Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire and John Wayne Airport Partner to Help Grant Travel Wishes This Fall 

Travelers are invited to help children battling critical illnesses take flight by donating their miles, points, and dollars 

ORANGE COUNTY (September 02, 2025) – Today, Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire (OCIE) and John Wayne Airport launched Trips That Transform, a three-month-long campaign celebrating the travel wishes granted to children with critical illnesses—and the donors who make them possible. 

With over 75 percent of wishes requiring air travel, Make-A-Wish OCIE needs more than 40 million airline miles each year to fulfill travel wishes for children and their families living in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. 

Now more than ever, local wish kids are depending on the generosity of individuals and corporate partners to contribute unused airline miles, soon-to-expire travel points, and monetary gifts to ensure that no child has to wait for the hope a wish brings. 

A Wish in Action: Tristan’s Journey 
For 8-year-old Tristan of Newport Beach, a fascination with sharks began during long hospital stays following his cancer diagnosis at just 4-years-old. Years of chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, and stem cell transplants couldn’t dim his joy or curiosity. When it came time to choose his wish, there was no hesitation—Tristan wanted to swim with sharks. 

Thanks to donated airline miles, Tristan and his family traveled to the Florida Keys, where he swam alongside nurse sharks, explored the Turtle Hospital, and glided over crystal-clear waters on a glass-bottom boat. What started as a childhood fascination became a celebration of resilience and a spark of adventure that continues to inspire him today. 

“Travel wishes are more than just trips—they are powerful, transformative experiences that provide hope, joy, and strength,” said Anne Grey, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire. “Every donated mile helps us say ‘yes’ to more children like Tristan, creating moments they and their families will cherish for a lifetime.” 

The Need for Community Support 

Currently, 400 local children are waiting for their life-changing wishes. On average, one domestic round-trip ticket costs 54,000 airline miles, and all miles donated through Trips That Transform are used to grant wishes for children in our local communities. 

Many major airlines—including American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United—allow frequent flier members to donate miles to Make-A-Wish. Once donated, miles never expire and help offset air travel expenses, allowing more monetary donations to go directly toward granting wishes. 

John Wayne Airport Joins the Mission 

Throughout September, October, and November, John Wayne Airport will feature roadway banners and digital displays in the terminal encouraging travelers to donate airline miles. 

“We are thrilled to once again partner with Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire to help grant more travel wishes,” said Charlene Reynolds, Airport Director. “We encourage all who travel through John Wayne Airport to join us in supporting this incredible effort and donating their unused, low-balance, or soon-to-expire miles to help wish kids take flight.” 

How to Donate 

Travelers can donate unused airline miles, travel points, or dollars by visiting ocair.com/wish. Every mile makes a difference. 

When a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope. Wishes give children renewed energy and strength, bring families closer together, and inspire entire communities. 

To learn more about how a wish come true can transform the lives of everyone involved, follow Make-A-Wish OCIE and John Wayne Airport and #JWAWishes on social media.  

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About Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire  

Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring every eligible child's wish to life because every child deserves a childhood. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. Since our chapter’s founding in 1983, more than 8,400 wishes have been granted for children in the local community. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 34,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire and 57 other chapters throughout the U.S. have granted more than 350,000 wishes nationwide. For more information, visit www.wish.org/ocie. 

About John Wayne Airport

John Wayne Airport (SNA) is owned by the County of Orange and is operated as a self-supporting enterprise that receives no general fund tax revenue. The Airport serves more than 11.3 million passengers annually and reaches more than 40 nonstop destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. More information can be found at www.ocair.com. Like us on facebook.com/johnwayneairport, or follow us on Twitter @johnwayneair and Instagram @johnwayneair.