As the newly elected Board Chair of the Hudson Valley chapter, Chappaqua resident Jessica Rosh knows well the impact of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Embarking on this new role, she will lead the chapter in celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026. “It’s an absolute honor to have the opportunity to be part of an organization that makes such an impact and transforms the lives of kids and their families during the most difficult times in their lives,” says Rosh.
Rosh’s connection to Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley goes way back to her childhood in the Catskills. More than 30 years ago when her then 17-year-old brother David was being treated for leukemia he was contacted by wish granting volunteers. David wanted to meet the winner of the 1988 Presidential election. While this seems like a huge ask, his wish was graciously granted when the family was invited to the White House to meet with President George H.W. Bush, who had lost a daughter Robin to the disease. President Bush’s reception, kindness and thoughtfulness made an impression on Rosh as she saw how this special moment meant a new chapter in her brother’s life. “Our whole family was touched by that event. In that moment the spark was ignited in me,” says Rosh. “I wanted families to feel the power of a wish.”
“I’ve tried to live my life guided by empathy,” says Rosh who was strongly influenced by her professor at Boston University, Elie Wiesel and his words of wisdom, “think higher, feel deeper.” Rosh began her career as an attorney and now teaches bioethics at New York Medical College in Valhalla.
Rosh started volunteering nearly twenty years ago and has been on the Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley Board for the past eight. As Board Chair she wants to continue to nurture and develop more partnerships and relationships in the community and to allow people to see the impact of a wish. Community support is vital to Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley that is 100% donor funded. “I want everyone in the community to know that they have a role to play. It’s not only wish families and volunteers. We have support from clinical partners, local businesses and restaurants. We can grant wishes, but we need the community support to do that.” The average cost of a wish is $10,000. “We have 150 wishes in our pipeline now and we granted 145 this year,” says Rosh. While wishes are often thought to be unobtainable, Make-A-Wish makes things happen.
One of the community connections Rosh is most proud of is Chappaqua’s Horace Greeley High School Make-A-Wish Club. In 2024 the club received the Chris Greicius Award for their decade of service raising thousands of dollars. Rosh says they have been a phenomenal partner and is proud of how the young people have taken this on. The club takes part in the annual Walk for Wishes and has raised funds to support three wishes, trips to Disney and Japan, and a clubhouse. They held a variety of fundraisers including a raffle, pickle ball tournament and bake sale. “Our connection to Jessica is super special,” says Sheila Jacob, the longtime faculty advisor. Jacob values Rosh’s connection to the students. “Jessica knows how to make people feel special,” says Jacob. Rosh meets with the club members in the beginning of the school year and attends their events. “I’m thankful I had Jessica to partner with. She’s a real role model for all of us to be dedicated to community service, and an inspiration. She always shows much gratitude.” Additionally, three Greeley club members have done their Senior Experience internship at the Make-A-Wish office in Tarrytown.
Photo by Rana Faure Photography
A highlight of the year is the Walk for Wishes: A Family Fun Festival at Kingsland Park in Sleepy Hollow. This year the annual fundraiser brought together wish families, volunteers, sponsors, and the community raising over $190,000. They surprised 17-year-old Emily with a trip to Greece, granting the milestone 3,500th wish for the chapter at the festival on October 5th.
As a wish granter Rosh meets with Wish Kids and their families and helps children determine a wish. She also works with the Make-A-Wish staff and wish families during the wish process. Rosh developed deep relationships with wish families that have continued after wishes were granted. The Koch family is one. Their son Benjamin’s wish of attending the Major League All-Star game was granted in 2017. Benjamin’s mother Stefanie says that Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley made such a difference for her family. “The Wish Kids are in the hospital, dealing with taking medicine, being sick and not being a kid. Make-A-Wish gives them a chance to be excited about something,” says Koch. “Families get to make memories and it’s not about going to the doctor.” Her family was part of a group wish to attend the All-Star game with six other families. “As a group wish it was so special to cheer all these kids on through their journeys and their love of baseball. To be able to be a cheerleader and celebrate the journey that these other kids had faced, and to see the joy in the wish they were granted, that’s the big thing.” Koch is grateful to stay in touch with Rosh. “Jessica is very special to our family,” says Koch. “She is so inspirational and a beautiful choice for the Board Chair. She’ll do greatthings. I can’t think of a better face for the organization.”
