HELPING CHILDREN IN NEED
LAS VEGAS-BASED MIRACLE FLIGHTS WAS
Rosa from San Diego as an example of who
FOUNDED IN 1985 ON THE SIMPLE, STRAIGHT-
Miracle Flights assists. Rosa flies nearly 3,000
FORWARD BELIEF THAT A HEALTHY LIFE IS
miles from home every six months with her
THE BIRTHRIGHT OF EVERY CHILD—REGARD-
mother for treatment of a rare joint condition
LESS OF INCOME, AILMENT OR DISTANCE TO
called arthrogryposis. Rosa recently received
MEDICAL CARE. What started as a small operation
her 20th Miracle Flight to care, with more flights
flying local children from southern Nevada has since
expected in the new year.
grown into a national effort that connects critically ill
“Flights like Rosa’s are only possible thanks to
children from all corners of the country to the medi-
the continued support of individual and community
cal experts who can best treat them.
partners who so generously lend their resources to
Today, Miracle Flights is the nation’s leading
help further Miracle Flights’ mission,” Mark says.
medical flight charity and the only national char-
Those partners include local businesses and
ity headquartered in southern Nevada. Over the
individuals as well as national brands like Chick-
last 35 years, they’ve provided more than 130,000
Fil-A, Southwest Airlines, UFC and Lovepop.
free flights to sick kids and their families. For
Whether they’re local or national, Mark says
many, that plane ticket represents more than a
donors and partners are at the root of the organi-
flight; it represents hope.
zation’s success.
According to Miracle Flights CEO Mark E. Brown, a plane ticket is often the missing piece parents need to get their child the valuable medical treatment he or she requires. “When parents come to Miracle Flights, they
“They give hope to our families and futures to our children.” As Miracle Flights continues to build its profile nationally, Mark says his team has redoubled its efforts in support of the Las Vegas community.
know where their child needs to go, but the prob-
“This organization was born, raised and nur-
lem is they can’t afford to get to the treatment
tured right here in Las Vegas,” he says. “We’re
facility. Their insurance may only cover the cost of
proud of how we’ve grown with this city, and we
the medical care itself,” Mark says. “That’s where
want to make sure that we contribute to the com-
Miracle Flights comes in. We provide commer-
munity that has supported us so steadfastly.”
cial flights at no cost to families anywhere in the
To that end, the organization hosts a number of
United States they need to go for proper medical
education and outreach events every year. In 2017,
treatment and as many times as necessary.”
Miracle Flights made arrangements to provide free
The organization books an average of 600
medical flights for injured victims in the Route 91
flights every month, Mark says, citing 10-year-old
shooting. They recently introduced a mascot, Miles, CONTINUED >
November 2019 | Green Valley Lifestyle
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