In her retirement, Ginger Dlutowski has dedicated her time to helping others and making dreams come true.

For three years, the Butler Township resident and perennial volunteer has given her time to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

As a Wish Team volunteer, she meets with prospective wish recipients to help them choose and personalize their wish experience.

"I'd probably have made a good fairy godmother," joked Dlutowski, who was inspired to volunteer when her granddaughter, who is waiting for a heart transplant, received a wish.

After about a dozen wishes granted, Dlutowski's inspiration is renewed with each family she meets.

"Once you start, you just get hooked," she said.

As the mother of a wish recipient, Roberta Love of Cranberry Township was also inspired by her family's interaction with the organization.

Love's daughter, who was born with a heart condition, received a trip to Walt Disney World and the opportunity to meet her favorite character, Belle, from "Beauty and the Beast."

"It does so much for the family," said Love, whose family spent the week without worrying about medical bills and other day-to-day stresses.

She added that if not for the wish, her daughter's only memories of being a 6 year old would have centered around the hospital.

Two weeks after arriving home from their vacation, Love contacted the foundation to see how she could get involved.

"I've always been wanting to help other people," said Love.

In the two years since becoming a Wish Team volunteer, Love has assisted with about 10 wishes in Butler and neighboring counties.

In Butler County, Make-A-Wish currently has 14 volunteers.

For each potential recipient, two or three volunteers are sent to visit with the family to determine the wish request.

Dana Antkowiak, communications coordinator for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia, said that by sending volunteers in pairs, often one volunteer can work with the family to complete necessary paperwork while the other talks to the potential recipient to come up with a wish.

The paired teams also allow newer volunteers the opportunity to learn from experienced ones.

Volunteer Diana Beck of Penn Township said while some recipients know their wishes ahead of time, others are unsure of what's available to them.

"A lot of kids think they can only go somewhere," said Beck.

However, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted wishes for children who want to meet celebrities, go on shopping sprees or redecorate their bedroom.

"It's fun to see a kid's mind in motion," said Beck.

If the foundation and the recipient's doctor approve a wish, volunteers again visit the family to celebrate and provide any necessary details such as travel information.

Since the time between approval and the actual wish experience can vary, volunteers may also request wish enhancements to keep a recipient excited.

"It's usually just something small to 'enhance' the wish," said Antkowiak. "For example, for a Disney World wish, the volunteer might give the child a countdown calendar."

Following each wish, volunteers make an additional visit to the recipient to inquire about the experience. During this visit, volunteers often ask children to give statements or color pictures that are used in Make-A-Wish promotions.

Beck said she enjoys visits with families and seeing the excitement of the recipients.

"I don't think the kids realize how much they give back to us as volunteers, she said."

In the last fiscal year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia granted 706 wishes, up from 13 in 1983, the region's first year.

In light of this growth, new volunteers are always needed.

Before becoming a Wish Team member, volunteers must complete training at a Make-A-Wish office.

Volunteers receive updated training every two years.

For information about volunteering, visit www.wishgreaterpa.org.