First Lady Mary Pat Christie Honors Danielle Gletow, Founder and Executive Director of One Simple Wish as the 43rd New Jersey Hero - 9/9/16
Trenton, NJ – First Lady Mary Pat Christie today named Danielle Gletow, founder and executive director of Mercer County based One Simple Wish as her 43rd New Jersey Hero. The mother of an adopted foster child, Danielle understood the importance of normalcy in the lives of children in foster care, and was inspired to start One Simple Wish in 2008. Utilizing her background in marketing, she developed the innovative idea of hosting a website where donors could access and grant wishes for foster children.
“I applaud Danielle for her impassioned advocacy and commitment on behalf of children in our foster care system,” said First Lady Mary Pat Christie. “One Simple Wish makes each child feel unique, whether through an act of kindness or by providing special gifts they may not have received otherwise. Danielle is truly making a meaningful difference in the lives of these children and I am proud to honor her as my 4th New Jersey Hero of 2016 and 43rd Hero overall.”
One Simple Wish allows social service providers to post the modest wishes of foster children online, giving individuals the opportunity to find a specific wish that speaks to their heart and budget. Wishes range from something as simple as buying toiletries for a child entering or navigating through foster care to funding tutoring sessions for a student who wants to excel in school.
“As a proud lifelong New Jersey resident, I am thrilled to receive this honor from First Lady Mary Pat Christie,” said Danielle Gletow. “This recognition is sure to bring more awareness to the plight of children in foster care and will help One Simple Wish continue to empower people to show these precious kids the love, hope and joy they deserve!”
Since 2008, over 15,000 children’s wishes have been granted, with the average cost of a wish being approximately $100. One Simple Wish has also expanded since its inception, and has spread to helping kids in 48 states across the nation.
Other programs developed by One Simple Wish include the Ohana Project, which is designed for children who have been removed from abusive households; the Ultimate Wish, which allows individuals to directly support over 50 children in foster care across the nation who are legally free for adoption and waiting for a place to call home; and Milly’s Place, a supportive residence for girls who are aging out of the foster care system.
One Simple Wish makes giving easy and meaningful for the donor, but more importantly, tangibly shows youth and vulnerable families that someone cares about them enough to grant their wish. Danielle’s goal is to continue to increase public awareness of life for children in foster care and of families in need.
For more information about One Simple Wish, visit: https://www.onesimplewish.org/
New Jersey Heroes is an initiative First Lady Mary Pat Christie began in 2010 to showcase the positive and unique ways people and organizations are impacting New Jersey and their communities. To nominate a hero, go to newjerseyheroes.org and follow the application instructions to submit the person you believe is a true New Jersey Hero.
