LAS VEGAS, Jan. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) celebrated its 2,000th wish flight as a Make-A-Wish travel partner, flying Annabelle from Reno, NV, to Las Vegas, where she will fulfill her wish of hitting the ice as a professional hockey player.
Annabelle, 8, who battles cystic fibrosis, was given a superstar welcome when she landed at Harry Reid International Airport. There, she was met by dozens of Allegiant and Make-A-Wish staff members who cheered her on as she and her family made their way through the airport. Allegiant Chief Marketing Officer Scott DeAngelo presented her with a gift basket filled with Vegas Golden Knights gear, including a jersey signed by Mark Stone, a hockey stick, and other goodies.
“We are beyond thrilled to have reached such a significant milestone as a partner with Make-A-Wish,” said John Redmond, Allegiant CEO. “Helping to make wishes come true for these brave and inspiring children is a true honor for us at Allegiant. We can’t wait to continue celebrating with Annabelle and her family on this unforgettable experience.”
Allegiant became a national partner with Make-A-Wish in 2012. Since then, the company has donated more than $7 million to the organization through in-kind flights and sponsorships. While wish fulfillments often involve amusement parks and beach destinations, Allegiant has flown several wish kids to Las Vegas over the years. In 2018, the airline’s 1000th wish kid – “Cuatro” — flew from his home in Texas to Las Vegas to attend the Monster Jam World Finals XIX.
“Time and time again, Allegiant and its employees have shown through their care, kindness and commitment that their partnership with Make-A-Wish is something they hold near and dear,” said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. “We know that wishes can lead to improved health outcomes and quality of life for children with critical illnesses, and that impact is something Allegiant has now played a significant part in delivering thousands of times for which we are incredibly grateful.”
Allegiant’s partnership with Make-A-Wish extends beyond wish flights. In 2017, the airline donated office space at its Las Vegas headquarters to Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. This allows the nonprofit to reduce its administrative costs, dedicating those funds to wish fulfillment.
Allegiant also donates $1 from every Wingz Snack Packs sold in flight to Make-A-Wish and is the presenting sponsor of the annual Walk for Wishes event in Las Vegas.
Allegiant – Together We Fly™
Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant’s fleet serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com. Media information, including photos, is available at http://gofly.us/iiFa303wrtF
About Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the #1 most trusted nonprofit operating locally in all 50 states throughout the U.S. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 24,000 volunteers across the country, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 550,000 wishes in 50 countries worldwide; more than 360,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.
Media Contacts
Allegiant Media Relations
702-800-2020
[email protected]
Make-A-Wish
Jamie Sandys
[email protected]
602-385-6884
SOURCE Allegiant Travel Company
