenada Mexico and with that experience he’s seen that just a little compassion and a lot of love can make a big difference in peoples lives. With the mission of Wish Granters, he saw that he could make a difference in the families who were going to lose a loved one and give them a special memory that will be etched on their hearts.

Frank Spent almost 50 years working for Pepsi and with that he had a relationship with the John F. Nagel foundation. Frank’s connections to the John F. Nagel foundation was his biggest contribution for Wish Granters and he was able to secure over $190,000. Also, he has raised $7,500 playing a hundred holes of golf in McCall at the McCall Golf Course.

Frank rejoined the Wish Granters board in 2021 as a board member, and he is excited about the future of Wish Granters as it gives him the opportunity to make a difference people’s lives.

Kristin Jackson is passionate about her role as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Wish Granters. It allows her to connect with our amazing wish recipients, plan for the future of this organization and help lead a board of individuals who care as deeply about this mission as she does.

During the day you will find her at Boise State Public Radio serving as the Development Director.  She is also a board member of PRADO, an organization that works with public radio development professionals across the entire public radio system.

In her free time you will find her playing with her three crazy dogs, traveling or out on the town making memories with her son and husband.

Doug Raper founded Wish Granters in 2010.  He had spent several years working for children’s Wish organizations and realized there were many children’s Wish organizations that do amazing things, but very few that step up to help make dreams come true for adults who have terminal illnesses.

Doug was in the role of Executive Director from 2010 until he retired in 2016.  The first wish was granted on December 17, 2010, and during his tenure as Executive Director, he orchestrated the granting of hundreds of wishes.   Even though retirement called him, he has retained a position on the Board of Directors and continues to actively work on granting wishes.

He lives in Garden Valley with his wife Bonnie, and two much loved cats (Murphy and Mac).  Spending time with his children and grandchildren is his greatest pleasure.

 

Kennette McWilliams was fortunate to be asked to join Wish Granters when the organization was forming. At the time Kennette was working in hospice care and realized the value of quality of life and living and the importance of a patient having an opportunity fulfill a “hope” or a Wish.

As a patient’s life journey is coming to an end it is not uncommon to maintain “hope” but it does change and transform over time and often quality of life becomes paramount. You see as patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness; there is “hope” that the medical interventions or treatment will work to eradicate or slow the disease progression. The individual may “hope” to live to the birth of an unborn grandchild, or attend their child’s graduation. They may “hope” for a family gathering, or perhaps they “hope” to take care of something to reduce stress or worry of their loved ones.

A wish does not have to be extravagant to be meaningful!

Kennette shares some of her favorite wishes over the years: attending a movie at the local theatre via an ambulance gurney to be present with family; wedding dress shopping even though the patient’s daughter was yet to be engaged; or the anniversary dinner shared between husband and wife.

Kennette is married and has 3 children and her first grandson is anticipated in Jan 2021. She works for St. Luke’s Health System as the Operational Manager of St. Luke’s Hospice overseeing the social work, spiritual care, bereavement and volunteer program for the Home Health and Hospice services.

Kennette is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked for St. Luke’s Health System for 20 years with 17 of those within hospice.

Debbie was a young girl when her father was diagnosed with a stage 4 glioblastoma. Her mother went back to school so she could support 5 children, graduating with a degree in nursing. Debbie stepped in to take care of her father up until the time of his death, since his wish was to be at home. That experience led her into nursing, and she too graduated from college with a degree in nursing. That passion for caring and teaching patients lasted 40 years.

In 2014, Debbie’s husband of 35 years died suddenly. It was through that experience she understood how a final wish would have been meaningful for herself and her 3 daughters.

Currently, Debbie’s goal is to help loved ones, along with their families, to enjoy one final wish. She believes giving them this very special memory that will remain in their hearts is such a blessing.

Jim Paulson first became aware of the organization’s lofty goals and objectives in 2014, when a friend of his was granted a wish for his family. He started attending functions and fund raisers. Jim joined the Wish Granters Board of Directors in 2018. He also serves as Communications and Marketing Director.

Jim is also the owner and broker of Progressive Realty Corporation, and has been a licensed Realtor in Idaho since 1991. Prior to that, he was a Marketing and Planning Specialist for Morrison-Knudsen Corporation, starting work for them his senior year at Boise State University.

Jim brings a unique perspective to the board. His wife had already been diagnosed with terminal stage IV uterine cancer when he first learned about Wish Granters. He saw firsthand the impacts on the terminally ill person, their entire family, and those around them. He learned about palliative health care, hospice, and more. He is passionate about taking his experiences to help others.

Sharon became a part of the Wish Granters Board of Directors when an opening came available: “I am happy to be a part of such an amazing organization that can leave everlasting memories for our wish recipients.”

Sharon is a proud mother of 3 wonderful sons and a new grandma. She welcomed her newest furry friend, Lucky, as the winner of a live auction through Wish Granters annual fundraising event 3 years ago.

Sharon graduated with a BS in business at CSU, Stanislaus in California. Her career has always been customer service driven, but mostly concentrated in managerial roles. For the past 8 years, she has served as the office manager/controller at Great Basin Inc. She enjoys family time, fishing, games, cooking, baking, music, hiking, gardening, photography, arts & crafts.