For Ryan Chismark ‘09 Meeting a Need Means Fulfilling a Wish

When Ryan Chismark ‘09 is asked what inspired him to become involved with Make-a-Wish in 2015, his response is simple: “I saw a need.”

At the time, Chismark worked for Cushman & Wakefield in the commercial real estate firm’s Dallas, Texas, office. The Fayetteville, New York, native was familiar with Make-a-Wish’s mission to honor the wishes of children facing critical illnesses, whether they wanted to go on vacation or meet their favorite professional athlete. However, it was not until Chismark became connected with the philanthropy that he learned how great its needs are. Each wish costs approximately $10,000 to fulfill, and that there are 1,100 children on the wait list in the Dallas-Fort Worth area alone. What’s more, there are approximately 300 people moving to the region every day, at least some of whom would benefit from a wish. 

That knowledge fuels Chismark. Now a partner with Meritax Advisors, he is more committed than ever to using his time, energy and imagination to support Make-a-Wish in his adopted home. He currently serves as the development chair of Make-a-Wish North Texas. Over the past decade, he has helped to raise approximately $1.3 million for the organization, primarily by cultivating relationships with other professionals in the area. His pitch to those he hopes will support Make-a-Wish is rooted in practicality. By donating to the organization, they can aid their community and build their legacy. “You can do well by doing good,” he is fond of saying. Chismark also appeals to the competitive streak that often runs through the people he meets. In 2025, he launched “Wishmakers at Work” in which two or more businesses face off to see how much money its employees can raise for the philanthropy. It garnered $500,000 in its first year and is expected to generate more than $1 million this year. The program has been adopted by Make-a-Wish nationally.

There are echoes of Chismark’s Le Moyne education in this work with Make-a-Wish. A finance major on the Heights, he has certainly brought the lessons he learned about decision making, financial modeling and forecasting, and quantitative reasoning to his fundraising efforts. However, with time he has also come to appreciate how the religion and philosophy courses he took as an undergraduate have shaped how he looks at the world and the impact he wants to make on his community. 

Chismark is also motivated by the fact that he is himself a father of three. He and his wife, Chelsea, welcomed their youngest child in November. He appreciates how important it is for children who are enduring so much physically and emotionally to have experiences that are purely about bringing them joy. He has heard from numerous Make-a-Wish parents that simply having something to look forward to has helped their children navigate difficult treatments and hospitalizations.