Make-a-Wish kids get special AA send-offs

American Airlines employees at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy Airports opened their hearts on Friday, October 3 as teams from both airports went all-out and gave special send-offs to children traveling to Orlando, FL on Make-a-Wish Foundation flights.
At LaGuardia Airport, American Airlines employees under the leadership of Customer Service and Operations Manager Dave Lombard learned that Make-a-Wish kid Carmen Ilardi, 4, was a “Star Wars” fan. The American flight was taking Carmen and his family to a full week of celebrations, theme parks and hospital-free fun at the Give Kids The World Village, a whimsical resort that provides accommodations and meals for the fantasy vacation.
American’s LaGuardia staff got creative and went to work. They brought the “Star Wars” theme to life, elaborately decorating the departure gate and jet bridge for the flight with clusters of black and silver balloons and other sci-fi d/cor. Soon, the departure area looked like a “Star Wars” movie set. Employees also presented the Ilardi family with a $500 check, raised from their personal donations, plus a $100 gift certificate to the Rainforest Caf/.
At JFK Airport, American Airlines employees prepared a similar celebration for Cassandra Scott, of Saugerties, NY. “Pirates and Princesses” was the theme, as a team led by Dave Richards and Andrea Ferrara of Ramp Service, together with Passenger Service Instructor Suze Hernandez organized the event, decorating the departure gate for Flight 1721 to Orlando. They adorned the gate in Disney style, complete with such under-the-sea creatures as mermaids, octopuses, crabs and seahorses. Local schools were recruited to submit “Pirates and Princesses” artwork.
The JFK welcoming committee was costumed in Pirates and Princesses garb. American’s JFK employees made donations that added up to a check for $1,500 for the Scott family, plus several gift certificates.
The Make-a-Wish Foundation has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work since 1980. American Airlines, American Eagle, and American Airlines Federal Credit Union have partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for 13 years, through a specially created a non-profit organization called the Something mAAgic Foundation.
Each year, American provides “WishFlights,” which take the children and their families to Give Kids The World Village. This year, American flew 31 Wish kids and their families to Orlando for their stay at the Village.