Sky-High Commitment

Dedicated to supporting its community, Alaska Airlines has become a top supporter of Fred Hutchinson’s cancer research

A colorful quilt, each patch a piece of artwork created by students at the Hutch School, hangs prominently on the wall of Bill MacKay’s office.

“I’ve had more people comment on it and ask me about it,” said Bill, vice president of public and government affairs at Alaska Airlines. “It helps keep me centered about the important things in life.”

The students at the Hutch School — a program for school-aged patients and family members temporarily living in Seattle during cancer treatment — get early lessons in life’s important things. The school’s unique, supportive environment draws the admiration and support of many in the community.

Bill’s quilt does more, however, than make a personal statement. It also symbolizes his company’s sky-high commitment to being a generous corporate citizen.

Over the years, Alaska Airlines has become one of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s top corporate supporters. The Seattle-based company has found a way to donate something even more valuable than cash — seats on its airplanes. When combined with hotel rooms and other travel perks, airline tickets create vacation packages that frequently bring more than face value at the center’s fund-raising auctions.

“We have found that by donating tickets, we’re increasing the value of the donation because travel is always a desirable item and people will often bid more knowing they’re supporting an organization like Fred Hutchinson,” Bill said.

This year, Alaska will donate 54 round-trip tickets valued at $70,200. The tickets will be used at eight fund-raising events, including the Hutch Holiday Gala and the Travel and Leisure Auction.

“We feel truly blessed. Alaska Airlines has been tremendously generous to Fred Hutchinson,” said Tori Griffith, director of guilds and special events. “Even during tough economic times, their support has never wavered. And the tickets they give us have no blackout dates, which makes them even more valuable to auction bidders. That is a very generous thing for an airline to do.”

Besides bringing high returns at auctions, the tickets also help inspire volunteers to increase their efforts for events such as the Climb to Fight Breast Cancer, Griffith said. “The idea of winning two tickets for collecting the most pledges can inspire a climber who was going to raise $10,000 to raise $15,000 instead,” she said.

Alaska’s donations to Fred Hutchinson reflect the company’s long-standing commitment to support the communities where it does business. “We currently support about 2,000 nonprofits, but Fred Hutchinson represents one of our largest donations,” said Donna Hartman, corporate contributions administrator. “The center has been doing very good work for a long, long time.”

Personal commitment

After many years of regular donations, Alaska’s support for the center reached new heights eight years ago when Bill, a former regional vice president for the airline, moved from Anchorage to Seattle to take his current position.

He already was familiar with Fred Hutchinson through a friendship with a center employee. Unfortunately, he also was familiar with cancer. Bill’s wife, Nancy, had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease shortly before they moved to Seattle. Thanks to an early diagnosis, she was treated successfully.

For Bill, it all added up to a lot of good reasons to establish stronger ties with Fred Hutchinson. “I had come to believe that cancer will touch us all at one point or another, either directly or indirectly,” Bill said. “After I arrived in Seattle, we sat down and worked out a strategy to expand our relationship with the center.”

Bill was instrumental in helping to increase Fred Hutchinson’s share of Alaska’s annual corporate donations. “What impressed me most about Fred Hutch was the dedication of the staff at all levels,” he said. “I can’t think of anything we do that’s more important than trying to help them do such incredible work.”

The success story that put the company in a position to support charitable causes is an interesting tale in itself.

The Alaska Airlines story began in 1932 when Mac McGee started flying his three-seat airplane between Anchorage and Bristol Bay. A merger with Star Air Service in 1934 created the largest airline in Alaska. Flying in those days wasn’t scheduled. Flights typically left when the plane was full — be it passengers, furs or groceries. Over the years, Alaska grew from a small regional airline to one of the most respected in the nation. Carrying more than 12 million customers per year, Alaska’s route system spans more than 40 cities and three countries.

The Alaska spirit

In addition to its business success, the company takes special pride in the “Alaska spirit” — a can-do attitude derived from the airline’s roots as a pioneer in a vast and rugged territory where neighbor helping neighbor is a fact of life and where aviation plays a vital role in uniting a far-flung population.

“Alaska Airlines has always had a tremendous impact on life in Alaska,” Bill said. “If you want to go anywhere, you have to fly, and we’ve always been the largest provider of air transportation in the state.”

As Alaska Airlines has grown, so has its tradition of responding to the needs of the communities it serves. Last year, the company’s Corporate Giving Program contributed $5.5 million to nonprofit organizations — most of it in the form of airline tickets. “It’s nice that we have something we can provide that everybody loves,” Donna said.

While the contributions support everything from the arts to the environment, the airline gives priority to two categories: medical/emergency and social/community services.

The tickets Alaska donates do more than help organizations raise money. They also go to groups that assist people who need to travel for medical care but have trouble affording airfares. Many out-of-town Fred Hutchinson patients receive this generous help.

“We try to lend a hand where we think we can be the most help and where help is needed, and we encourage others to do the same,” Bill said. “We are especially proud of our association with Fred Hutchinson and hope to see it continue for many years to come.”

Brad Broberg is a Seattle-area freelance writer and regular contributor to Quest.