Viewpoint: You Can Make a Difference in a Child’s Life

Editor’s note: When Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg offered to write about donating unused miles to Make-A-Wish, we were thrilled. It’s a great  cause, and its easy for travel agents and their clients to contribute. We hope you will.

Being involved in the world of travel gives one an extraordinary ability to give back and make a difference in people’s lives.

I have learned this firsthand through my involvement with Make-A-Wish Metro New York & Western New York. My participation on both the advisory board and the board of directors has let me see firsthand how travel can make a child’s wish come true.

Today more than 70% of all our children’s wishes include a travel component. So it was obvious to me that one of the most important contributions I could make to the Make-A-Wish organization was to help create a sustainable “Travel Wish Bank.”

The goal was fulfilling as many children’s wishes as possible – long into the future.

$1.3 million in donations
The opportunity arose to make this dream a reality in 2012 when I was the honoree at the organization’s annual gala in New York. Instead of having this event be about me, I wanted to create something sustainable, a long-term means of facilitating the travel dreams of “wish kids” and their families.

Prior to the gala, I asked friends and colleagues in the travel industry community to join the cause, and they donated air mileage, hotel room nights, car rentals, vacations, tours, gift certificates, vouchers and cash.

At the gala itself, we raised more than $1.3 million in cash in one night alone.

The generosity of our travel partners was overwhelming, including some “outside the box” thinking that has created lifelong memories for critically ill children and their families.  

This outpouring of support to enhance a child’s travel experience was truly heartwarming, and I was humbled by these significant donations.

Today the Travel Wish Bank helps reduce cash expenditures for Make-A-Wish by helping to fulfill the travel dreams of “wish kids” and their families.

Now the goal is to sustain this permanently. You can help.

Donating unused miles
Because of my own extensive travel schedule, I am a member of many airline frequent flyer plans. However, I am unlikely to build up enough miles for my own use on those airlines that I fly less often.

I donate these unused miles to Make-A-Wish, where they are combined with other travelers’ miles so they can be used to grant wishes.

I also have reached out to friends, clients and suppliers and asked them to do the same. Many have generously donated their unused miles well.

You can donate your miles at http://metrony.wish.org/61897/. While you’re at it, why not encourage your friends and clients to donate their unused miles as well.

Make a difference
Everyone has an opportunity to improve the life of another person. My personal commitment to Make-A-Wish allows me to use my love of travel to give back to the community and world.  

If you want to learn more about making a difference in a child’s life, please email me at jenniferwb@vwti.com.

Many thanks!

Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg is co-president of New York-based Valerie Wilson Travel and a member of Travel Market Report’s Editorial Advisory Board.