Southwest Airlines Community

“I try to be a hardworking guy and help everyone have a good time.” —Kevin Cook, Material Specialist     Born and raised in the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park, Kevin Cook is the hardworking, easygoing Midwestern type. Add his fun-loving humor to the mix and you have the quintessential Southwest Airlines type. Kevin spends his days as a Material Specialist at Chicago’s Midway Airport, where he ensures that Mechanics have the parts they need to maintain Southwest’s aircraft. His work ethic and slapstick humor keep the productivity high and the mood fun during busy shifts. Kevin makes his Coworkers smile and keeps our Customers headed to their destinations safely and on time. His specialty is doing impersonations, but we think Kevin is a shining star just for being himself.        Lesson Learned “Don’t judge people too soon. Some people I didn’t think I’d get along with at first turned out to be great friends.”   Tinley Park Tips “Go to Swallow Cliff Woods. The hundred-plus limestone stair climb will get your heart going thump thump thump.”   Pack It Up “Material Specialists do a lot behind the scenes. The slides, oxygen bottles, and all those things that are hazardous sometimes have to be shipped. We have to know how do it the right way.”   ... View more

Our hearts go out to those along the East Coast affected by Hurricane Irene.  As a Company we stand for helping communities prepare for disaster, but also providing comfort and aid when these events occur.  We know many of you are watching Hurricane Irene’s path and wondering how you can help as well. Over the weekend, the Red Cross operated or supported nearly 500 shelters with more than 27,000 residents. Shelters now stretch from North Carolina to Maine. Since cash is the primary need at this time we have provided a link to Southwest’s own web page on the Red Cross web site for anyone wishing to make a donation to American Red Cross at http://american.redcross.org/southwestairlines-pub.  This site is for Southwest Employees, as well as Family, Friends, and Customers. Southwest is a proud sponsor of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, which means we support the Red Cross with an annual commitment of cash and tickets that can be used not only to prepare for such events, but also so that there is no delay in the Red Cross’ ability to support recovery.  The American Red Cross has stepped in to support efforts along the East Coast.  So through our sponsorship we’ve already gone to work to help! Here’s how your immediate gift will help: $40 can supply hot meals for a family of 4. $50 can buy 4 days of baby supplies like diapers, wipes and formula. $100 can buy clean-up kits for 5 families whose homes have been damaged (including a mop, broom, trash bags and cleaning supplies). For requests for travel or other disaster related assistance please go to www.southwest.com/donations and select Disaster Preparedness and Response as organization type.  ... View more

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys aren’t the only ones with an Empire State of Mind! This week, the Conservation in Action Tour joins the glossy lights of Times Square--15,000 square feet of LED lights, to be exact. The Tour is featured on a Times Square digital billboard that climbs 25 stories above Broadway. According to AdWeek, it's one of the nation's premium ad spaces. There are roughly 75,000 pedestrians that walk within view of the board at any given hour of the day on any given day. The display features pictures from our conservation projects that have taken place across the country and includes photos of our volunteers in Dallas and Denver! Our partner in the Conservation in Action Tour, American Eagle Outfitters, generously shared their ad space with us to promote the cause of conservation. What an awesome and welcomed surprise! The Conservation in Action Tour is currently on the second half of its journey.  To see if it's stopping through your town, visit the Tour 40 page. To read about the team's travels, click here.   ... View more

