The Qantas Foundation has teamed up with Make-A-Wish Australia to help grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
The new partnership will see the Qantas Foundation provide Make-A-Wish Australia with domestic and international flights to help grant wishes that involve air travel, including family holidays and celebrity meet and greets.
Each year, Make-A-Wish grants hundreds of wishes with many more waiting in the wings.
Gerard Menses, CEO of Make-A-Wish Australia, said that Qantas Foundation coming on board as a major supporter meant that many more seriously-ill children will experience a life-changing wish.
“We are absolutely thrilled the Qantas Foundation has chosen to partner with us. Travel is the largest cost associated with granting wishes and with hundreds of very sick children waiting for their wishes to come true, this partnership has come at a perfect time. It will have a direct impact on the number of children we can help,” said Mr Menses.
Qantas Foundation Director and Qantas Group Executive, Olivia Wirth said Make-A-Wish was a perfect fit and a most deserving organisation for Qantas to partner with.
“Qantas Foundation is delighted to be working with an organisation that has integrity and great heart,” said Ms Wirth.
“This is a significant partnership for the Qantas Foundation and will hopefully make a genuine difference to the charity as well as provide life changing experiences for the kids and their families.”
The first wish recipient to benefit from the partnership is 16 year old Chloe Tsirizos who will take off on flight QF11 to Disneyland with her parents and brother. Chloe, who has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, will spend seven days in Los Angeles visiting Disneyland, Universal Studios and the San Diego Zoo.
Make-A-Wish Australia has granted more than 7,000 wishes to seriously ill children since 1985. An international Make-A-Wish study has found that wishes make a significant positive difference to the physical and emotional wellbeing of both the children and their families.
For more information or to help make wishes come true visit www.makeawish.org.au
Issued by Qantas Corporate Communication (Q5541)
Media contacts: Make-A-Wish Prue Cripps 0417 389 961 p.cripps@makeawish.org.au
Qantas Foundation Lauren Blank 0409 074 493 laurenblank@qantas.com.au
