Miracle Flights For Kids

What Miracle Flights For Kids does

Miracle Flights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, that coordinates free commercial airline flights for children ages 0-17 who need specialized medical care unavailable in their local communities. Families apply directly through miracleflights.org, with applications reviewed and flight coordination handled by Miracle Flights staff (same-day or next-day response). The organization partners with airlines — most notably Southwest Airlines under a 19+ year relationship — to arrange the flights, and with Blacklane for ground transportation (2,300+ free rides since 2019). Operationally, Miracle Flights has flown 167,734+ flights and 102.8 million miles since inception, averaging 600-700 flights per month, with 971 child flights and 1,476 companion flights covering 5.74 million miles in the most recent reporting year (May 2025 - April 2026).

The organization has no proprietary technology product; its underlying platform is the flight-coordination workflow and partnership stack with airlines, airports, medical centers, and donors. Beyond core flight coordination, Miracle Flights operates a portfolio of branded merchandise (Skyler plush with Paradies Lagardère, Hope and Miles bears with WHSmith North America across 58 airport stores), a TV program (Smiles with Miles) broadcast in children's hospitals, and signature fundraising events (SOARée at Thrive Aviation's private jet hangar, Wine Flights, Lights for Flights). Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic channels: individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Southwest, Thrive, AMGEN, Vertex), foundation grants (multiple $20K+ tier partners), merchandise sales (WHSmith partnership alone generated $146,940 from 14,694 bears), and event fundraising (SOARée 2025 raised $501,295 with 400 attendees). Go-to-market combines direct family application via the website, word-of-mouth referrals through diagnosis-specific communities and healthcare providers, and event-driven donor cultivation. Leadership transitioned in 2025-2026 with Leslie Baron-Mosley appointed CEO in November 2025 and Eric Grilly added to the Board of Directors in February 2026.

Name

Miracle Flights For Kids

Legal name

Miracle Flights

Website

https://miracleflights.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Miracle Flights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that coordinates free commercial airline flights for financially qualifying children ages 0-17 across the United States to access specialized medical care, funded by donations, corporate partnerships, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Medical Transportation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Flight Accessibility & Special Assistance Services (THABAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Unaccompanied Minor (UM) Check-In/Out & Airline/Station Escort (HSAAAKAF)

Keywords

• Medical flight charity
• Nonprofit medical transportation
• Pediatric air travel
• Charitable flight coordination
• Healthcare access nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to Miracle Flights through one-time or recurring donations. The organization markets to individuals through events, direct mail, email campaigns, and website appeals. Donors receive communications about mission impact and are invited to ongoing engagement.
2. Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships: Corporate partners including Southwest Airlines, Thrive Aviation, Paradies Lagardère, WHSmith North America, and others provide financial support, in-kind donations (hangar space, retail shelf space), employee volunteer hours, and event sponsorship. Partners receive brand visibility and alignment with charitable mission.
3. Foundation Grants: Foundation partners including Vertex Pharmaceuticals, John R. McCune Charitable Trust, Fred Maytag Family Foundation, and others provide grant funding. Partners at various tiers contribute $1,000 to $20,000+ annually.
4. Merchandise Sales (Skyler, Hope, Miles plush toys): Miracle Flights generates revenue through branded merchandise partnerships. Skyler plush (Paradies Lagardère), Hope and Miles bears (WHSmith North America) are sold in airport retail stores, with proceeds supporting the mission. WHSmith partnership generated $146,940 from 14,694 bears sold across 58 stores.
5. Signature Events (SOARée, Wine Flights): Annual fundraising events generate significant revenue. SOARée raised $501,295 in 2025 with 400 attendees. Wine Flights 2024 raised $35,000. Thrive Aviation partnership has raised $1.1 million over three years (2023-2025).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Miracle Flights For Kids provides free commercial air travel coordination in the United States for children ages 0-17 who qualify based on financial need, connecting them with board-certified medical providers and accredited treatment facilities. The organization books flights for both the child patient and accompanying companions, and partners with Blacklane to provide free ground transportation to medical appointments.

