Growing Through Giving: Wilson Quarles’ TLB impact, journey

When Wilson Quarles first decided to join the Teen Leadership Board, he thought he was just finding a way to fulfill service hours for school. What he did not know was that he was just getting started on a journey of growth, connection and leadership all in service to the mission of RMHCC. 

Wilson, who was then entering his eighth-grade year, had always known about the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas and even worked on projects in elementary school benefiting RMHCC. This experience exposed him to the existence of the charity and the mission of the organization, but he was not truly connected to the cause. When the time came to fulfill his service hours, Wilson turned to a charity he knew. 

Initially, he thought he would do a few projects, get his hours and leave. When he began engaging with the families and playing with the kids, he saw firsthand the impact of the House’s mission. He realized the purpose of his service and the help it provided to the families at the House. From then on, his perspective changed. 

“It was definitely a moment of realization for me,” Wilson said. “It wasn’t just about the service hours, it was more about being there for those people in need.”

Now, having spent over four years on the board, Wilson has served as a general board member, secretary, vice president and president, gaining a deeper understanding of our mission and how the TLB fits into it from different perspectives. 

“We are coming together to connect with the families who are staying here,” Wilson said. “We’re giving them support, making their whole experience warm and welcoming for the families.”

He shared that the organization in itself feels like a family, as well as the community they build with the families in the House. Their presence in the House provides the opportunity to assist families in unique and personal ways.

“We’re like a stepping stone,” Wilson said. “We’re able to hear their stories, give them an opportunity to relax while we play with the children. They don’t have to worry about a meal, because we’ll cook for them, we’ll bake for them, that type of thing.”

This connection to families receiving medical care is something Wilson has been passionate about for many years, but found a way to strengthen at the House. Ever since he was in middle school, he knew he wanted to work in medicine, specifically in genetics. Being at the House provides a new perspective on medicine for the now-graduate, who is leaving to pursue his dream of studying genetics at Clemson University.

The organization’s professional development workshops also helped Wilson to completely reformat his resume, landing him a part-time job at the YMCA in Greenville.

Beyond Wilson’s individual growth in the organization, the board as a whole has been able to grow over the years, a change Wilson has seen firsthand. 

“It’s grown both within the house as well as outside of the house,” forging an impact that not only changes lives within the walls but also spreads awareness of the mission of RMHC. 

Over the years, Wilson has seen it grow from a small group of 25-30 members to a competitive, dedicated, student-led community initiative with 100+ applicants each year. With expanded growth in enrollment, the organization has also seen improvement in involvement, creating opportunities for members to engage in organized volunteer opportunities with a clear and direct impact on the families at RMHC.

 

He has been part of the organization’s growth the whole way through, even contributing to some of the group’s most successful initiatives, including reformatting the Big Give. By grouping members, enforcing accountability and coordinating on tangible objectives, Wilson was able to take the group’s largest annual project to new heights. 

In a previous year, Wilson carried out a four-location-wide stuffed-animal drive, inspired by a shoe drive, Kicks For Kids, he supported as a child. After weeks of hard work, Wilson collected 500+ teddy bears from his elementary, middle and high schools, as well as a local church. Running a successful Big Give gave him the foundation to implement widespread improvements to the program during his time on the executive team.

His favorite and most impactful memory, however, was his involvement with Lights of Love in December 2025. The board raised over $30,000 during the holiday fundraiser, a significant increase over prior years. Beyond that, the joy in the children’s faces, performances from families and the interactions with the community brought the mission of the House and TLB out in such a visible and inspirational way. 

Even as Wilson enters college to pursue his dreams, he plans to return to the House for seasonal events, like Lights of Love, to continue supporting the House as he is able. And to the next generation of high schoolers interested in getting involved, Wilson has a small piece of advice.

“Get involved, get invested in it, because otherwise you won’t get a lot out of it,” Wilson said. “Just give it a shot and get involved in it quickly, so you can then see.”