News Release
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida announces that Brenda Yester has been appointed to chair its Board of Directors during their 2010 fiscal year. Yester, vice president of revenue management for Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines (www.carnival.com), will help lead the nonprofit organization as it seeks to grant the wish of every medically-eligible child in its 13-county Florida territory.
“I’ve seen firsthand the power of a wish, and it is something every child with a life-threatening medical condition should experience,” said Yester of her advocacy for the children’s charity. “I’m honored to work with a group of business and community leaders who can help bring that magic to the lives of families coping with the most difficult of circumstances.”
Yester, of Southwest Ranches, has been a volunteer wish granter and board officer/member since 2003 and recently chaired the committee writing the nonprofit organization’s long-term strategic plan. The University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University graduate takes over the chair’s role from Ben Eisenberg, a managing director at Transwestern who oversaw the granting of the Foundation’s 7,000th local wish during his tenure.
“During Brenda’s time on the board we’ve had great success as an organization, and that’s not a happy coincidence,” said Norm Wedderburn, president and chief executive officer of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida. “Her time, talents, and passion for our mission have enabled us to grant more wishes than ever before and be positioned to reach more children, volunteers, and donors moving forward.”
Joining Yester as officers for the board are Guillermo “Willy” Gomez (Mellon United National Bank; chair elect), Lisa Bauer (Royal Caribbean International; chair-elect designate), and Dulce Stephens (treasurer).
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida has granted more than 7,000 local wishes since its inception in 1983. The organization enriches the human experience with hope, strength, and joy for families in Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties. The average cost to fulfill a wish is $5,000.