Saturday, May 28, is Denver’s third annual Denver Day of Rock presented by Concerts for Kids, a nonprofit organization that puts on musical events and distributes the proceeds to children’s charities in the Denver area. Great concept, huh? We thought so too. That’s why Southwest Airlines is proud to be a stage sponsor of this great event that will bring more than 20 bands to five stages along 16 th Street for a free day of rock in downtown Denver! We want to bring YOU in for the fun! So in the spirit of rockin’ out, go to www.denverdayofrock.com and check out the DANCE, DANCE, DANCE video. The video features a how-to of the Cupid Shuffle for the larger-than-life flash mob that’s happening at May 28, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. Upload a video of yourself breakin’ it down and Cupid Shuffling your heart out. If your dance moves and rock attire are awesome enough, you can win two VIP passes to Denver Day of Rock, a two-night stay at the 2 nights at The Oxford Hotel, and of course, we’ll fly you to Denver for free! The fabulous Oxford Hotel is also throwing in complimentary valet parking, a choice of a 50 minute massage or 50 minute facial at The Oxford Club Spa & Salon for each guest, and two signature martinis at the iconic Cruise Room at The Oxford Hotel. To enter, upload your video to YouTube and share the link on Twitter using the #DenverDayofRock hashtag.  Southwest Airlines will have a panel of highly-qualified judges who watch EVERY season of Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. They know they’re stuff.  So warm up those feet and charge up the camera and show us what ya got! CONTEST RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.  VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED.  MUST BE LEGAL U.S. RESIDENT, 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. 1.   How to Enter the Contest a.    Southwest Airlines “Denver Day of Rock“ (“Contest”) will begin on or around 9 a.m. CT on May. 25, 2011 and will end on or around 9am on May 26, 2011. b.    Southwest Airlines is not responsible for lost, stolen, mangled, mis-delivered, postage due, illegible, incomplete or late entries, telephone service outages, delays, busy signals, equipment malfunctions and any other technological difficulties. c.    To participate in the Contest, you may enter via the following method: Upload a video to YouTube and share the link on Twitter, using the hashtag “#DenverDayofRock”   All entries submitted become the sole property of Southwest Airlines and will not be acknowledged or returned.  .  By submitting an entry, you affirm and represent that you have permission from all parties appearing in the video to submit it as a contest entry, and that you hereby grant, transfer and assign to Sponsor all rights, title and interests in and to the video so that Sponsor has the right to use, not use, display, edit, and create derivative works from the entry in any and all media, worldwide, without limitation or further obligation to you or any other party. Video entries containing profanity, nudity, violence or other content deemed inconsistent with the Southwest Airlines brand, as determined in Sponsor's sole discretion, will be disqualified.  Use of any device to automate entry is prohibited.  Proof of submission of an entry shall not be deemed proof of receipt by Southwest.  Southwest Airlines computer is the official time keeping device for the contest.  Southwest is not responsible for entries not received due to difficulty accessing the internet, service outage or delays, computer difficulties or other technological glitches. d.    One internet entry per YouTube account is permitted. 2.   Eligibility Restrictions a.    The contest is open to all persons who are legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and 21 years of age or older. Employees, and directors of Southwest Airlines . Airtran Airways, and the members of their immediate families (spouse, parents, children, and siblings, and their spouses) and individuals living in the same households are ineligible to participate or win. b.    Only one winner per household is permitted in any Contest administered by Southwest. c.    Entrants are required to provide truthful information and Southwest will reject and delete any entry that it discovers to be false or fraudulent.  Southwest Airlines will disqualify any entry from individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements, and Southwest Airlines will also delete any entry received from persons under the age of 13 in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. 3.   Prizes: a.   One (1) First Place Prize: Winner will receive a trip for two (2) (winner and guest, age 21 or older) to Denver  from the nearest airport to the winner’s home served by Southwest for a two-night stay at the Oxford Hotel.  Trip includes round trip airfare on Southwest Airlines, 2 VIP tickets to Denver Day of Rock, 2-night standard double occupancy hotel accommodations (one room, room rate and taxes only), complimentary valet parking, and a choice of a 50 minute massage or 50 minute facial at The Oxford Club Spa & Salon for each guest.  (Approximate Retail Value ("ARV"): $1,500) but will vary depending on travel origination and fares in effect at the time of departure.  Certain travel restrictions may apply.  Travel arrangements must be made through Sponsor’s agent.  No prize substitutions, cash equivalent, or transfer of prizes permitted except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Prize subject to availability and the Sponsor reserves the right, at their sole discretion, to award a prize of greater or equal value if the advertised prize is unavailable.  If any winner cannot travel on dates specified by Sponsor, winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner selected.  All other costs not specifically stated herein, including, but not limited to, taxes, meals, tips and ground transportation, are the responsibility of the winner.  Taxes are solely the responsibility of the winner.  Winner and travel companion must travel on the same itinerary and are responsible for obtaining all required travel documents.  In addition, travel companion of Winner must be 21 years of age or older.  Winner may be required to present a valid credit card upon hotel check in to cover any incidental expenses incurred during their stay.  Winner and travel companion are responsible for obtaining travel insurance (and all other forms of insurance) where applicable, at their option, and hereby acknowledge that the Sponsor has not and will not obtain or provide travel insurance or any other form of insurance.  Winner and travel companion must sign a Publicity, Liability Waiver and Travel Release form prior to traveling. If a selected event is unable to take place as scheduled, for reasons such as cancellation, preemption, postponement or unavailability, or for any reason beyond the control of the Sponsor, the Sponsor’s and contest entities’ sole responsibility to a Winner will be to award the remaining available portion of the prize and no substitution will be provided for unawarded portion of prize. Tickets are subject to terms and conditions as specified by issuer.  Sponsor and Contest Entities reserve the right to remove or to deny entry to winner and/or guest if he/she engages in a disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person during their trip. b.    In the event that a prize or prize certificate is mailed to the winner, it will be with the prior written consent of the winner and therefore, winner assumes the risk of its loss.  Sponsor is not responsible for the safe arrival of a prize or prize certificate. 4.   Selection of Winners Decisions of judges with respect to the Contest are final.  This is a contest of skill. a.    The winner of the Denver Day of Rock Contest will be selected by a Southwest Airlines panel of judges from the Communications department. The judges will be judging on the following qualities: • Creativity and Originality: 20% • Entertaining: 25% • Southwest Appeal: 35% entry should reflect our Culture and Fun-LUVing Attitude. • Rules: 20% Read and complied with the official rules. b.    Your chances of winning depend on how well your entry reflects the judging criteria, as compared to the other entries in the contest. c.    Winner need not listen or be present to win d.    Winners must execute and return any required affidavit of eligibility and/or liability/publicity release within one (1) day of notification attempt or prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner may be chosen. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return the required affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within the required time period, or if a prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize. 5.   Conditions a.    Payments of all federal, state and local taxes are solely the responsibility of the winners.  Winners may be required to sign an IRS Form W-9 or the equivalent. b.    By participating in the contest, the winner agrees to have their name, voice, or likeness used in any advertising or broadcasting material relating to this contest without additional financial or other compensation, and, where legal, to sign a publicity release confirming such consent prior to acceptance of the prize. c.    Prior to awarding any prize or prize certificate, Southwest Airlines in its sole discretion may require contest winner (and their travel companions, if any) to sign a liability release, agreeing to hold Southwest Airlines, subsidiary and affiliated corporations, and the officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents and representatives of each harmless against any and all claims or liability arising directly or indirectly from the prize or participation in the Contest. d.    Southwest Airlines, in is sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process, the operation of Southwest Airlines website or is otherwise in violation of the rules.  It further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the contest if it is not capable of completion as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention or technical failures of any sort. e.    Sponsor reserves the right to make changes in the rules of the Contest, including the substitution of a prize or equivalent value, which will become effective upon announcement.  If due to circumstances beyond the control of Sponsor, any competition or prize-related event is delayed, rescheduled, postponed or cancelled, Sponsor reserves the right, but not the obligation, to cancel or modify the contest and shall not be required to award a substitute prize. f.     Failure to comply with the Contest rules may result in a contestant’s disqualification solely at the discretion of the Sponsor. g.    The Sponsor is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the printing, the offering or the administration of the Contest, or in the announcement of a prize. h.    Copies of the written Contest rules and a list of winners (when complete) are available during regular business hours at Southwest Airlines Emerging Media 2702 Love Field Dr. Dallas, TX 75235. i. Sponsor : Southwest Airlines Co., 2702 Love Field Drive, HDQ 1PR, Dallas, TX 75235   ... View more

Southwest Airlines isn’t the only organization issuing a challenge during National Volunteer Week. (On Monday we announced our 40 Hours for 40 Years Employee Volunteer Pledge). The Mission Continues, a nonprofit organization focused on providing service opportunities to veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, launched The Mission Continues Challenge that asks all Americans to dedicate ten minutes of their time to learn about issues facing veterans returning from Iraq & Afghanistan, tell ten friends about what they’ve learned, and donate ten dollars to challenge this generation of veterans to become citizen leaders. You can take the challenge now at their web site. Southwest Airlines shares The Mission Continues’ dedication to service and as a proud sponsor of this organization, we’re excited to help raise awareness for this cause. In addition to The Challenge, The Mission Continues provides opportunities for the public to volunteer alongside veterans year-round.   The Mission Continues is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The organization’s mission is to build an America where every returning veteran can serve again as a citizen leader, and where together we honor the fallen by living their values through service. The organization offers paid service fellowships to wounded and disabled veterans, awarding 128 fellowships in 25 states to date. The Mission Continues has engaged 15, 624 civilian and veteran volunteers to complete 271 service projects across the nation. If giving back is your challenge and military members and their families are your passion, check out The Mission Continues for a list of upcoming projects across the county. ... View more

