Alaska Airlines and U.S. Marine Corps team up to deliver toys across Alaska

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Nov 20, 2014, 04:21 ET

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines and the U.S. Marine Corps are joining forces to expand the Toys for Tots program in Alaska and distribute more toys to children this holiday season. Nearly 5,000 toys will be distributed by U.S. Marines in Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue and Kodiak.

Toy distributions to these communities and a number of outlying villages will start in early December. Alaska Air Cargo agreed to donate the large shipment of toys after being approached by Alaska Airlines First Officer Thomas Sharkey, a strong supporter of the program.

"We are proud to do our part for the Toys for Tots program," said Sharkey. "Marines are dedicated to the mission of making sure every house and every kid, from Teller to Selawik, has something special under their tree from Santa."

This partnership has enabled the Alaska Toys for Tots to expand the program to include Bethel and nearby communities.

"Every child deserves to experience a moment of magic when they wake up on Christmas morning," said Gunnery Sgt. Ben Rigney. "With the support of our community partners Alaska Airlines and Alaska Air Cargo, we will be able to make those special moments happen."

One hundred percent of all toys and money collected for the Toys for Tots program stays in Alaska.

Media Advisory: U.S. Marines will drop off the toys on Friday, November 21, at 10 a.m. at the Alaska Air Cargo hangar located at 4100 Old International Airport Road. They will be in Toys for Tots gear and Dress Blue uniform for final toy shipment preparations at the hangar.

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves more than 100 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power North American Airline Satisfaction Study for seven consecutive years from 2008 to 2014. Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan also ranked highest in the J.D. Power 2014 Airline Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines