Paul Velaski Joins Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America as Vice President, National Operations

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
Tuesday, 25 September 2001

(PHOENIX) September 25, 2001 – The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has named Paul Velaski vice president, national operations. A finance veteran in the nonprofit arena, Velaski comes to the Foundation with more than 18 years experience in finance, fund raising, marketing, and management.

For the past year and a half, Velaski has headed the development office for the Exploris Children's Museum in Raleigh, N.C. He previously spent 11 years with the Special Olympics, with his last four years in direct management of the 1999 World Games as chief marketing officer and chief operating officer.

Prior to that assignment, he was chief financial officer of Special Olympics International, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and served as director of finance and administration of the 1991 World Games in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.

Velaski also spent eight years in the private sector, working for First Bank/U.S. Bank Corp and Arthur Andersen.

Velaski is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota.

"We are privileged to have an individual of Velaski's caliber as our vice president of national operations," said Paula Van Ness, president and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. "We are confident that his experience will enhance the Foundation's systems and operations."

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, with 81 chapters in the United States and its territories, and 22 international affiliates on five continents. Since being founded in 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 83,000 wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

For more information, or to contact Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, see their website at: www.wish.org