Member of Parliament of the Week: AWARDED

Since its founding in 1986, GRANTED has had a significant impact on families with children facing life-threatening and terminal illnesses. What started as “Wish Upon a Star” has transformed over the years into something much more, and at its heart is the determination to do more than just grant wishes.

The nonprofit’s development director, Chandra Beck, said the turning point came in 2015 when Executive Director Susan Washburn took over. At the time, she said the organization was struggling financially and was considering closing its doors.

“They had about enough money for a few months,” Beck said. “Susan said, ‘No, our local families deserve more than that,’ and did her utmost to keep the organization alive.”

Washburn and the board rebranded the organization in 2016 to differentiate itself from Make-A-Wish, adopting the name “Granted.” Since then, Granted has grown steadily, with an emphasis not only on fulfilling wishes, but also on providing long-term support to families.

Granted helps children aged 3 to 18 who face life-threatening circumstances, with wishes that are as unique as the children themselves. From Disney World trips to meeting celebrities, every wish is tailored to the child’s dream.

“We had a family from Owensboro this year and her wish was to visit ‘Little House on the Prairie,’” Beck said. “We connected with the city of Independence, Kansas, and they did a fantastic job creating an unforgettable experience for that family.”

Beck said what really sets Granted apart is its Beyond the Wish program, which focuses on continued support after the wish has been fulfilled. The program provides gas cards, food cards, hotel stays and other necessities for families traveling to major hospitals such as Riley Children’s Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. In addition, Granted hosts inclusive events and holiday gatherings, adopting entire families for Christmas.

“When a child faces a life-threatening illness, it’s not just the child who is affected, it’s the entire family,” Beck said. “We don’t just adopt the child we want; we adopt the whole family because they are all going through this together.”

Granted serves 25 to 30 families in the Owensboro area alone. While donations are always needed, Beck emphasized the importance of partnerships. “We want to connect our families to resources that already exist in Owensboro,” she said. “If we can find those partnerships and connect families with organizations like the Wendell Foster Center or the local Autism Center, then that’s what we’re looking for.”

Looking ahead, Beck hopes to expand these partnerships in Owensboro to provide more comprehensive support to local families.

Although the organization has grown, the workforce remains small but passionate. Washburn, who wears multiple hats as executive director, wish coordinator and chief financial officer, recently expanded the team with a part-time assistant and Beck as full-time development director.

“It’s been a one-man show for so long,” Beck said with a smile. “Now we have a strong staff of two and a half people.”

As Granted looks ahead, its mission remains clear: fulfilling wishes while providing meaningful, long-term support to families in their most challenging times.

Visit their website to learn more about how you can support Granted or consider partnering to help Owensboro families find the resources they need.

The Chamber Member of the Week program is a membership benefit of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked for more than a century to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals.

Today, the Chamber, with nearly 1,000 members, is a leading force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.

For more information about becoming Chamber Member of the Week or for information about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, Membership Director, at 270-926-1860 or (email protected).