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Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire and John Wayne Airport Partner to Help Grant Travel Wishes This Summer

Orange County, Calif. (July 01, 2023) – Today, Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire and John Wayne Airport kick off Trips That Transform, a monthlong celebration of the travel wishes granted to children battling critical illnesses and the donors that make them possible.

With over 75 percent of wishes requiring air travel, Make-A-Wish needs more than 40 million airline miles annually to fulfill travel wishes for children and their families living in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Now more than ever, local wish kids with critical illnesses are depending on the ongoing generosity of individual and corporate donors who contribute their unused airline miles, expiring travel points and dollars.

To support granting more wishes in the local community, John Wayne Airport will promote the Trips That Transform campaign to its guests throughout the month of July with visual displays throughout the Terminal encouraging travelers to donate airline miles.

“We are thrilled to once again partner with Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire to help grant more travel wishes,” said Charlene Reynolds, Airport Director. “We encourage all who travel through John Wayne Airport to join us in supporting this incredible effort and donating their unused, low-balance, or soon-to-expire miles to help wish kids take flight.”

Once donated to Make-A-Wish, airline miles and points never expire, and each goes on to help wish kids and their families take flight to destinations around the world. Travelers can donate airline miles and points at ocair.com/wish

“Travel wishes are more than a trip; they are often an essential component of a wish kid’s treatment plan. In our recent Wish Impact Study, we found that 90% of medical providers observed children increase their compliance with treatment after learning they would receive a wish,” said Gloria Jetter Crockett, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire. “We are extremely grateful for John Wayne Airport and their support that will help provide local wish children with hope when the need it most through life-changing wish trips.”

To learn more about how a wish come true can transform the lives of everyone involved, follow Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire and John Wayne Airport and #JWAWishes on social media.

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About Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire

Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring every eligible child's wish to life because every child deserves a childhood. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire chapter. Since our chapter’s founding, more than 7,800 wishes have been granted for children in the local community. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 34,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire and 57 other chapters throughout the U.S. have granted more than 360,000 wishes nationwide. For more information about Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire, visit wish.org/ocie.

About John Wayne Airport

John Wayne Airport (SNA) is owned by the County of Orange. The Airport serves more than 11 million passengers annually and reaches over 40 nonstop destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. More information can be found at www.ocair.com. Like us on facebook.com/johnwayneairport, or follow us on Twitter @johnwayneair and Instagram @johnwayneair.

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Make-A-Wish Media Contact:
Katelynn McDougall Leguizamo
kmcdougall@ocie.wish.org
714-573-9474 x234

John Wayne Airport Media Contact:
AnnaSophia Servin 
AServin@ocair.com
949-252-5182