Airline Miles & Vouchers Help Connecticut Wishes Take Flight!November 4th, 2009. “I wish to go snowboarding in
Colorado .” “I wish to go to Disney World.” “I wish to go to
Hollywood .” The Make-A-Wish Foundation® is asking frequent travelers across the country to contribute airline miles and help make wishes like these come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
When Make-A-Wish® volunteers ask a child for his or her favorite wish, very often the response begins with, “I want to go….” In fact, more than 67 percent of all wishes granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation involve travel. Fortunately, most major airlines have created programs that allow members of their frequent traveler loyalty programs to donate their unused miles to charity. Such contributions have enabled the Make-A-Wish Foundation to send thousands of children with life-threatening medical conditions and their families on the trip of a lifetime, and have saved the Foundation millions of dollars each year.
However, with the number of wishes constantly rising the need for frequent flier miles is greater than ever. In fact, the Make-A-Wish Foundation estimates that it would need more than 2.5 billion frequent flier miles annually to fulfill every wish child’s travel request.
Why should someone donate miles to the Make-A-Wish Foundation rather than redeem them for free travel? The answer is as clear as the smiles on the faces of wish children like Marco. Marco is a dynamic and vibrant 4-year-old from
Orange, CT. When presented the opportunity to select one wish, Marco chose the exciting shows, parks and rides at Disney World. Thanks to the outstanding support the Foundation receives from its airline partners and customers, Marco’s wish, and thousands of others, have been fulfilled.
“A contribution of frequent flier miles to the Make-A-Wish Foundation is one of the most direct ways to help make a difference in the life of a child with a life-threatening medical condition,” said David Williams, president and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. “The mileage the Foundation receives will help provide experiences that wish children and their families will cherish for a lifetime.”
Most major airlines have mileage donation programs. For a complete listing of participating airlines and detailed contribution procedures, please visit the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s National Website at www.wish.org and click on “Giving” or call (800)-722-WISH.
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