Timothy, 12, who has a respiratory condition, had his wish granted to be a marine biologist. Airline miles and funds raised from the Ohio Mileathon will help grant wishes to local kids like Timothy.
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) April 14, 2014
Each year Make-A-Wish® provides approximately 1,500 airline tickets, the equivalent of 80 million airline miles, to help Ohio wish kids and their families travel to the incredible experiences they wish for. To celebrate World Wish Day® on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, Make-A-Wish will hold a statewide Mileathon, where Ohioans can donate frequent flier miles to help make more wishes come true.
More than 75 percent of wishes require air travel, making it a critical – and costly – resource for Make-A-Wish. Donating miles is a simple and easy way to make a difference in the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions. This year’s Mileathon hopes to raise 2 million airline miles and cash donations to cover travel expenses.
How to Donate: Community members have two options to donate during the Mileathon by either calling the phone bank at 1-888-272-9474 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. or donating online at ohio.wish.org.
A Make-A-Wish volunteer will be available in the phone bank to take a person’s mileage account number for Delta, United/Continental and U.S. Airways airline miles and the number of miles they’d like to donate. The minimum donation is 1,000 miles.
If donors don’t have a mileage account with one of the designated airlines, Make-A-Wish will also accept cash donations for travel expenses. For example, the following donation amounts can be put toward travel expenditures including: confirmed seating ($25), baggage fee ($50), luggage ($100), passport ($150), trip insurance ($200), oxygen concentrators ($300) and a limo ($500).
“Air travel is a key component to the hundreds of wishes we grant each year in Ohio,” said Sophia Morton, Vice President of Program Services for Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana. “Your miles allow us to continue granting once in a lifetime wish experiences to local children with life-threatening medical conditions.”
World Wish Day is a celebration more than 30 years in the making. In 1980, a 7-year-old boy received his heartfelt wish to be a police officer for a day. That one wish inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish and launched the wish granting movement that circles the globe today.
Make-A-Wish relies on the support of the community to grant wishes locally. For more information on ways to help, visit ohio.wish.org, call 1-877-206-9474 or Like Us on Facebook at facebook.com/makeawishohkyin.
Facebook: @makeawishohkyin is in need of frequent flier miles to help send wish kids on the trip of a lifetime. To donate miles, visit ohio.wish.org.
Twitter: Donate your airline miles to @makeawishohkyin. Visit ohio.wish.org to learn more.
About Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana
Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Currently, there are 450 children in Ohio waiting for their wish to come true. You can help share the power of a wish® by making a donation, volunteering, or referring a child. For more information, visit our website ohio.wish.org or call 1-877-206-9474.
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