We’re proud to celebrate Susan Fox, RN, Senior VP of Clinical Services, who was recently named Woman of the Year by the South Carolina Upstate Make-A-Wish Society for her outstanding fundraising achievements and deep commitment to the organization’s mission.
Susan’s journey with Make-A-Wish began unexpectedly—at a dinner with a friend who was a fundraiser for the organization. “I just mentioned I wanted to volunteer as well and do something meaningful for children and families,” Susan shared. That simple conversation led to her friend nominating her to be one of the honorees for Make-A-Wish South Carolina’s annual four-month fundraising campaign.
Initially hesitant about the fundraising aspect, Susan wasn’t sure how she’d meet the $7,500 goal that represents the average cost of granting a single wish. “I thought, how am I going to do this?” she recalled. But inspired by the cause and bolstered by the Make-A-Wish team’s support tools, Susan embraced the challenge.
“I just opened my contacts and started texting friends, family, and coworkers at Signet Health,” Susan said. “I was amazed at how easy it was to reach people and how generous people were.” Fueled by a little friendly competition and a lot of heart, Susan surged ahead, ultimately raising $12,200 and surpassing her goal and last year’s top fundraiser by over $1,000.
Her success wasn’t just about the numbers. Along the way, Susan attended “wish parties,” where she saw firsthand the impact of the organization. “It was the resilience of the kids and the joy these wishes brought to them and their families that inspired me to keep going,” she said.
While Susan is new to Make-A-Wish, she is no stranger to meaningful community involvement. For the past five years, she has served on the board of International Ballet (IB), a local nonprofit focused on inspiring children through the performing arts. On July 1, she’ll step into the role of Board Chair for IB.
“I never expected any of this—I just wanted to give back,” Susan said. “Make-A-Wish is a great organization. It’s fun, it’s inspiring, and it truly makes a difference.”
This year, the chapter will grant 256 wishes. 333 wish kids remain on the waitlist in SC, with 114 of those children living in the Upstate chapter area.
Want to make a difference, too? Scan below to donate to Make-A-Wish SC!
