Graham Kilmer

Packers Sponsor Milwaukee Airport Make-A-Wish Flights

Green Bay Packers make multi-year donation to flights for Make-A-Wish children.

By - Jun 30th, 2026 02:30 pm

Airport director Brian Dranzik Unveils new Make-A-Wish Kids Zone branding. Photo taken June 30, 2026, by Graham Kilmer.

The Green Bay Packers announced a multiyear donation Tuesday to support Make-A-Wish Foundation flights out of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.

The Make-A-Wish mission is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Packers Give Back, a community outreach initiative, is committing $25,000 a year for three years toward travel costs for Make-A-Wish families traveling through Milwaukee Mitchell. On hand for the announcement Tuesday was the Fletcher family, whose daughter, Delilah, went on a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World last year.

The Packers and Make-A-Wish have been working together for the past 40 years. Packers home games are a common Make-A-Wish destination for families. Seventy-five percent of Make-A-Wish Wisconsin trips granted each year require airline travel, and the majority fly through Milwaukee Mitchell, said Wendy Cozzens, CEO of Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, during a press conference at the airport.

“We have witnessed firsthand how Wish can be a turning point in someone’s journey, and being part of the wishes makes an incredible impact on our players, our coaches, and our staff,” said Cathy Dvorak, director of community outreach and player alumni relations.

In 2025, the airport opened Make-A-Wish Kids Zones for families traveling with children. The kids zones offer a play space for children two through five. As part of the new Packers partnership, new signage has gone up in the Kids Zones advertising a QR code that travelers can use to donate airline miles to Make-A-Wish families.

“This rebranding is the result of a meaningful partnership between Make-A-Wish Wisconsin and Green Bay Packers Give Back,” said Airport Director Brian Dranzik. “These are spaces that bring comfort, joy and a sense of wonder to children and families traveling through our airport.”

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