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The Eastern Iowa Airport helps Wishes in Flight that grants travel wishes to Make-a-Wish kids

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – More than 70% of wishes granted involve some sort of travel. The Wishes in Flight^® program allows people to donate their unused airline miles to Make-A-Wish^® Iowa, directly offsetting the cost of air travel for many wishes. Miles will be matched through Make-A-Wish America through August 31^st, 2013.

People or companies interested in donating frequent flyer miles can go to https://flycid.com//www.eiairport.org/about-the-airport/donate-airline-miles/ to donate.

PRESS EVENT:

WHEN:

Tuesday, April 30^th

1:00 p.m.

WHERE:

The Eastern Iowa Airport

WHO:

Rob Kelly, President & CEO, Make-A-Wish Iowa

Tim Bradshaw, Airport Director, The Eastern Iowa Airport

Heather Wilson, Director of Marketing & Communication, The Eastern Iowa Airport

Wish families who have traveled with Make-A-Wish

Corporations and individuals pledging their support to Make-A-Wish Iowa through the Wishes in Flight program

WHY:

We want to spread awareness of the Wishes in Flight airline mileage donation program and recognize companies that are supporting Make-A-Wish through their donations. A significant matching grant through Make-A-Wish America has turned this campaign into a huge opportunity for Make-A-Wish Iowa. Make-A-Wish America will match each mile donated on our local website through August 31 up to 1 million miles!

Make-A-Wish Iowa grants the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. About 70% of wishes are travel wishes. Airline travel can often be the biggest expense of a trip. By donating airline miles, people are able to significantly offset the cost of wishes.

About Make-A-Wish Iowa:

Grants a wish in Iowa every other day
More than 2,700 wishes have been granted in Iowa since our first wish in 1987
169 wishes were granted in our last fiscal year
The average wish costs us nearly $8,600 to grant
More than 70% of our wishes involve some sort of travel
State-wide organization with local committees throughout the state, including the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas
Most wishes fall into one of four categories:
- To Go (travel…Walt Disney World® Resort, Hawaii, LegoLand, Australia)
- To Have (gift…outdoor playset, hot tub, room redo, computer, pet)
- To Be (occupational…train engineer, cartoonist, etc.)
- To Meet (celebrity wishes…athletes, television and movie stars, musicians)
Wishes are granted to children with life-threatening medical conditions, not necessarily terminal.