Northwest Airlines AirCares Charity Program Partners With Children's HeartLink

MINNEAPOLIS, July 10, Northwest Airlines  today announced that its newest partner in the Northwest AirCares charitable support program is Children's HeartLink. The partnership is designed to recognize the work of Children's HeartLink and to encourage contributions to the non-profit organization.

Children's HeartLink joins more than 30 other non-profit organizations that have taken their message worldwide through the Northwest Airlines AirCares program.  Members of Northwest's WorldPerks free travel program who contribute at least $50 to Children's HeartLink will earn 500 WorldPerks Bonus Miles from July 1 to September 30, 2002.

"Children's HeartLink is a wonderful organization that has positively impacted many children and their families," said Mary Carroll Linder, Northwest Airlines' senior vice president corporate and brand communications. "We at Northwest Airlines are proud to be their partner and assist their mission of helping save children's lives."

The three-month partnership features promotional on-board and video announcements, feature articles in Northwest's in-flight magazine, WorldTraveler, and placement on Northwest's web site http://www.nwa.com/ .

"What a simple way to make a difference in the life of a child.  By flying Northwest Airlines, people can help to save children's lives," said Claudia Liebrecht, President of Children's HeartLink.  "Children's HeartLink is honored to benefit from Northwest Airlines AirCares program's generous support that allows us to share health care with underserved parts of the world."

Children's HeartLink is an international medical charity dedicated to the treatment and prevention of heart disease in needy children.  The organization provides treatment, medical equipment and supplies as well as training for medical professionals at their partner sites to ensure children continue to receive treatment long after medical teams leave.  Since the organization was established in 1969, Children's HeartLink has assisted children in 29 different countries and made an impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.

AirCares is Northwest's global community support program, which was developed in 1992.  Through the AirCares nonprofit partner program, Northwest works in partnership with national and international nonprofit organizations that reflect its corporate values and community concerns.  AirCares partner organizations are selected for a quarter of the year and receive Northwest's assistance through a major awareness, fund-raising and support campaign utilizing on-board communications to reach an audience of more than 4.8 million passengers a month.

Northwest Airlines is the world's fourth largest airline with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam and more than 1,700 daily departures.  With its travel partners, Northwest serves nearly 750 cities in almost 120 countries on six continents.