Our Wish Angels Alex and Corry Steenkist

“When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, anything your heart desires, will come to you.”
Since the dawning of 1940, as Pinocchio’s official conscience, Jiminy Cricket began advising children around the world to wish upon stars. Luckily for many of them, Corry and Alex Steenkist have been there to answer them. A veteran of war, Alex who was an active participant of the resistance from 1943-1945, and served in the army from 1945-1948, married Corry in 1950. Both born in Haarlem the Netherlands, they arrived in Canada in 1953 with one son in tow, and went on to have four more children. They got their start helping children during the winters of 1989-2001, where for six months each year they resided in a trailer in Kissimee, Florida. Upon discovering a bulletin board announcement that Give Kids the World was in dire need of volunteers, the couple quickly signed on. They began serving food to the children suffering from life threatening illnesses, and their families, recipients of a free one week all-inclusive vacation. After establishing a close connection with the organization’s founder, Mr. Henry Lanwirth, the couple took on various volunteer roles such as translators; airport greeters; Alex as the official photographer; Corry performing administrative work and overseeing the construction of gingerbread house operations. Unfortunately, the couple had to resign from their positions when Alex’s vision deteriorated. However, they were appointed Ambassadors for Give Kids the World and pledged to spread the word about how marvelous and necessary Give Kids the World is. Over their twelve years of work with Give Kids the World, Alex and Corry had helped thirty-two Dutch families; they remain in close contact with eighteen of those families. Ultimately it was a family that Alex and Corry had helped at Give Kids the World who introduced the couple to Make-A-Wish® Toronto & Central Ontario. The couple began dedicating their time to children receiving cancer treatments at McMaster Hospital, in addition to becoming Make-A-Wish volunteers. When describing the most rewarding part of volunteering with Make-A-Wish, Corry thoughtfully answers, “When you have five healthy children and grandchildren, this is the most rewarding work you can do. The parents are suffering as much as the children.” Amongst some sad memories, they have had many great ones. Great days include throwing parties in hospitals for children in remission, while harder days are spent with children who request to spend their final moments with the couple and their families. Of the children they help they explain, “They are so BRAVE and keep you going.” It is the simple pleasure expressed by the wish children when seeing their friends Corry and Alex, along with thank yous from wish parents, which serve these volunteers through the difficult times. These two kindhearted volunteers believe they get back as much, even more, than they give. No matter what comes their way, they continue to put the children first. “We are getting older and we have health problems and sometimes you think lets stay home. But then you think how much pleasure you receive to see a happy face a smile and a Thank You that is what keeps us going.” Our Wish Angels, Alex and Corry are honored as Volunteers of the Year for Make-A-Wish® Toronto & Central Ontario. They continue to remind children, “If your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme, when you wish upon a star, as dreamers do."

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