Glee Nett was born in the Southern Black Hills in Edgemont, SD, her parents and grandparents homesteaded in South Dakota. She enjoyed her 4H activities, loving horsemanship, which was taught by her relatives. She competed in 4H rodeo and went from there to amateur rodeos. There were seven children in her family and they’ve all had horses throughout their lives. She competed in many available activities. “None of my competing was on a high level – I just did it for fun,” she said. She dreamed of obtaining her degree in Range Management, however with the start of her family and ranching obligations, she realized her responsibilities would require her to be at home. “I chose to have my children while I was young, so I could be active with their lives, plus be able to be enjoy my wonderful grand children.”
She went to work for a pathologist and a well known necrologist. “He was the greatest boss that ever existed – I learned how to succeed in life and that was to be respectful and be mindfully kind to everyone.” Glee had four children and the Good Lord has called two of them home. Both losses were unexpected and immediate. Their passing have taught her to be thankful and to live every day to its fullest capacity. “God gives us life and thus He has the right to call us home on His terms and on His timeline. You can either let it get the best of you or you can make the best of it.” Kindness is the most generous gift an individual can give, as we do not know what another may be experiencing in their life.”
She also worked in law enforcement. “I was asked by an amazing sheriff to come work for him” and as she was the only female, she transported female prisoners to the state hospital and did intake interviews for rape, abuse and incest. It was difficult to leave this type of work at the office with young children at home. She switched from that to being a legal secretary and from there she became a multi peril-crop hail adjuster and traveled nine states doing that. Her career took her to Texas for six years with the children in tow. “Texas was a unique and exciting family and work experience.”
After that career she managed two major airlines – America West and United, United Express. Starting out as a full time employee, she advanced into management quickly. “I was a field station manager in Lubbock, TX and opened new stations in Vail, CO and many other cities.”
She went to work as a Fed X courier and that’s where she had her second major accident and decided to retire. “I had been dispatched to the water treatment plant and I went around a 90 degree corner, and caught the bladed berm left on the road when the passenger’s back wheel pulled the van and as she tried to correct the direction of the van, the passenger’s front wheel caught and the vehicle rolled end over end 2 ½ times, while only traveling 22 mph! Her injuries were not life threatening, however they were substantial. The doctors did not project a life of full activity, however she relied on her faith in the Lord to walk, ride and have a full productive life again so she took time off to heal. She wanted to remain amongst her rodeo family,,,,but how? She made the decision to do so by giving back to others and sharing her western heritage with idea of granting wishes and connecting the western world with the rest of the world. This year marks the 15th anniversary of Children’s Western Wish Foundation
“It actually started with me helping to grant a wish for another organization. I knew from that moment that I wanted to start this foundation.” She applied for her non profit and was rejected three times. “I didn’t have an age limit or a specific challenge identified. When I got rejected for third time, I put on the letter,” Talk to God” and we got our 501c{3}. We didn’t have to change a thing.”
She was off and granting wishes around the United States and Canada. The wish recipient’s are local community members and their immediate family. Some rodeos request more than one wish at their event and there has been a committees where a total of 6 wishes were granted at their venue. Glee coordinates every aspect of each wish and is present at all of the wishes.
She is blessed to work with her Board of Directors whom are all rodeo personnel and as they are all in attendance at the NFR, they hold their Annual Meeting in Vegas. Glee has many responsibilities in life, ts, but the foundation is her priority. “I spend as much time as it takes – probably around 15 hours per wish.” There isn’t an application process, it’s all recommendation. “If the rodeo doesn’t have a recipient, they ask us to find one.” All the wishes are handled by Glee. “The confidentiality remains where it should. I take all of it through phone calls and emails – we give each recipient . We find out what their hobbies are so we can get the buckle to represent that. They get a buckle, hand autographed Bible by Clyde and Elsie Frost. Every quilt is made by a local quilters from Laramie, Wyoming. Every knot that is tied on that quilt is tied with a special prayer for that individual. They are customized with their name on the inside as well as one block in the center dedicated to their hobby or something special and unique to that individual. Each recipient also receives an autographed signed hat, and the female wish recipient receives a tiara and a personalized sash, many times with the title “honorary princess of the rodeo.” Each of them get to do a lot of the meet and greet with the competitors and any country western artist that may be there. A compliment we hear often, especially from the families that have never experienced a rodeo or western event, is they are so appreciative as “not very often is a special needs or challenged person been given VIP treatment and treated with such a great honor.”
She works with approximately 80% repeat rodeos and 20% new rodeos. “I have been granting wishes at the NFR for fifteen years. We grant the girls presentation wish during the WPRA luncheon – they are escorted on stage by one of our barrel racing qualifiers and presented with their gifts. This is the kick-off for the wonderful banquet the WPRA does for its qualifiers, their families, sponsors and many rodeo committees are present as they are awarded many honors. The boys recipient is honored at various venues during the NFR. Last year, it was presented during the Junior NFR (Junior World Finals.)
For Glee matching the families with the rodeos brings the western way of life to the outside world. “I’m very proud to be part of rodeo – our rodeo family and our contestants aren’t afraid to pray or show their faith and it’s great for others to see.”
“I’m not doing this for my glory – it’s not about me. I don’t care for the accolades and credit, it’s about the families.” She has had that attitude for most of her life. “When I was in fifth grade Sunday school – there was a verse in my Bible, that I always remember, whereas if you do good deeds and expect accolades, the gates of heaven will be closed. That verse is followed by: If you give alms and do not expect accolades, the gates of heaven shall be open to you.”
“I choose to never use someone’s hardship to make my foundation better.” She feels that all the recipients are special people. “To me, God chooses the parents and the people to take care of these people. I am grateful to the parents and children for allowing me to do this. I also believe that special needs people are “Special Gifts from God.”
This is her full time ministry. She assists friends as a caregiver whenever necessary, but mostly she coordinates and grants wishes. She has an abundant amount of windshield miles. The two tragedies of losing her daughter and son have helped shape the giving, kind person that she is today. “I wanted to just stay home after losing my son, and little by little, my rodeo family coxed me back into the arena to grant wishes. It’s the greatest personal satisfaction – when you get to work for the Man above and give from your heart – what more is there.”
The website for the Children’s Western Wish Foundation is currently being reconstructed so keep checking. www.cwwf.org. In the meantime, follow them on Facebook.
