December 19, 2007

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas..at the Lehigh Valley International Airport this Year.

...Especially for Children from the Dream Come True® Foundation of the Lehigh Valley as They Board the North Pole Express.

The Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority (LNAA), in conjunction with Allegiant Air, Inc., have arranged to take 97 children from Dream Come True® who are seriously, chronically or terminally ill to the North Pole this year for personal visits with Santa. The flight will take place on Tuesday, December 18, 2007. Allegiant Air, adopted the concept and provided an MD-80 airplane, captain, first officer and flight crew. The Airport Authority donated the fuel, ground crew and ticket counter agents. On Tuesday, December 18th, at approximately 6:00 p.m.

The flight to the "North Pole" will officially depart from the Lehigh Valley International Airport. The Dream children, elves, reporters and broadcasters will make the long trip to the North Pole.

After the children check in at the Allegiant Air ticket counter they are guided to different stations that represent each of Santa's reindeer. They will receive gifts of antlers, jingle bells and more from each station. The children and their families will be entertained at the gate by the Liberty High School bagpipers and the Emmaus High School Show Choir. Then they will board the MD-80 bound for the North Pole. In flight, they will be treated to cookies and milk, a reading of a Christmas story, and sing Christmas carols. Once on ground, they will be greeted by a cast of characters such as "Tip the Crayon", the Just Born PEEP®, elves, fairy princess' to name a few. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also greet the children on the top of a LNAA fire engine as they debark the plane. They will see to it that the children are fed a hearty meal at the "North Pole." There, each child will have a chance to sit on Santa's lap and whisper a wish in his ear, have their photo taken, and receive a goody bag filled with gifts and surprises. Santa, Mrs. Claus and his fairy princess will reveal the clue as to how the children will return to the Lehigh Valley!!!

The project has been a labor of love for the Dream Come True® Foundation and all aspects of airport operations who could not have done the job without the assistance of the following businesses:

Allegiant Air, Inc., Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority, Binney & Smith, Just Born, Homewood Suites, The Crossings Premium Outlets, Emmaus Bakery, L.A. Café, Allentown FOP, AAA East Penn, Staybridge Suites and Hilton Garden Inn and various individual donations.