American Airlines and the Something mAAgic Foundation Team Up to Make Dreams Come True

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines, the Something mAAgic Foundation® and the Miles for Kids in Need(SM) program are partnering with four wish-granting organizations to grant children their fondest wishes with a trip to Orlando, Fla. Today, 43 courageous wish kids will participate in the 15th WishFlight.

WishFlight, Something mAAgic's annual marquee event, sends children with chronic or life-threatening medical conditions and their families to Florida for a seven-day retreat at Give Kids The World Village® and various Orlando attractions. Tickets for children and their families are generously donated by American's Miles for Kids in Need program. To date, more than 260 children have had their dreams come true.

"Bon voyage" festivities will take place in 42 airports throughout the American Airlines and American Eagle network as the children depart their home cities. Arrival and connection celebrations will take place at airports in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York (JFK) and Miami. These events, hosted by American Airlines, American Eagle and American Airlines Federal Credit Union employee volunteers, include decorations, games, cheering volunteers and cake for all passengers. Additionally, celebrations will continue for every flight arriving in Orlando as children and their families begin their magical vacations.

During their stay at the Give Kids The World Village®, each wish family will enjoy accommodations in their own villa and meals onsite at the Gingerbread House Restaurant. The Village, complete with a wheelchair-accessible carousel, an Ice Cream Palace, a movie theatre and a boundless playground, was designed to delight children of all ages.

"WishFlight is not only a lot of fun, but it's also truly inspiring. Every year, I am amazed by the joy of the wish kids and their families, and by the extraordinary efforts of our volunteers," said Carol Wright, American's Vice President – Human Resources and Something mAAgic Advisory Board Member.

This year, the Something mAAgic Foundation continues to expand its wish-granting efforts through partnerships with Casey Cares, Dream Factory, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® and A Special Wish. Working closely with these organizations, the Something mAAgic Foundation is sponsoring children from nine countries including Argentina, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States.

More than $1.6 million has been raised to fund WishFlight and wish enhancements for children. To learn more or to help fulfill wishes through volunteer opportunities or a financial contribution, please visit www.somethingmaagic.org.

About Something mAAgic Foundation

The Something mAAgic Foundation® Inc., is a non-profit organization comprised of volunteers who are current and former employees of American Airlines, American Eagle and American Airlines Federal Credit Union (AAFCU). We support the missions of Give Kids The World Village® and other children's organizations to create mAAgical memories for children with chronic or life-threatening medical conditions. For more information, visit www.somethingmaagic.org.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection® serve 250 cities in 40 countries with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. For information about the community initiatives AMR and its employees support, please visit AA.com/JoinUs. Programs include Miles For Kids In Need, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the USO, and disaster relief. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve nearly 700 destinations in more than 130 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR)

About Casey Cares

The Casey Cares Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit that provides personalized, uplifting programs with a special touch to critically ill children and family members throughout six states. Programs include: Family Festivities, Celebration Vacations, Birthday Blasts, Kami's Jammies, Caring Connection group parties and Better Together.

About Dream Factory

The Dream Factory Inc.® began in 1980 with one all-volunteer chapter and has since grown into the second-largest children's wish-granting organization in the United States. It has granted over 25,000 dreams since its inception – all while maintaining a grassroots approach. The Dream Factory continues to operate all 36 of its local chapters with over 5,000 volunteers who raise funds within their own communities to grant the dreams of critically and chronically ill children between the ages of 3 and 18. The Dream Factory is the only children's wish-granting organization that does not limit its mission to children who have life-threatening illness.

About Give Kids The World

Give Kids The World Village® is a non-profit resort that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Wish-granting organizations coordinate transportation to Orlando, while Give Kids The World provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, attraction tickets, and meals for a week-long fantasy vacation. Since its founding in 1986, Give Kids The World has welcomed families from all 50 states and more than 70 countries.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is one of the world's leading children's charities, with 64 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted nearly 200,000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish.

About Miles for Kids in Need

The Miles for Kids in Need(SM) program provides worldwide support for children and their families, as well as for organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with needs for medical, educational, social services issues and/or for those that heighten public awareness of children's issues. The Miles for Kids in Need program, established in 1989, expanded its scope during the fourth quarter of 2008, allowing the program to provide worldwide support through miles and other initiatives for more children and their families, as well as for organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with medical, educational, and social services needs, or for groups that heighten public awareness of children's issues. In addition to the million miles American donates each year, AAdvantage® members can also donate their miles, furthering the support for a variety of purposes related to the well-being of children and their families. For more information, go to aa.com/kids.

About A Special Wish

A Special Wish Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children under the age of 21 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening disorder. Founded in 1982, A Special Wish Foundation was one of the first wish-granting organizations in the United States, and now has chapters across the U.S. Since, 1982, wishes have been granted to thousands of quality children. A Special Wish Foundation is the only major wish-granting organization in the United States that grants wishes to qualifying infants, children, and adolescents from birth through and including the age of 20 years.

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SOURCE American Airlines

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