This week Southwest Airlines celebrates National Volunteer Week in a big way by issuing a challenge to our 35,000 Employees! In honor of our 40 years of service and our rich history of giving back, Southwest Airlines today launches the 40 Hours for 40 Years volunteer pledge for Employees. For every 40 hours volunteered at a nonprofit by an Employee or group of Employees, Southwest Airlines will donate a complimentary, roundtrip ticket to that organization through its ongoing Tickets for Time program. The Tickets for Time program is Southwest’s way of supporting the causes that are closest to its Employees hearts. The 40 Hours for 40 Years volunteer pledge is an extra effort by our Company to encourage Employee volunteerism across our system. In a year where we’ll ring in 40 years of service with lots of celebrations and pats on the back; we will also give a big hug to the communities that have given so much to us by getting out there and volunteering. We hope to log more volunteer hours this year than ever before through the 40 Hours for 40 Years Pledge. There’s a lot more to come this year. We’re excited to amp up our volunteer efforts in every city we serve! Stay tuned this week for more stories of this positive impact of volunteers. For more information about Southwest Airlines community outreach, visit Southwest.com/Citizenship. ... View more

Last Friday, I went to a retirement party for a colleague, Annie, who was saying goodbye after 32 years with Southwest Airlines. I’m not gonna lie, I’m not even 32 years old, so to join her in celebrating a career that spanned three decades was an experience I’ll not soon forget. As she tearfully delivered a speech to the group, I was moved by one particular statement.  She said, “You know, Southwest hires good people, but we become better after working here.” What an incredible statement to be said about a company. But for those of us who spend our days at Southwest Airlines, we get it. We’re a living and breathing family of 35,000. As family goes, there are times you ban together, challenge each other, celebrate one another, and sometimes, if times are tough, you fight to survive. I think about the milestones Annie must have experienced here in her 32 years. She saw our airline grow from a fleet of a couple planes to become the largest domestic carrier in the United States, and everything in between. Last week, our Family was honored as one of Fortune’s World's Most Admired Companies. We’re humbled by this recognition from our peers. There are a lot of factors that go into determining what makes a company admirable. For me, however, it’s testimonies like Annie’s that tell the true story of a company’s heritage. It’s about taking care of your People. When they’re happy, Customers are happy. When Customers are happy, Shareholders are happy. It’s a domino effect, and it’s been Southwest’s philosophy for 40 years. Southwest Airlines answers to more than just the bottomline. In fact, we say we answer to the Triple Bottomline of People, Planet, and Performance. The Southwest Airlines One Report ™ is our annual report that speaks to our finances, our People, and the communities in which we operate. We know that our Company’s sustained profitably depends on all three factors.  So thank you to Fortune for this great honor, but more importantly, thank you to the Employees of Southwest Airlines who, like Annie, give of their time, talents and heart to ensure the success of our airline through the best of times and the worst of times.  To learn more about Southwest Airlines One Report ™, visit Southwest.com/cares. ... View more

Stem-cell transplants, rigorous chemotherapy, clinical trials, hospitals—these sound like words you’d read in a medical textbook and, unless you’re a doctor, these are words most people would not want as part of their everyday vocabulary. But for Michelle Salerno, a patient of Loyola University Medical Center, these words were her life for seven years. In 2002, Michelle was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and the prognosis wasn’t good, but fortunately for Michelle, she’s a fighter. “I was exhausted, and at times I didn’t even know what was going on, but I wouldn’t give up. When one treatment didn’t work, we’d try something else. I knew I could always come back to Loyola, and they would find something else. They give me hope. I know they’re fighting for me, too,” Michelle said. For Michelle, this story has a happy ending. The combination of an effective transplant and a trial treatment has exceeded expectations. She is the healthiest she has been in years. She still travels to Loyola every three weeks to receive an infusion of the new drug, but her life has been transformed. Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago is a partner in the Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program. Through this program, the medical center distributes complimentary, roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines to patients like Michelle who must travel for medical care. Through the Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program, Southwest provides tickets to nonprofit hospitals and medical transportation charities. The tickets are distributed by the organizations to deserving patients and their caregivers. Today, Southwest Airlines announced that more than 60 nonprofit hospitals and charities from across the nation will be participants in its Medical Transportation Grant Program this year. Southwest has nearly doubled the grant program’s 2011 budget with hopes of assisting more than 5,500 patients and family members with their medical-related travel needs. “The feedback we receive from families who benefit from the Medical Transportation Grant Program reaffirms for us that we are meeting a great need during what can be a difficult time in these families’ lives,” said Debra Benton, Southwest Airlines Director of Community Relations and Charitable Giving. “Southwest is proud to be able to provide this program to even more nonprofit hospitals and charities as support for families affected by serious illness.” The Medical Transportation Grant Program is just one way that we partner in the communities where our Employees and Customers live and work. To read more about Southwest Airlines’ community involvement, and to see a full list of partner hospitals across the county, please visit: www.southwest.com/cares. ... View more

Southwest Airlines relies on a dedicated group of local Employees in every city we serve who evaluate and respond to each request for a charitable donation that comes from the community. These “Local Giving Boards” allow local Employees to decide how Southwest can be the hometown carrier when it comes to charitable giving in their communities.  Southwest Airlines focuses our resources primarily on five areas of charitable giving: the Military and it Families, Families Facing Serious Illness, Youth Leadership and Community Involvement, the Environment, and Disaster Preparedness and Response. To celebrate the season of giving, this week we’ll highlight some of our memorable stories from 2010 in each one of these categories. Disaster Preparedness and Response For Southwest Airlines, a charitable focus on Disaster Preparedness and Response is how we plan for the future and how we address crisis as they occur. In 2010, we stretched, flexed, and strengthened our Disaster Preparedness and Response “muscles.”  Each major disaster taught us valuable lessons. Top Lessons Learned in 2010 1. It doesn’t always matter how it started. We watched the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill closely and developed a response task force to keep a constant eye on the effects of the oil spill. No matter how it started, when it comes to disasters, our resources will always be devoted to supporting and protecting our Employees and our communities. We developed a cause-marketing campaign to engage our Customers in the response efforts as well. Southwest’s pledge to donate $1 for every EarlyBird Check-In™ reservation made between September 21 and October 4 resulted in a $100,000 donation to the National Wildlife Refuge Association. 2. It doesn’t always matter where we fly. Southwest provided domestic travel for dozens of medical professionals to meet international flights to Haiti. We reached out to our Red Cross contacts and learned that their biggest need was cash. We donated $25,000 to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund. This disaster taught us that no matter where we fly, our Customers and our Employees look to us to address needs on a global level. Southwest’s Community Relations and Giving Senior Manager said it best: “There are no borders or boundaries when it comes to our common humanity and our need to take care of one another.” 3. It doesn’t always mean cash. We witnessed history in the making in May as flash floods pillaged the streets and homes of the Country Music Capital of the world, Nashville. By the request of the American Red Cross, Southwest delivered 24,000 cans of water to the Red Cross Chapter in Lebanon, Tenn. Our distributor, Bunzl, also contributed cleaning supplies to the donation. When the most immediate need was cash, Southwest donated $10,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Our Internal Customer Care Team responded promptly to immediate Employee needs. 4. It doesn’t always happen overnight. In 2010, Southwest became the first corporate sponsor of The Mass Care Task Force. The Mass Care Task Force (MCTF) is made up of four organizations, each dedicated to disaster preparedness in the Dallas area: The American Red Cross Dallas Area Chapter, North Texas Food Bank, Salvation Army, and the Volunteer Center of North Texas.  Southwest is contributing $345,000 over a five-year period and is the first corporate sponsor of the MCTF. By participating in this first-of-its-kind collaboration, Southwest hopes to support the MCTF’s goal of creating a model that can be used across the country to better prepare us all for the inevitable catastrophic event. For more information on Southwest’s Charitable Giving, visit southwest.com/cares.   ... View more

