Alaska Airlines & Mariners Wish For More HR's

The Seattle Mariners and Alaska Airlines today announced a multi-year sponsorship that makes Alaska the ballclub's official airline. The central activation element of the new sponsorship ties in longtime Alaska Airlines and Mariners cause partner, the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Alaska Airlines will donate 10,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles for every Mariners home run and 40,000 miles for every Mariners grand slam at Safeco throughout the season.

"As a longtime Mariners sponsor, Alaska Airlines is excited to enhance its partnership to include a program that will benefit children with life-threatening medical conditions," said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing. "With stars like Ken Griffey Jr., we're confident the Mariners will maintain their average of 71 home runs and two grand slams a year, and when they do, the 'Home Runs for Wishes' program will raise nearly 800,000 miles for the Make-A-Wish Foundation."

Alaska Airlines has supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation since 1985 and each year provides the local chapter with about in-kind donations amounting to 350 airline tickets that send children and their families to wish destinations.

"Alaska Airlines and Make-A-Wish both have longstanding relationships with the Seattle Mariners, and we are pleased to facilitate a program that will benefit so many kids and families across the Northwest, Montana and Alaska," said Bob Aylward, Seattle Mariners' executive vice president of business operations.

Alaska's sponsorship will include a sweepstakes inviting fans to enter for a chance to win baseball game tickets and airfare for two to either New York or Boston, when the Mariners play in August. When at home, fans will see new Alaska Airlines signage on Safeco's center field scoreboard as well as home plate rotational signage.