PHOENIX (Oct. 24, 2006) – The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has tapped Paul Huegel, former Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey president and CEO, as its new vice president of development. Huegel oversees Make-A-Wish^® fundraising efforts, including major gifts, direct marketing, planned giving and foundations.

“Having witnessed first-hand the joy that wish granting brings to children with life-threatening medical conditions and their families, I’m very excited to serve the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s national office in this capacity,” Huegel said. “I look forward to working with our chapters throughout the country to increase revenues, so we can grant even more courageous children’s wishes.”

Huegel comes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America with more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including four years at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey. Under his leadership, the New Jersey chapter increased the number of wishes granted in a year by 42 percent (303 to 431). Huegel also orchestrated a revenue increase of 152 percent ($2.3 million to $5.8 million). He restructured the chapter’s development operation, shifting the focus from an emphasis on events to a strategy focusing on major gifts and the diversification of revenue streams to include increased individual, corporate and foundation support. He also instituted a stewardship program to increase donor retention.

Prior to leading the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey, Huegel spent 17 years in higher education administration, development, marketing and public relations at Princeton University, Seton Hall University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the State University of New York at Binghamton. During the past year, he served the healthcare and social service ministries of the Archdiocese of Newark in the dual role of president of the Cathedral Healthcare Foundation and executive vice president for Institutional Advancement at Catholic Health & Human Services.

“Paul’s impressive work transforming the New Jersey chapter from a chapter that was struggling into a chapter that is exemplary makes him a perfect fit for his new role,” said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “We’re excited to have him on board and pleased to welcome him back into the Make-A-Wish organization.”

Huegel’s volunteer work includes serving on the board of trustees of Holiday Express (Tinton Falls, N.J.), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to deliver music, food, gifts and friendship to the mentally disabled, the homeless, the isolated elderly and others during the holiday season and throughout the year. He also volunteers with Autism Speaks (New York) and the New Jersey Center for Outreach & Services for the Autism Community (Ewing, N.J.).

Huegel earned a bachelor’s degree in English/Journalism from Montclair State University in New Jersey and a master’s degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication from Seton Hall University.

About Make-A-Wish Foundation: The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 69 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants more than 12,500 wishes a year and has granted more than 141,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish^® .