  Southwest Airlines maintains a dedicated group of local Employees in every city we serve who evaluate and respond to each request for a charitable donation that comes from the community. Southwest Airlines focuses its resources primarily on five areas of charitable giving: the Military and it Families, Families Facing Serious Illness, Youth Leadership and Community Involvement, the Environment, and Disaster Preparedness and Response. To celebrate the season of giving, this week we’ll highlight some of our memorable stories from 2010 in each one of these categories. Youth Leadership and Youth Community Involvement are among Southwest Airlines’ focuses for charitable giving. We know that it benefits our Company, our communities and our entire country when generations rise up to address modern matters with a modern mentality. When we were approached by the Encouragement Foundation earlier this year to join them in a journey across America to film a documentary about “what’s right with the American teenager”, we jumped at the opportunity. The Encouragement Foundation is a nonprofit organization that empowers and encourages youth to make a positive difference in their communities. Southwest flew the Encouragement Foundation Team on their “7 Days Across America” tour to 14 major American cities, stretching from San Francisco to New York. What unfolded in those seven days was the unlikely story of deep compassion, perseverance and selflessness from a generation so often stigmatized with negative stereotypes. On day one, they met up with 11-year-old, Glendale, Arizona, native Braxton Bilbrey who became the youngest swimmer to complete the 1.4 mile "Alcatraz Swim" (age 7) and the 3.5 mile "Around the Rock" swim (age 8)—around the infamous Alcatraz Island—to raise awareness for water safety, in particular childhood drowning. Next stop: Lake Tahoe where they met 10-year-old Ashlee Smith, 2008 Red Cross Real Hero Award Winner and founder of Ashlee’s Toy Closet, a nonprofit that provides toys to children recovering after disasters. After a house fire devastated her home, Ashlee decided to reach out to other children who were in need after similar disasters. To read about the rest of the youth the Encouragement Foundation visited and to view the documentary trailer, visit their web site at www.7daysacrossamerica.com. We were incredibly moved by the stories of these youth and proud to support the missions of organizations like The Encouragement Foundation. To learn more about Southwest’s charitable giving and community involvement, visit southwest.com/cares. ... View more

Southwest Airlines relies on a dedicated group of local Employees in every city we serve who evaluate and respond to each request for a charitable donation that comes from the community. These “Local Giving Boards” allow local Employees to decide how Southwest can be the hometown carrier when it comes to charitable giving in their communities.  Southwest Airlines focuses our resources primarily on five areas of charitable giving: the Military and it Families, Families Facing Serious Illness, Youth Leadership and Community Involvement, the Environment, and Disaster Preparedness and Response. To celebrate the season of giving, this week we’ll highlight some of our memorable stories from 2010 in each one of these categories. You probably wouldn’t know it by looking at him, but John, a father of three and husband to Lynn, is battling cancer. Take the stresses of everyday life: getting the kids to school on time, paying the bills, keeping the family generally happy and healthy. Then, top that with cancer. Now you’re in John’s world. It’s not hard to imagine that these circumstances could quickly feel overwhelming. All of a sudden, you’d be a fighter in a battle that you were never prepared for.  Unfortunately, John’s story is not uncommon. Hundreds of thousands of Americans battle a serious illness every day.  Southwest Airlines is committed to families facing serious illness. That’s why we provide complimentary travel to nonprofit organizations like For Pete’s Sake which aims to strengthen the hearts, minds, and souls of these courageous individuals as they battle the psychological, emotional, economic, and spiritual trauma that accompanies a cancer diagnosis. For Pete’s Sake sent John and his family to Disney World in Orlando for an entire week. It was John and Lynn’s first flight since they had children and it was their children’s very first flight. Southwest was proud to have a small part in this special vacation. They spent their days laughing and playing. “We did not have to WORRY about life, but instead, enjoy it!” John said. It is stories like John’s that remind us that travel is not always just for times when you “wanna get away;” sometimes it is for times when you have to get away. Whether it is for necessary medical treatment or for a time of rejuvenation with your family, Southwest is here to share that journey with these courageous families. For more information on For Pete’s Sake, visit www.crossingthefinishline.org. To learn about Southwest Airline’s Medical Transportation Grant Program and its ongoing commitment to families facing serious illness, visit southwest.com/cares.  And to see more of John’s Journey, please click here. ... View more

For many American troops returning home from their service in Iraq or Afghanistan, the transition can be a difficult one. Some of these heroes return with injuries that require them to adjust to the many complexities that accompany a disability. HelpingaHero.org is a nonprofit organization that provides support for severely injured military personnel. The organization’s principal activity is to provide specially adapted homes for qualifying service members. The most recent recipient of one of these handicap accessible homes is Corporal Zach Briseno. In a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday in Fort Worth, Texas, Corporal Briseno was joined by Mayor Mike Moncrief, Congresswoman Kay Granger, and Helpingahero.com Chairman Meredith Iler. It was a special ceremony for a very special man. Corporal Briseno grew up in a military family. Both of his grandfathers served in the Marine Corp as well as numerous other family members. He knew he wanted to be a Marine when he was only nine years old. In 2005, Corporal Briseno joined the Marine Corp and was deployed to Iraq the following year. His father died one week before his second deployment in 2007. On Nov. 29, 2007, Corporal Briseno and his convoy were hit by an IED and an anti tank mine exploded under their Humvee. Among the injuries he incurred from this explosion, Corporal Briseno required a double amputation of both his legs from the knee down. Faced with the daily challenges that result from the wounds of combat, Corporal Briseno continues to serve his county by helping other wounded heroes as they embark on their road to recovery. His continued service is a testament to his the strength of his spirit and the commitment to his country. At Southwest Airlines, November is Military Heroes Month and we’re proud to feature this hero today and to be a national sponsor of HelpingaHero.org. Corporal Briseno’s home is expected to be ready in the spring of 2011. We wish him and his family many years of happiness in their new home.  For more information please visit HelpingaHero.org.   ... View more

