Dad Spearheads Donations of 350,000 Airline Miles to Those Who Can’t Afford Holiday Travel

For the last four years, Peter Shankman has been helping people who can’t afford to fly home for the holidays by donating frequent flyer miles. This year, the initiative has gone farther than Shankman could have ever envisioned.

Shankman launched the 2016 giveaway on November 26 with an Imgur post. Shankman described his own work-related travels, his history of giving away miles, and his relationship with his daughter. He also explained the specifics of the giveaway. First, entrants would write their stories as Imgur posts, and winners would be chosen based on which stories received the most upvotes.

Shankman initially believed he’d be able to send two or three travelers home. But other people — inspired by his deeds — donated miles through a partnership with travel site Abroaders. As a result, he was able to expand that to 10 winners. Now he and his young daughter are in the process of booking the flights, which fills Shankman with pride.

”I took her to San Francisco with me on a business trip earlier this year and she totally got the concept of air travel and miles,” he told Huffington Post. “She knows that good deeds are important. It’s pretty awesome.”

Shankman also told HuffPost that he’d already notified those who’d been chosen, many of whom were shocked.

“I think they were amazed that I was serious,” he said. “It’s the internet ― you don’t expect that.”

Donations are still being accepted by Abroaders until Friday, and more winners will be chosen if enough miles come in.