Frequent Flier Miles Fulfill Magical Wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation

To help lower the cost of travel wishes, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has developed a partnership with a number of airlines which allow members of their frequent flier programs to donate their unused miles to charity. With the contributions of frequent flier miles by individuals around the Bay Area, the Greater Bay chapter has been able to grant more travel wishes than it would if this program did not exist.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) November 11, 2006 -- "I wish to go to Italy." "I wish to go to a taping of Fear Factor." "I wish to go to Wimbledon." So many of the wishes made to the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation by children with life-threatening medical conditions require travel, and as we all know, travel is expensive. To help lower the cost of travel wishes, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has developed a partnership with a number of airlines which allow members of their frequent flier programs to donate their unused miles to charity. With the contributions of frequent flier miles by individuals around the Bay Area, the Greater Bay chapter has been able to grant more travel wishes than it would if this program did not exist.

Consider 14-year-old John who wished to go to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. For years John was a huge soccer fan. Even though his illness had taken away his ability to play soccer, he made it through his toughest times by watching soccer and following his favorite teams around the world. John not only got his wish to go to the World Cup in Berlin, he and his family were able to attend the classic quarterfinal match between Argentina and Germany. Fatema, who is 18, was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease just as she was entering her senior year in high school. Instead of dwelling on her illness, she decided she'd plan her wish for after graduation and use it as a motivating force during the school year. This summer Fatema and her family embarked on the vacation of a lifetime when they went to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. A cruise of Sydney Harbor, a visit to Ayres Rock and the chance to observe kangaroos in the wild were all part of her incredible adventure.

The average cost of a wish is now approximately $10,000. As a result, the need for frequent flier miles is greater than ever. For a complete listing of participating airlines and detailed contribution procedures, visit the Make-A-Wish Foundation's website at www.wish.org, or call 800/722-WISH.

About the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation®:
In 2006, the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation celebrates over 22 years of fulfilling magical wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. One of the largest chapters nationwide, it has granted 4,000 wishes in its 17 Northern California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano and Sonoma. In August 2005, the Chapter was recognized with a coveted "Best in America Seal of Excellence" award, the first Make-A-Wish Chapter to achieve this distinction for its outstanding management and governance practices. Of the 1,000,000 charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000, or 5 percent, meet or exceed these standards, and, of those, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded this seal. For more information, please call (800) 464-9474 or visit www.makewish.org

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 69 chapters in the U.S. and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants more than 12,500 wishes a year and has granted more than 144000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org (or add chapter info here) and discover how you can share the power of a wish.

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