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Southwest Airlines One Report: Our Communities

lnieto
Employee
Employee

This is the fifth of a series of future posts about our new 2009 Southwest One Report ™—a single report on our triple bottomline of Performance, People, and Planet adhering to Global Reporting Initiative standards.

Question:  What do the following have in common?
-Congressional Art Competition
-GLAAD Media Awards
-Latino Leaders Network
-Jenesse Center
-Tuskegee Airmen

Answer:  Southwest Airlines proudly supports these organizations, events, and countless other activities in the cities we serve as we work hand in hand with community partners across the country. 

Southwest Airlines proudly partners with those who are helping shape our communities all across America.  Each city is unique with a robust blend of neighborhood qualities that make it a fun, diverse, and distinct American city.  As an airline, we have the opportunity to become part of the fabric of the communities we serve by supporting the organizations, events, and issues that are important to that city.

Southwest Airlines recently introduced our 2009 Southwest One Report™—a “year in review” report that focuses on our triple bottomline of Performance, People, and Planet.  The One Report is just that—a single document that combines a report on our financial performance along with our corporate responsibility and environmental efforts.

Southwest Airlines has always believed that giving back to the community is part of our responsibility, and it is our People who keep our Servant’s Heart beating strongly.  One group dedicated to building relationships in our communities is the Community Affairs & Grassroots Team.  The Team cultivates community/non-profit, business, and grassroots relationships at a national, state, and local level and positions Southwest Airlines as a citizen of the community and Hometown Carrier.  Focusing on community passion points such as education, Leadership, culture & arts, business, and advocacy, Southwest Airlines strives to win the hearts and minds of the people we serve.  In addition, our Team and hundreds of Employees from cities across the country lend their time and talent by serving our communities as mentors, Ambassadors, advocates, and community leaders.

For example, each year we host our Key Contact training, Days on the Hill, which will take place next week in Washington D.C.  This allows our Team to train Employees from all over our system to be effective grassroots advocates for Southwest Airlines.  In short, we teach our People to build strong relationships with their local Congressional Members in order to effectively position Southwest Airlines when future legislative efforts are needed.  In the past, these efforts have been a tremendous help to Southwest Airlines.  When making strides to repeal the Wright Amendment, we were able to rely on our Key Contacts and their existing relationships resulting in a great success for our Company.

“Doing the right thing” is a natural and organic expression of who we are.  Meeting our obligations as good corporate citizens and doing well for the business are both important—each driving our reputation and business results.  Each good deed, when coupled with another can truly make a difference in our daily lives.  Southwest Airlines is committed to our communities and will continue to invest in them with our People and our HEART!

 

1 Comment
Anonymous3118
Explorer C
What is southwest doing in terms of airplane production to reduce negative environmental impact?