Airport Express and Fairygodmother Foundation Launch Innovative Donation Program

Airport Express, Chicago’s premier ground transportation provider, has teamed up with the Fairygodmother Foundation to launch the “Give Wishes Wings” program., Airport Express is encouraging its preferred riders and other customers to donate frequent flyer miles to the foundation. These miles will be used by the foundation to help fulfill the dreams of terminally ill adults who want to travel, but lack the financial means to do so.

Chicago (PRWEB) December 22, 2005 -- Airport Express, Chicago’s premier ground transportation provider, has teamed up with the Fairygodmother Foundation to launch the “Give Wishes Wings” program. The Fairygodmother Foundation grants wishes to terminally ill adults.

Via its website, e-newsletter and brochures located at its airport counters, Airport Express is encouraging its preferred riders and other customers to donate frequent flyer miles to the foundation. These miles will be used by the foundation to help fulfill the dreams of terminally ill adults who want to travel, but lack the financial means to do so.

The process is easy and convenient, requiring a simple click on the Fairygodmother Foundation link on the Airport Express site, which links to a designated page on the foundation site. Miles must be donated in quantities no less than 25,000 per coach ticket due to airline restrictions. Information about the program is available at Airport Express’s counters, located within the baggage claim areas of both Midway and O’Hare airports.

Airport Express also is donating ground transportation to and from the airport for wish recipients and their families on a case-by-case basis.

“There are so many worthwhile charities requesting donations that many people feel financially tapped out, especially in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Working with the Fairygodmother Foundation, we developed ‘Give Wishes Wings.’ We feel it is an innovative donation concept: a simple yet effective alternative means for people to donate to a worthy cause, without having to dig into their pocketbooks,” says John McCarthy, president of Continental Airport Express.

“We applaud Airport Express for taking a leadership position in this program. Using this as a model, we are actively encouraging other companies to follow its example,” says Fairygodmother Foundation Executive Director Stevie Ball. “We grant approximately 35 wishes per month, mostly travel related, and we hope through this program we will be able to offer our services to many more families on our waiting list.”

Founded in 1853 as the Parmelee Transportation Company, Continental Airport Express currently transports more than one million passengers annually to and from Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway Airports. Its services are offered to and from downtown Chicago, as well as most Chicago neighborhoods and its surrounding suburbs. For more information visit www.airportexpress.com.

By granting wishes to adults faced with terminal illness, Fairygodmother Foundation helps make dreams a reality for the individuals and their families who need magic the most. Since 1998, Fairygodmother Foundation has given them a chance for peace, closure and joy in their hour of greatest need. For more information, visit www.fairygodmother.org.

# # #