Richard Kelly is the chief operating officer of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, the fifth largest Make-A-Wish chapter in the world. Kelly joined the Make-A-Wish staff as director of special events in 1997 and was promoted to his current role in 2006.
Kelly’s main responsibilities include managing the day-to-day operations of the chapter’s 22-county footprint while maintaining and enhancing the brand of the organization. Kelly is also involved with the chapter’s budgeting, planning, compliance, and growth initiatives.
Previously, Kelly served as the community relations assistant for Miami Dolphins from 1993 – 1997. He became intimately involved with the Make-A-Wish organization after coordinating many of the “meet Dan Marino” wishes which featured wish kids.
Kelly resides in Pembroke Pines, Florida with his wife of 31 years Pauline and has three daughters – Meaghan, Alyssa and Hannah. He is an avid runner who has completed eight marathons and enjoys outdoor activities, sporting events, and spending time with his family.
Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida has a sole mission: creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Since 1983, the Southern Florida chapter has granted more than 14,000 wishes and expects to grant more than 600 wishes this year alone.
They are a nonprofit organization that helps fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 years old.
Wish kids can wish for anything within their imagination, whether it’s to sing on a stage, be a marine biologist, or photograph tulips in Amsterdam. The entire family is included in the wish experience and there is never any cost or obligation to them!
Covering 22 counties/four regions in Southeast and Southwest Florida, Tampa Bay, and Suncoast (Sarasota area), as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Join us for Episode 32 of World of Wishes, where we hear the heartwarming story of Wish Mom Becky Kight and her son Pierce, whose dream of becoming a candymaker brought sweetness to a challenging journey.
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