To honor our more than 750 Employees who currently serve in the National Guard and Reserves, along with thousands of Customers who served or are serving in the armed forces, we’re proud to call November “Military Heroes Month.” We hope you’ll join us in celebrating our country’s service men and women this month. We’ll begin our “Military Heroes Month” with The Mission Continues, a nonprofit organization out of St. Louis that endeavors to build an America where every returning veteran can serve again as a citizen leader, and where together we honor the fallen by living their values through service. On a special note, we’d like to congratulate this innovative group. On Thursday, November 4, The Mission Continues was given the Manhattan Institute’s prestigious Social Entrepreneurship Award. The Manhattan Institute established the social entrepreneurship initiative in 2001. It combines research, writing, public speaking, and events on the role of nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations with an award program which recognizes the best of America's new generation of nonprofit leaders. In the years since its establishment, the awards have recognized individuals who have founded organizations effectively providing services addressing key social challenges. Congratulations to The Mission Continues! We’re proud to support your cause.  Take a look at the “Military Heroes Month” events. We might be coming to a city near you. 11/6-11/7 – Official Airline of The Mission Continues Veterans Day Weekend, St. Louis Southwest Airlines will bring together Fellows of The Mission Continues for a weekend of service and celebration. The Mission Continues endeavors to build an America where every returning veteran can serve again as a citizen leader, and where together we honor the fallen by living their values through service.  Southwest Airlines was one of the first corporate sponsors of this organization and has supported their work for the past three years. 11/9 – Operation Freedom Bird Send-off, Phoenix Operation Freedom Bird provides a unique healing journey to Arizona's veterans of the Vietnam War, giving them an opportunity to confront their feelings, share their experiences, and pay tribute to their fallen comrades-in-arms in a supportive environment of fellow veterans and counselors. Approximately 50 veterans have been selected to participate in a four-day visit to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in Washington, D.C. This is the 12th year Southwest Airlines will support this organization and trip. 11/11 – A Million Thanks, Nationwide Southwest Airlines will join the efforts of the A Million Thanks organization by providing its Customers in airports and onboard the aircraft with a postcard and an opportunity to write a letter of thanks and encouragement to U.S. Military members on Veteran’s Day. Southwest will ship the postcards to service members at no cost to the Customers. A Million Thanks is a year-round campaign to show appreciation to U.S. Military men and women through letters, emails and cards. 11/11 – Veteran’s Day, Nationwide We will make airport and onboard announcements for men and women of the armed forces to priority board and to deplane first, a practice our Employees implement all year long. 11/11 – 24/7 Military Tribute by Southwest Airlines’ Friends & Family - San Antonio San Antonio Employees will celebrate Veteran’s Day by dedicating a commemorative exhibit entitled “24-7 Southwest Airlines’ Family & Friends Tribute to the Military.”  Local Employees organized this exhibit to pay tribute to the Military members who pass through the San Antonio Airport every day. 11/12 – Operation Freedom Bird – Welcome Home, Phoenix  Southwest Airlines will welcome home the Operation Freedom Bird veterans in Hangar Five at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport with a ceremony featuring Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and a performance by platinum recording artist Aaron Tippin. 11/12 – Lone Eagle Honor Flight, Nationwide Southwest Airlines is the Official Airline of the Honor Flight Network and is proud to sponsor the 18 Honor Flights that will take place during the month of November including the Lone Eagle Honor Flight. A Lone Eagle is a WWII Veteran whose application to visit the WWII memorial in Washington, D.C. has been in the organization’s national office for six months or more, yet he or she does not live close to an existing Honor Flight hub. The Honor Flight Network organizes the Lone Eagle trip specifically for these veterans. 11/22 – Helping a Hero, Fort Worth As a corporate sponsor of Helping a Hero, Southwest Airlines will participate in the unveiling of a new home in Fort Worth, Texas. Helping a Hero provides specially adapted homes for qualifying service members as well as engages the community to provide services and resources for wounded heroes and their families. 11/26 - We Are Thankful, Nationwide In celebration of the Thanksgiving Holiday, decorative hearts will be displayed on our aircraft with the wording:  We Are Thankful for our Employees, We Are Thankful for our Customers, We Are Thankful for our Family, and We Are Thankful for our Troops. ... View more

We’re excited to announce a donation of $100,000 to the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) thanks to you! That’s right. From September 21 to October 4 Southwest Airlines committed to donate $1 to the NWRA for every purchase of our EarlyBird Check-In ™ product. With your help, we have reached our $100,000 goal! NWRA will use Southwest’s donation to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire and restore brown pelican nesting sites along the Gulf – this work will help ensure the survival of 10,000 brown pelican chicks next year. So thank you to all you EarlyBird flyers who helped to ensure that these birds keep flying too. In addition to the brown pelican, the NWRA works to permanently protect important wildlife habitat for many Gulf Coast species including seabirds and sea turtles through the acquisition and conservation easements.  NWRA also builds relationships and networks of volunteers as well as key influencers to advocate for wildlife conservation. This giving program is particularly relevant as oil spill recovery efforts in the gulf will continue far into the future.  In celebrating the first anniversary of the Early Bird Check-In product we decided that an investment in our communities was the best gift to both our Employees and our Customers.   Southwest Airlines is proud to support an organization that works hard to conserve our country’s precious wildlife. For more information about the EarlyBird Check-In giving program, visit www.southwest.com . To learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge Association, visit www.refugeassociation.org. ... View more