Like many Wish Alums, Benjamin Koch has stayed active. When he co-hosted the 2022 Wish Ball with fellow Wish Alum Bianca Muñiz that honored the longtime co-hosts WNBC Today in New York anchor Darlene Rodriguez and WHUD’s Mike Bennett he said, “While the hope of a wish was instrumental in my physical and emotional recovery, the memories afterward have inspired me to use my voice to spread the restorative power of a wish.”
The 2026 Wish Ball at the Westchester Country Club on April 17 will commemorate the anniversary with the theme 40 Years of Wishes. They will be celebrating the impact the chapter has had with granted wishes over the decades. Wish families will speak and community partners will be honored. “It’s a magical night,” says Rosh.
There have been a variety of wishes granted, and some are holiday themed. “We did a wish for a child who wanted to give back for the holidays donating gifts to patients in the hospital,” says Rosh. “And I worked on a wish for a young girl who wanted to spend Christmas in London.” The holidays are the busiest time with their end of the year and holiday giving appeal. “While holidays are a special focus–what it means to give and receive–but it’s what we do all year long; 365 days of the year we’re focused on giving and improving the lives of our Wish Kids and their families,” says Rosh.
Photo by Rana Faure Photography
The chapter has 250 volunteers and a staff of 11 that Rosh calls her dream team. “Everyone has something to give whether it’s their time, talent or treasures,” says Allyson Curtis, Director of Development. “There is a way for everyone to experience the power of a wish whether that’s through giving their time, donating or partnering with us through a business. The holiday season is a great time to host events. It takes a village.” Abraham Almanza, Senior Director of Marketing and Wish Alum, says the biggest hurdle they have to jump over is the myth that wishes are only for the terminally ill. “Wishes are granted to children between the ages of two and a half to eighteen years old who have a life-threatening critical illness, degenerative, progressive or that puts the child’s life in jeopardy at the time of referral. We encourage families, when in doubt just refer,” says Almanza.
Kristine Burton the Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley President & CEO sees Rosh as an inspiring volunteer leader. “Her unwavering personal commitment and passion for our mission have been pivotal in driving our success. Over the years, Jessica’s dedicated service has fostered a culture of compassion and dedication, making a profound impact on the lives of countless children and families. As we approach our 40th anniversary, I am filled with hope and excitement for the future, knowing that her vision and guidance will continue to lead us toward creating even more life-changing moments for the children and families we serve with critical illnesses.”
Rosh reflects on her work with the chapter. “I have found a place where I can see goodness in action, especially with everything going on in the world, and I can see kindness to do the work to make the world a better place,” says Rosh. “The absolute very best part of this is the Wish Kids and meeting them and knowing them. They teach me how to be brave and courageous and understand that life will throw you some curve balls but the best you can do is move forward.”
“It’s really difficult to explain fully the impact that Make-A-Wish has had on our family,” says Rosh. “It has changed all of us.” Her parents have stayed involved. Jessica and her brother David are wish granters, and her brother Rob is an oncologist.
Rosh is grateful to her family for their support, “I couldn’t do what I do without my husband David and my daughters Lauren and Emma. My family is all in, and they share my passion.”
Now Rosh has her very own special wish. “As Board Chair, my wish for Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley would be that no child ever faces life-threatening illness. However, as long as there are children with critical illnesses who need hope, strength and joy during these challenging and difficult times in their lives, we will be there for them to provide life-changing, transformative experiences. I wish to lead with moral clarity and look forward to collaborating with our remarkable board, staff, volunteers, donors and supporters to keep the well-being of our Wish Kids as the primary focus, while steadfastly maintaining the integrity and strength of our chapter.”
About Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley
Serves eight counties: Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester
The Wish House
832 South Broadway
Tarrytown, NY 10591
(914) 478-9474
info@hudson.wish.org
hudson.wish.org
Get involved:
hudson.wish.org/help
Fundraise
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Refer a child:
hudson.wish.org/refer
A child between ages 2.5 and 18 years old who has a critical illness that is placing the child’s life in jeopardy.
2026 Wish Ball:
For sponsorships, journal ads, and ticket details visit:
hudson.wish.org/wishball
