Ranch & Coast Magazine

these days they're granting a lot more "home- based" wishes, from computer gaming systems to whimsical play structures to even hot tubs for the whole family to enjoy. "One of the things I love about those wishes is that a lot of our kids, even regardless of a pandemic, don't get to go to school every day, and they have to miss out on a typical childhood because of what they're dealing with due to their illness. So, to enhance their backyard or their bedroom kind of makes them the hub of their neighborhood, [where] kids want to come to their house and play. Wishes of that nature touch my heart because it's ongoing joy — it's daily joy — for our kids," she says. She goes on to explain how these wishes, in their home-based forms, have created new opportunities for the community to offer support. "We need things that you might not associate with Make-A-Wish, like concrete vendors…or maybe we need someone who is an expert landscaper to help us make a really great space to prep for a play structure, or someone who is a computer whiz to help us set up a brand-new gaming computer. So, even if folks aren't able to write a check, there's really a lot of ways to get involved with skill sets," says Husby. She says that the true impact of each wish granted goes far deeper than the wish itself. "It's the feeling of control that a child doesn't have when they're dealing with an illness," she explains. "When Make- A-Wish comes in, we don't talk about their illness. We know why they're here; that's not our focus. We want to get to know the child, to empower them, put them in the driver's seat by asking, 'What makes you happy? What makes you excited? What would be your best day ever?' That's when the impact of a wish starts. It's right when they're asked the question and they get to actually speak up for themselves." wish.org/sandiego The Small But Not Forgotten When Fenella Speece gathered a few "like-minded ladies" together in 1998 to rescue small animals like guinea pigs and hamsters, it was because, despite there being plenty of dog and cat rescues, there wasn't really any formal organization helping with what she calls "the little ones." However, she says with a warm laugh, "Once you step into that quagmire, unfortunately you really can't get out." Their volunteer-based organization, Wee Companions, became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2003. Focus philanthropy Wee Companions offers adoptions of small animals including guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, and even chinchillas << @ranchandcoast ranchandcoast.com 40 DECEMBER 2021 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE

• Cover