This year marks the 25th year of the Southwest Airlines Dallas LUV Classic golf tournament benefitting our favorite home away from home, Ronald McDonald House Charities. Over the last 25 years, the LUV Classic has raised more than $11 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Famous for its Fun-LUVing atmosphere and rockin’ after-party, the 25th Anniversary Dallas LUV Classic is sure to be the best yet! To celebrate this milestone anniversary, we’re asking YOU to tell us a reason why “You’d Rather Be Playing Golf than Working.” If your reason is funny enough to make the Top 4, you can win a spot to play in the Dallas LUV Classic tournament and Party, a two-night stay at the Hyatt DFW near the Bear Creek golf course where the tournament is hosted, and of course, we’ll fly you to Dallas for free! Submit your entry to @SouthwestAir via Twitter using the #LUVClassic hash tag. Southwest Airlines will have a panel of highly-qualified comedians and shankapatamuses to select the Top 4. You know you’d rather be swinging the sticks than sitting at your desk, so let us know why! CONTEST RULES “I’d Rather Be Playing Golf” NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.  VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED.  MUST BE LEGAL U.S. RESIDENT, 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. 1.   How to Enter the Contest a.    Southwest Airlines “I’d Rather Be Playing Golf” (“Contest”) will begin on or around 9 a.m. CT on Sept. 22, 2010 and will end on or around 9am on Sept. 23, 2010. b.    Southwest Airlines is not responsible for lost, stolen, mangled, mis-delivered, postage due, illegible, incomplete or late entries, telephone service outages, delays, busy signals, equipment malfunctions and any other technological difficulties. c.    To participate in the Contest, you may enter via the following method: Submit a reason why you’d rather be playing golf than working via Southwest Airlines Twitter account @SouthwestAir using the hashtag “#LUVClassic ”   All entries submitted become the sole property of Southwest Airlines and will not be acknowledged or returned.  Use of any device to automate entry is prohibited.  Proof of submission of an entry shall not be deemed proof of receipt by Southwest.  Southwest Airlines computer is the official time keeping device for the contest.  Southwest is not responsible for entries not received due to difficulty accessing the internet, service outage or delays, computer difficulties or other technological glitches. d.    One internet entry per Twitter account is permitted. 2.   Eligibility Restrictions a.    The contest is open to all persons who are legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and 21 years of age or older. Employees, and directors of Southwest Airlines and the members of their immediate families (spouse, parents, children, and siblings, and their spouses) and individuals living in the same households are ineligible to participate or win. b.    Only one winner per household is permitted in any Contest administered by Southwest. c.    Entrants are required to provide truthful information and Southwest will reject and delete any entry that it discovers to be false or fraudulent.  Southwest Airlines will disqualify any entry from individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements, and Southwest Airlines will also delete any entry received from persons under the age of 13 in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. 3.   Prizes: a.   Four (4) First Prizes: Each winner will receive a trip for two (2) (winner and guest, age 21 or older) to Dallas from the nearest airport to the winner’s home served by Southwest for a two-night stay at the Hyatt DFW.  Trip includes round trip airfare on Southwest Airlines, 2-night standard double occupancy hotel accommodations (one room), a spot to play in the Dallas LUV Classic Tournament, and entry to the Party.  (Approximate Retail Value ("ARV"): $1,500) but will vary depending on travel origination and fares in effect at the time of departure.  Certain travel restrictions may apply.  Travel arrangements must be made through Sponsor’s agent.  No prize substitutions, cash equivalent, or transfer of prizes permitted except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Prize subject to availability and the Sponsor reserves the right, at their sole discretion, to award a prize of greater or equal value if the advertised prize is unavailable.  If any winner cannot travel on dates specified by Sponsor, winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner selected.  All other costs not specifically stated herein, including, but not limited to, taxes, meals, tips and ground transportation, are the responsibility of the winner.  Taxes are solely the responsibility of the winner.  Winner and travel companion must travel on the same itinerary and are responsible for obtaining all required travel documents.  In addition, travel companion of Winner must be 21 years of age or older.  Winner may be required to present a valid credit card upon hotel check in to cover any incidental expenses incurred during their stay.  Winner and travel companion are responsible for obtaining travel insurance (and all other forms of insurance) where applicable, at their option, and hereby acknowledge that the Sponsor has not and will not obtain or provide travel insurance or any other form of insurance.  Winner and travel companion must sign a Publicity, Liability Waiver and Travel Release form prior to traveling. If a selected event is unable to take place as scheduled, for reasons such as cancellation, preemption, postponement or unavailability, or for any reason beyond the control of the Sponsor, the Sponsor’s and contest entities’ sole responsibility to a Winner will be to award the remaining available portion of the prize and no substitution will be provided for unawarded portion of prize. Tickets are subject to terms and conditions as specified by issuer.  Sponsor and Contest Entities reserve the right to remove or to deny entry to winner and/or guest if he/she engages in a disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person during their trip. b.    In the event that a prize or prize certificate is mailed to the winner, it will be with the prior written consent of the winner and therefore, winner assumes the risk of its loss.  Sponsor is not responsible for the safe arrival of a prize or prize certificate. 4.   Selection of Winners Decisions of judges with respect to the Contest are final.  This is a contest of skill. a.    The top 4 reasons why you’d rather be playing golf than working will be selected by a Southwest Airlines panel of judges from the Communications department. The judges will be judging on the following qualities: • Creativity and Originality: 20% • Entertaining: 25% • Southwest Appeal: 35% entry should reflect our Culture and Fun-LUVing Attitude. • Rules: 20% Read and complied with the official rules. b.    Your chances of winning depend on how well your entry reflects the judging criteria, as compared to the other entries in the contest. c.    Winner need not listen or be present to win d.    Winners must execute and return any required affidavit of eligibility and/or liability/publicity release within one (1) day of notification attempt or prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner may be chosen at random. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return the required affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within the required time period, or if a prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize. 5.   Conditions a.    Payments of all federal, state and local taxes are solely the responsibility of the winners.  Winners may be required to sign an IRS Form W-9 or the equivalent. b.    By participating in the contest, the winner or winners agree to have their name, voice, or likeness used in any advertising or broadcasting material relating to this contest without additional financial or other compensation, and, where legal, to sign a publicity release confirming such consent prior to acceptance of the prize. c.    Prior to awarding any prize or prize certificate, Southwest Airlines in its sole discretion may require contest winners (and their travel companions, if any) to sign a liability release, agreeing to hold Southwest Airlines, subsidiary and affiliated corporations, and the officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents and representatives of each harmless against any and all claims or liability arising directly or indirectly from the prize or participation in the Contest. d.    Southwest Airlines, in is sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process, the operation of Southwest Airlines website or is otherwise in violation of the rules.  It further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the contest if it is not capable of completion as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention or technical failures of any sort. e.    Sponsor reserves the right to make changes in the rules of the Contest, including the substitution of a prize or equivalent value, which will become effective upon announcement.  If due to circumstances beyond the control of Sponsor, any competition or prize-related event is delayed, rescheduled, postponed or cancelled, Sponsor reserves the right, but not the obligation, to cancel or modify the contest and shall not be required to award a substitute prize. f.     Failure to comply with the Contest rules may result in a contestant’s disqualification solely at the discretion of the Sponsor. g.    The Sponsor is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the printing, the offering or the administration of the Contest, or in the announcement of a prize. h.    Copies of the written Contest rules and a list of winners (when complete) are available during regular business hours at Southwest Airlines Emerging Media 2702 Love Field Dr. Dallas, TX 75235.   ... 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Across the system, Employees are taking initiative to give back to their communities by volunteering with their favorite charitable organizations. Here at Headquarters, Employees are stepping it up to do a little something extra for the community this summer- in the form of a playhouse designed to look like an airplane. It all started nearly three years ago when David Mount of Community Relations and Charitable Giving, noticed an annual parade of playhouses at Northpark Mall. As it turns out, the playhouses were sponsored by local corporations in an effort to raise funds for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).  CASA is a nonprofit network that supports and promotes court appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in a safe environment.   This year, David decided it was time to give Southwest Employees the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children. Soon, Dale Dixon, Southwest Airlines technician of 15 years, was involved to rally a team of employees to build the playhouse. As it turned out, Dale had no trouble gaining support for the cause.  Steve Taylor, A & B technician, and Bill Darnell, maintenance inspector, had plans for the tree house within 30 minutes of receiving the request from the David and Dale. Dale, Steve, Bill and other maintenance technicians have been putting in hours during their lunch breaks, in the middle of the night and whenever they have a spare moment in order to build the playhouse. On top of it all, AMFA, the mechanics union, is covering all expenses associated with the playhouse.  The playhouse, designed in the shape of a house to look like an airplane, will be complete with cockpit windows, steering wheels, gadgets and real airplane seats. For Dale, Bill and Steve, building the playhouse has been a meaningful way to demonstrate Southwest’s Servant Heart.  All three men have children of their own so they understand the importance of supporting organizations like CASA. Once completed, the playhouse will be displayed at Northpark Mall August 6- August 22 where shoppers can bid on their favorite playhouse. All money raised will benefit CASA. So, if you’re in the Dallas area, show your Southwest Pride by voting on the cannon blue playhouse at Northpark Mall! For more information on how to support CASA through volunteerism or donations, visit www.casaforchildren.org. ... View more

