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Profile
of Nate Fernando, Intern, Make-a-Wish Foundation, 8/05
Photo and Story By Sarah Kotzman
PPW/Writing Center Publicity Intern
 Nate
Fernando, now in his fourth internship, currently works downtown
with Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit that grants wishes to children
between the ages of 2 and 18 with life-threatening medical conditions.
At first, Nate plugged away writing 15 hours of wish stories a week.
These important newsletters tell donors (people who referred a child)
how that child’s wish was fulfilled. A volunteer who accompanied
the child completes a pre-written template, from which Make-a-Wish
develops at least a 300-word story. “The idea is that having
a wish fulfilled will help the wish kid and the whole family at
a time when they most need it,” Nate explains. “The
joy of a wish is a powerful thing and most of the wish kids live
through their troubles to have full lives.”
By simply asking to aid with projects his supervisors were working
on, Nate soon received many other types of tasks, including writing
press releases and working to pitch a story about their upcoming
7,000th wish to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Through networking,
he also attended the Young Eagles event, where pilots gave wish-kids
private airplane rides. Considering that he is the only male intern
in the office, Nate’s height and strength also became a valuable
asset for moving those heavy or hard-to-reach objects. “I
don’t mind really, I just find it hilarious,” he says.
His office, located between several other offices and the main entrance,
bustles with co-workers most of the day. The friendly environment
and organization make meeting deadlines easy, even though a single-page
press release can be reviewed at least six times before approval.
“Everyone is very open with one another… I fit in really
well,” Nate says. “I didn’t expect that I’d
like working in a nonprofit environment as much as I did. It makes
me consider working for this organization or a similar one after
graduation.”
Nate plans to help Make-a-Wish throughout the fall semester, take
on another internship (location T.B.A) in the spring, and continue
his double degree in Marketing and Communication/Rhetoric. Nate
is also working towards his PPW certificate. “I was one of
the first people to join the program because for a whole year beforehand
I was in the process of creating an interdisciplinary major with
many of the same requirements… I’m just thankful the
PPW certificate came along when it did.” Tack a PPW certificate
on to that resume, and Nate is well on his way towards his wish
of becoming a CEO of a major conglomerate, preferable Walt Disney
Co (where he has previously and passionately worked).
“If you couldn’t tell, I’m a very passionate person
who loves lots of things and pursues those interests wholeheartedly.
I don’t know any other way to appreciate something but to
throw myself at it,” Nate admits. Currently, he anxiously
awaits the return of the NHL season, and enjoys other forms of entertainment
such as the TV show West Wing, music by Metallica, and
the movie American Beauty. “Between achieving my
career and life goals, I just hope to have fun along the way and
do everything I can to make those goals come true.”
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