Wheelhouse Credit Union’s commitment to community is rooted in the belief that meaningful impact happens when organizations show up for the people around them. Few initiatives embody that belief more clearly than the Trailblaze Challenge® benefiting Make-A-Wish® San Diego. For Wheelhouse, the event is more than a fundraiser or endurance hike – it is a deeply personal mission inspired by the passion and leadership of President and CEO Lisa Paul-Hill.
Paul-Hill has long believed that community service should be woven into the culture of an organization, not treated as a one-time initiative. Her relationship with Make-A-Wish® San Diego began in 2010 when she first started volunteering with the organization. Over time, that commitment grew into a defining part of her leadership. In 2013, she helped establish the WISH Circle, a group dedicated to expanding support for children facing critical illnesses. Her work with the organization ultimately led Wheelhouse to become the exclusive presenting title sponsor of the Trailblaze Challenge beginning in 2020.
The Trailblaze Challenge itself is no small undertaking. Participants commit to hiking 28 miles in a single day along the Pacific Crest Trail, while also raising funds to help grant wishes for children in the San Diego region. For Paul-Hill, however, the miles on the trail represent something larger than a physical challenge. The experience serves as a reminder of the resilience and courage of the children the event supports.
Rather than simply encouraging others to participate, Paul-Hill has chosen to lead from the front. She is a three-time Trailblaze Challenge alumna who has completed the demanding trek herself. Colleagues and teammates often recall her steady encouragement during the hike – moments when the trail becomes steep, exhaustion sets in, and the group reminds one another why they are there. For Paul-Hill, those moments on the trail mirror the journey of the families served by Make-A-Wish: difficult, emotional, and strengthened by the support of a caring community.
Those moments have shaped the way Wheelhouse approaches the challenge each year. Teams of employees and supporters train together, raise funds, and prepare for the hike knowing that their efforts contribute directly to bringing hope to children awaiting wishes. In San Diego alone, hundreds of children are currently eligible for a wish, making the mission both urgent and meaningful for the community.
Paul-Hill’s vision also extends beyond fundraising. She has encouraged the Wheelhouse team to incorporate trail stewardship into the effort, organizing trail cleanups alongside the hike. For her, protecting the natural beauty of the trail while supporting children in need reflects the values of conscientious community leadership.
Looking ahead, Paul-Hill has reaffirmed her dedication by extending Wheelhouse’s commitment to the Trailblaze Challenge through 2028. For Wheelhouse Credit Union, the event is not just a partnership – it reflects the organization’s identity. And at the center of that story is a leader who continues to lace up her hiking boots, step onto the trail, and walk the miles alongside her team in pursuit of something far greater than the finish line.
www.wheelhousecu.com
