Frank Shankwitz, Make A Wish Foundation Founder.
I had the most amazing experience interviewing an amazing man, A TRUE AMERICAN HERO. In wake of the major changes in our country with leadership changing hands, we are doing an expose on people that made a choice to have a huge positive impact on the life of others. How could we not choose Frank Shankwitz, he is the Heroes type we see on TV on our favorite shows, but in real life. It is my honor to have the awesome opportunity to interview him.
I had the amazing opportunity to sit and chat with Frank Shankwitz and here is what he shares:
Thanks for Interviewing with the Huffington Post today. Frank can you briefly tell us as the Founding Member of the Make A Wish Foundation, What impact has it had on your life personaly? During my 42 year career as a police officer, one of my initial assignments was a Motorcycle Officer with the Arizona Highway Patrol. I was assigned to a 10-man tactical unit that worked the whole state of Arizona. In 1978, while on special assignment near the town of Parker, Arizona, I was involved in a high speed chase with a drunk driver, when another drunk driver pulled in front of me and I struck his vehicle with my patrol motorcycle at 80 mph. I was later told the crash was spectacular. I was pronounced dead at the scene, when my partner couldn't revive me. An off-duty emergency nurse from California stopped at the scene and performed CPR for almost four minutes, bringing me back to life. My injuries included a skull fracture, traumatic brain injury, and a lot of missing skin. It took almost 6 months to recover from the injuries.
During that period I did a lot of soul searching, asking why was I spared. That was answered in 1980, when I was asked to be one of the officers involved in making a "wish" come true for 7-year old Chris, who was dying from leukemia. Chris loved the television show, "CHiPs" and told his mother he wanted to be a Highway Patrol Motorcycle Officer when he grew up. With the permission of Chris' mother and his doctor, a special day was arranged for Chris. He was flown from his hospital in a Highway Patrol helicopter to our headquarters building, where I was asked to be standing by so he could meet a motorcycle officer. From the minute I shook hands with that little boy, my life forever changed. Chris' wish did come true that day, with the Arizona Highway Patrol making him the first and only "Honorary" officer in the history of the patrol, complete with his own badge, a custom made uniform, and most important to Chris, his uniform motorcycle wings, making him a Highway Patrol Motorcycle Officer.
Chris died a couple of days after receiving his "wish". The Highway Patrol learned he was going to be buried in a small town in Illinois and because we had lost a fellow officer, my commander asked if I would travel to Illinois and give a police funeral to our fallen officer, which I did. Chris was buried in uniform, his grave marker reading, "Chris - Arizona Trooper.
Flying back to Arizona, I started recalling how happy both Chris and his mother were as his, "wish" came true. He forgot he was ill and dying and was just having fun as a typical 7-year old. I thought, why can't I do that for other children with life-threatening illnesses, let them make a wish and we'll make it happen. And at 36,000 feet, is when the idea of the Make-A-Wish foundation was born, with me being the first President/CEO.
Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has grown to include 62 chapters in the United States, 36 International chapters, with over 350,000 wishes granted world-wide, all because of a 7-year old boy.
We hear you have a movie coming out, can you tell us about your movie? A few years ago, "Hollywood" contacted me and said they wanted to do a story about my life, which I didn't think was especially interesting, but they did. The working title of the movie is "Wish Man", a period movie from 1950 to 1980, covering my age from 10 years old to my mid-30's, and based on my true story, following the people who helped shape my life as a child, to my adventures as a Arizona Highway Patrol Motorcycle Officer, to the events that led me to create and co-found the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The movie, which is in pre-production, will be filmed in northern Arizona, with set design scheduled in mid-March, 2017 and filming scheduled to start on April 3, 2017, with a 6-week filming schedule. Tentative release is scheduled for January or February, 2018.
Did you have a role in picking out who plays you in the movie?
My role in picking out actor. The studio has kept me very involved in the whole process of the movie production. In fact they have hired me as the location manager and technical adviser for the film. I don't really have a say on who the studio hires to play me, but again, they have kept me informed as they seek the lead actor.
Do you feel the actor portraying you does an accurate portrayal?
Accurate portrayal - I'm confident the actor will do a good job. The actor will spend a few weeks with me to learn my personality. He will work with a voice coach to pick up my voice pattern and accent. He will also attend a motorcycle riding training course to learn riding and safety, and then time with me on police riding techniques, along with weapons training. As the films technical advisor, one of my duties will be to advise and ensure the actor portrays himself as a "real" police officer.
We hear you have a book coming out, can you tell us about your book?
My book, "Wishman", (the publisher wanted Wishman as one word, compared to the movie title, Wish Man) was recently released and is available at Amazon. The book is a more in-depth life story, from birth to creating the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 1980. It follows my struggles as a young boy and the people who helped take care of me, providing food and shelter, lessons in developing character, and teaching me to "give back" whenever I could.
What prompted you to write the book?
Prompted to write book - Following a inspirational/motivational presentation in San Diego a few years ago, a publisher approached me suggesting I should write a book in relation to my presentation. Writing like a police officer, "Saw crook, arrested same", it took a couple of years to complete the book, with the editor making suggestions on how to better describe my adventures. I'm happy with the results and initial sales are going well.
When is the book coming out?
The book was released in late October,2016 and is available at Amazon.com.
Where can we purchase the book?
The publisher, Sherpa Press, will announce a book signing tour in the near future.
Anything else you would like to share with us?
Following a 42 year career as a police officer, retiring in 2014 as a Homicide Detective with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, I feel very fortunate to have a new career as a motivational/inspirational speaker, being selected as a Forbes Top Ten Speaker of 2016. I was also presented with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2015, joining six U.S. Presidents and Nobel Prize winners, as well as leaders of industry. Also in 2015, I received an Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Public Service, from The Ohio State University.
How can we find out more info about you?
More information is available on my website - wishman1.com, as well as on Facebook at Frank Shankwitz. Additional information is available on a Google search.
There you have it folks, right from the man himself, Mr. Shankwitz, thank you for your time and we are blessed to have you in our lives!