Tune in to tonight’s MLB All-Star Game pre-game show at 6 pm CT/4 pm PT on Fox and see a feature on a nonprofit organization called The Mission Continues.  This organization’s mission is to build an America where every wounded and disabled veteran can serve again as a citizen leader, and honor the fallen by living their values through service.  The Mission Continues awards fellowships to empower wounded and disabled veterans to serve in their communities. Southwest Airlines is proud to be the sponsor of three Mission Continues Fellows.  Southwest Airlines has also sponsored The Mission Continues Veterans Day event in St. Louis for the past two years. “Southwest Airlines has been a gracious sponsor of our organization, and they helped us grow nationwide,” said Eric Greitens, Chief Executive Officer of The Mission Continues. “Today, The Mission Continues has served 66 Fellows, and have had over 7,000 veterans and civilians volunteer with our organization.” Eric Greitens is a Navy SEAL who served and was wounded in Iraq. After returning from the war and visiting with wounded Marines at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Eric found that without exception, the Marines all had a desire to continue serving their country. Shortly after Eric's return, he and his good friend Kenneth Harbaugh founded The Mission Continues. Eric and The Mission Continues will be highlighted in a video during the pre-game ceremony.  Celebrity Matthew McConaughey will be introducing The Mission Continues. Southwest Airlines believes in extending our famous Customer Service beyond our airplanes and into our communities. We’re proud to support an organization that not only supports our country’s bravest individuals, but also shares our passion for service. For more information on The Mission Continues, visit www.missioncontinues.org.   ... View more

This is the fourth in a series of posts about our new Southwest One Report ™—a single report on our triple bottomline of Performance, People, and Planet adhering to Global Reporting Initiative standards. Have you read the Southwest One Report™ yet? You might ask what this report means to you. Well, I’m just going to throw these reasons out there: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Corporate Citizenship, and Sustainability. Have I lost your attention yet? Stay with me. It’s important. I have no doubt that you’ve heard one or all of these words used in relation to a business at some point or another. But what do those words mean to Southwest Airlines and our Customers (or prospective Customers)? Great question. I’m glad you asked. First, let me clear this up. Each of these phrases is completely interchangeable with the other: It’s kind of like how Southwest Airlines calls our Human Resources Department, “The People Department.” They’re the same thing, but we chose to name that department with a title that would resonate with our People and align with our Company values and Culture. The same is true for Citizenship. Each company that practices Citizenship calls it something that speaks to their brand and company values. Whatever you call it, the important thing to know is that Citizenship and the values behind it are driving business strategy for companies around the world including Southwest Airlines. In short, Citizenship is a word used to describe how a company “does the right thing” and functions ethically. It’s making business decisions that not only affect our People, Shareholders, Customers, Communities, and bottomline today, but in the long run, as well. How will the decisions we make today impact future generations? (See, I told you it was important.) The Citizenship umbrella encompasses everything from a company’s philanthropic philosophy, corporate volunteerism, and environmental efforts to its supplier diversity, hiring practices, and sustainability efforts. At Southwest Airlines, we believe that our Citizenship efforts contribute directly to our continued profitability. The Southwest One Report™ is one of the first annual reports of its kind to speak to both the financial health and Citizenship efforts of our Company in the same document. For instance, Southwest knows that when the communities where we operate are prosperous, then our Company will prosper as well. That’s why we are dedicated to charitable organizations, community programming, and supporting Employee volunteerism. One of the community programs close to our hearts is the Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program that provides complimentary travel to medical transportation organizations and hospitals across the country for distribution to patients who must travel for medical care. In 2009, Southwest increased our giving to this program by 33 percent. While “doing the right thing” is nothing new to Southwest Airlines–after all, The Golden Rule is taught in our New Hire training and reiterated in our Leadership development classes–reporting on it in this manner is new. Southwest recognizes that our Employees, Customers, Shareholders, and communities want this information, and we’re pleased to offer a visually appealing piece that is both informative and easy to understand. To read the One Report™ and learn about how your favorite airline is doing well by doing good, visit southwest.com/cares.   ... View more

Independence Day reminds us all of the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans. It’s also a reminder that these freedoms come with a high price. This weekend, Southwest Airlines celebrates with the rest of the country those Service members and their families who devote so much to the cause of liberty. As the Official Airline of the Honor Flight Network, we frequently receive photos of the Honor Flight trips that take place throughout our system year round. Honor Flight Network transports World War II Veterans to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C.   During the third week of June, the Honor Flight Network reached a milestone of transporting 50,000 World War II Veterans. Congratulations on this exciting achievement! We thought this would be a great moment to share a few photos from these flights.   Thank you to Spokane Knight Scene for allowing us to share its beautiful pictures in honor of our country’s Veterans and to celebrate the Independence Day weekend. For more information on The Honor Flight Network, visit www.honorflight.org. To learn more about Southwest’s commitment to the Military and their families, visit www.southwest.com/cares. ... View more

