In 1982, the Plantation Junior Woman’s Club (PJWC) embarked on a service project called “Make-A-Wish®.” One dinner dance and $13,000 later, the seed was planted for what would become Make-A-Wish Southern Florida.
Nancy Strom, PJWC member, was the chapter’s first president and its driving force for 22 years, while Joan Fenwick guided the chapter in its wish-granting efforts as the Vice President of Program Services for 24 years. The Plantation Junior Woman’s Club remains a strong and dedicated supporter of the Make-A-Wish mission.
Today, the chapter serves the children of 22 counties in Florida, including the Southeast Florida region (Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Monroe, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties); the Tampa Bay region (Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties); the Southwest Florida region (Collier, Lee, Glades and Hendry counties); the Suncoast region (Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee and Sarasota counties), plus children of the US Virgin Islands. The Southern Florida chapter grants a wish every 14 hours.