Product overview

Miracle Flights is a nonprofit organization providing free commercial air travel for children ages 0-17 who need financial assistance to access life-changing medical care across the United States. The core product is flight coordination services, supplemented by branded merchandise (Skyler plush toy with Paradies Lagardère, Hope and Miles bears with WHSmith North America), the Smiles with Miles TV program for children's hospitals, and signature fundraising events (SOARée at Thrive Aviation hangar, Wine Flights tasting event, Lights for Flights holiday installation). The organization also partners with Blacklane for ground transportation and operates the Runway Network for Southern Nevada community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Medical Flight Coordination Provides free commercial air travel coordination in the United States for children ages 0-17 who qualify based on financial need, connecting them with board-certified medical providers and accredited treatment facilities for life-changing medical care. Includes flights for both the child patient and accompanying family companions, with 971 flights for kids and 1,476 companion flights in the May 2025–April 2026 reporting period.
• Skyler Plush Toy Exclusive airplane plush toy sold in Paradies Lagardère airport retail stores across the United States. Each purchase directly supports free commercial flights for children and families traveling to access life-changing medical care.
• Hope and Miles Plush Bears Branded plush bears sold at 58 WHSmith North America airport retail locations across the United States, with all proceeds donated to Miracle Flights. Generated $146,940 from 14,694 bears sold.
• SOARée Annual Fundraising Gala Annual ticketed signature fundraising gala held at Thrive Aviation's 21,000 sq ft private jet hangar overlooking the Las Vegas Strip. Features cocktails, live entertainment, private jet tours, and a raffle for weekend getaways flown on Thrive jets. 100% of event proceeds directed to families served by Miracle Flights.
• Wine Flights Holiday Tasting Event Ticketed annual wine tasting event held during the holiday season at Downtown Summerlin. Guests visit illuminated Miracle Flights displays while sampling at least 14 curated one-ounce wine tastings. Proceeds benefit Miracle Flights' mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 167,734 flights coordinated since 1985
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Paradies LagardèrecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025National partnership launched through exclusive airplane plush toy 'Skyler' sold in Paradies Lagardère-operated airport retail stores across the United States. Each Skyler purchase supports free flights for children and families. One-year anniversary celebrated April 2026. Launched at 2025 Airport Experience Conference in Washington, D.C.
• WHSmith North AmericacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership selling Hope and Miles plush bears in 58 WHSmith North America airport locations. Generated $146,940 from 14,694 bears sold. Hope Day proclaimed February 11, 2025 by Mayor Shelley Berkley. WHSmith named 2026 Corporate Navigator Honoree. Chief People Officer Julie Skiba cited for employee volunteerism and community advocacy.
• Thrive AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Las Vegas-based private jet company hosting annual SOARée fundraiser in their 21,000 sq ft hangar overlooking the Las Vegas Strip. Partnership has raised $1.1 million over three years (2023-2025). 2026 goal is $1 million single-year. CEO Curtis Edenfield named 2026 Individual Navigator Honoree. Curtis has aviation background at Southwest Airlines and founded Thrive Aviation with his brother.
• BlacklanecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Ground transportation partner providing free chauffeur rides for traveling families. Since 2019, Blacklane has provided nearly 2,300 free rides to sick children and families. Five-year anniversary celebrated June 2024. 563 rides provided May 2024 - April 2025.
• Southwest AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term airline partner (19+ years) providing flight services and employee volunteer support. Southwest flight supervisor Paul Rogers serves as volunteer ambassador coordinating 2,000+ Las Vegas flight attendants with community service opportunities. Major partner in 100-million-mile celebration October 2024. Integrated into November 'Heart in Action Month'.
• Dr. Matthew Dobbs / Paley Orthopedic & Spine InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Dobbs practices at Paley Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trained under Dr. Ignacio Ponseti (Ponseti method pioneer). Identified first five genes associated with clubfoot. Named 2026 Healthcare Navigator Honoree. Partnership enables families to access specialized clubfoot and orthopedic care. Paley Institute has international locations in Poland, UAE, Colombia.
• SkyHop GlobalsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of SOARée 2025. Contributed to $501,295 raised at the event with 400 attendees.
• Clark County Department of AviationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in 100-million-mile celebration event at Harry Reid International Airport alongside Southwest Airlines and U.S. Representative Dina Titus.
• Quantum HousesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidential facility in West Palm Beach, Florida providing housing support for traveling families receiving treatment at Paley Institute. Connected to families through referral network and community groups.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PALS (Patient AirLift Services): PALS arranges free flights for patients needing medical treatment using volunteer pilots and commercial donations. Comparable to Miracle Flights in mission, beneficiary profile (children with chronic/rare conditions), and nonprofit flight-coordination model, with comparable geographic scope across the US Northeast and Midwest.
• Air Charity Network: Air Charity Network is a national umbrella coordinating free air transport for patients and caregivers via member organizations and commercial airline partnerships. Comparable to Miracle Flights in mission (medical access via donated flights), target beneficiaries (medically fragile patients), and operating model (charitable coordination of commercial flights).
• Angel Flight: Angel Flight is a nonprofit that coordinates free air transportation for medically challenged children and adults, using a network of volunteer pilots and commercial-donated flights. It is the most direct operational peer to Miracle Flights, sharing the medical-flight charity model, donor-supported revenue model, and US-domestic scope.
• Mercy Medical Angels: Mercy Medical Angels provides free non-emergency medical air transportation via commercial airline tickets and volunteer pilot networks. Direct peer to Miracle Flights on service model (donated commercial flights for medical patients), funding model (donations/corporate partners), and patient population (children and adults needing distant care).
• Wings of Hope: Wings of Hope is a nonprofit providing free medical air transport globally, including for children in developing regions. Peer to Miracle Flights on medical-flight charity model and pediatric focus, though differentiated by international scope and a mix of aircraft types including donated small planes.
• Corporate Angel Network: Corporate Angel Network arranges free flights for cancer patients using empty seats on corporate jets. Direct peer to Miracle Flights on free-medical-flight mission, donor/corporate funding model, and pediatric patient focus, though differentiated by aircraft type (corporate jets vs. commercial airlines).
• Children's Flight of Hope: Children's Flight of Hope provides free commercial flights specifically for children with medical needs and their families. The closest child-only direct peer to Miracle Flights, with overlapping pediatric medical-flight mission, similar corporate airline partnerships, and US-domestic service area.
• Pilots for Patients: Pilots for Patients coordinates free flights using volunteer pilots for patients needing medical care. Direct peer to Miracle Flights on medical-flight charity model, nonprofit funding base, and recurring-need patient population, though operating via general aviation rather than commercial airline coordination.

Broad incumbents

• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children with critical illnesses, often involving travel experiences. Adjacent peer to Miracle Flights on pediatric medical charity mission and donor/sponsor revenue model, but focuses on wish-fulfillment travel rather than recurring medical treatment access.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Ronald McDonald House Charities provides lodging and support for families with sick children receiving medical treatment far from home. Adjacent to Miracle Flights on pediatric medical-mission and family-support focus, but addresses the lodging/temporary-housing side rather than transportation—often serving the same families at different stages of the care journey.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/miracleflights
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MiracleflightsOrg1
• Facebookfacebook.com/MiracleFlights
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/miracle-flights
• Instagraminstagram.com/miracleflights

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Miracle Flights For Kids