When I was a senior in high school, my dad prepared for my departure to college. You see, I had two older brothers who had moved out of the house a couple years before me, and I would be the last one to leave the nest. I was undoubtedly the most unruly of the three and probably caused my parents the most heartbreak of us all. But I was Dad’s baby girl, and that fact alone guaranteed me unlimited forgiveness, protection and love. I laugh when I think about the times when I would break a rule and my Dad would take me to the side to discipline me and whisper, “Now pretend like you’re upset so your brothers think that you’re in trouble.” We were a team. So when it came time for me to leave for college six hours away from home, my dad spent weeks composing a letter for me. He typed it into the computer I would take with me to college and saved it under a password that I didn’t know. After all the boxes were unpacked in my dorm room, everything was set up and there was nothing left to do, my parents decided it was time to begin the trip back home. That’s when my Dad finally told me the password to unlock the letter he wrote, “Love.” After sharing many tears and hugs, my parents drove away. I was 18 years old, alone in my dorm room, scared to death about what lay ahead, and I opened this letter…  Dear Casey, Freedom is an amazing thing. When the boundaries are not apparent, one can feel overwhelmed by the vastness. The very thing that you have dreamed of for these many years turns out to be somewhat frightening. Don’t worry. You have proven skills handling the unknown. Unfamiliar schedules, people, responsibilities make anyone nervous. These will become your world before long. Own it. What you have before you is a canvas. The choices you make and the effort you bring to the task will take their place on your own piece of art. In many ways your life is just beginning. The little decisions you make now will turn out to be very important. Do you take this major? Which church should you attend? Do I go out with this guy? Should I work? Every one of these choices can be like an intersection. You can only travel down the road you’ve chosen. Choose wisely. Mistakes will be made. Count on it. Don’t fret over them. You can make corrections and God is gracious. Finally, you do not go out alone. It only seems like it. We are still in your life, just not in your face. If you need me to get in your face, I will be happy to oblige. I would prefer to take my place in the stands and cheer you on. You can do anything you want and put your mind to. In the course of eighteen (short) years you have had a lifetime of experiences. Some of these have been positive, some not so much. Every one of them has become a part of your life. You will decide how to process each experience into your view of life. Even the not so good experiences can become a part of you that teaches you and others. I hope you will make the most of your life. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is only a dream. Today is what you have. Carpe Diem. I love you. Love, Dad It’s been seven years since I first read that letter and the message has remained relevant every day. The older I get, the more I appreciate the words my Dad wrote and the time he took to write them.  As Father’s Day approaches, I’m thankful for my Dad who has taken his place “in the stands” cheering on the home team.  And to all the men out there who protect and provide for their families and insure that their children don’t go one day without knowing they are loved, from this daughter to you, happy Father’s Day.   ... View more

As the Official Airline of the Honor Flight Network, Southwest Airlines flies Veterans of World War II all through the year to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C. year round. We’re honored and humbled to be a part of what is a trip of a lifetime for many of these Veterans. Recently, the Honor Flight Network received a beautiful letter from Southwest Customer Margy Pezdirtz who experienced an Honor Flight in progress, and she was so gracious to allow us to share her story for the Memorial Day Holiday: I was sitting at Gate 3 of the Southwest Airlines terminal in Baltimore, Maryland, awaiting my return flight to Oklahoma City when my quietude of reading was disturbed by loud, prolonged clapping. Although I continued to read, I wondered what the noise was about and looked over my shoulder toward the disrupting sounds. Glancing between the celebrants, all I could see was a slowly moving line of red ball caps gliding along at a lower level than the standing crowd. ‘It must be a returning little league team,’ I thought. I wondered how so many parents could have gotten into the terminal through security without boarding passes. I returned to my reading. The applause continued. Intrigued now by the jubilation, I stood to see what was causing such celebration. It didn’t take but a moment to see the ‘kids’ were actually veterans being pushed in wheel chairs through the increasing crowd. Some walked slowly, somewhat stooped. Some stood tall and shook hands as they made their way through the welcoming gathering. The applause continued. Old soldiers of freedom continued to deplane and be wheeled amidst cheering flag wavers. More onlookers gathered and joined in the revelry. Succumbing to curiosity, I collected my purse and carry on bag and went to Gate B2 to stand in honor of these aging warriors who had fought for my freedom to sit in this gate and read a book, to catch a plane to wherever I wanted to go and to write this story. I joined the clapping crowd and smiled through tears as the soldiers continued to come off the plane, each accompanied by an escort wearing a red shirt with an emblem that simply stated "Honor Flight - Dallas." I was beginning to understand the reality of what was happening and my thoughts went to my aging uncle, an ex-husband now deceased, both WW II veterans. I thought of the neighbor boy who went off to fight in the Korean War when I was too small to understand the word war, and of a brother-in-law who actually went to Vietnam instead of misspeaking about going. I thought of my two stepsons who were in Desert Storm and the never ending list of so many young men who went off to war because they thought it was the right thing to do, just as these warriors had done.   Here, in the midst of an airport on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.,  I saw real heroes receiving the honor they had long deserved. These soldiers are old now, tired, and maybe even bewildered by the applauding crowd, but they were quietly smiling. They wore simple blazers and wind breakers but their service ribbons, proudly displayed on their chests, spoke volumes of their bravery. One defender of our country wore a white shirt with a lone Purple Heart Medal displayed on the pocket, as a silent witness to the price he paid for his country. It was enough. He didn’t need the ribbons, the one simple medal told of his gift to me, to my children, and my grandchildren. He stood for honor and integrity then and now. On this day in May, over sixty years later, he was being honored and thanked for this service to us - to our country. These brave men – and women – yes, there were a few – will be ushered around Washington, D.C., to the granite memorials that speak to the struggles they personally experienced. These warriors will be treated with honor and dignity and then put back on a plane to return to their own homes and beds. Perhaps tonight their nightmares of war, buddies wounded and lost, of death and dying will be replaced by dreams of a grateful America. Perhaps. I saw an amazing sight today. I experienced and participated in the long overdue thanks to our real heroes. I tearfully joined a thankful crowd of Americans who have not forgotten what service, honor, and courage mean. To our Veterans, I say Thank You and May God Bless you. May God Bless America, and by His grace, keep us free. Margy Pezdirtz   Thanks Margy, and we hope that everyone takes some time this weekend to reflect upon the true meaning of Memorial Day.  ... View more

Last week Southwest Airlines had the privilege of transporting the U.S. Honor Flag from San Diego to Sacramento. This United States flag flew over Ground Zero after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and since then, the flag continues to fly in support of our country’s heroes. The U.S. Honor Flag has flown over our United States Military in combat zones, the Pentagon, several Presidential Libraries, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial, the National Peace Officers Memorial, in addition to many tributes and funerals, to honor those who have died in the line of duty in service to our communities and our country. The movement of the U.S. Honor Flag includes an authentication process and a ceremonious “hand off” from the Captain to members of local law enforcement. The presentation is designed to include the participation of the Flight Crew and Customers onboard. “The whole event went well thanks to the professionalism of the law enforcement folks that met us in both cities,” said Southwest Airlines Captain Bob Sutherland. The journey of the U.S. Honor Flag is supported by the Honor Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to memorializing those heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their family, community and country and also to fostering education of the American public regarding those heroes and today’s heroes and their organizations including police, fire, and our nation’s military. The Honor Network was founded on the conviction that every person who is committed in service to our communities and country deserve the support of every single American and that an increase in American patriotism is vital in keeping our great nation united. Southwest Airlines has a long history of supporting the men and women who fight for the nation’s Freedoms. We are proud to have more than 700 Employees serve in the National Guard and Reserves.  In fact, Southwest was recognized by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for its commitment and support of the airline’s National Guard and Reserve Employees.   ... View more

We witnessed history in the making last week as flash floods pillaged the streets and homes of the Country Music Capital of the world, Nashville. The devastation continues to reveal itself as residents assess the damage to their homes and their historic city. On Tuesday, at the request of the Red Cross, Southwest donated 24,000 cans of water to the Red Cross Chapter in Lebanon, Tenn. Our distributor, Bunzl, also contributed cleaning supplies to the donation.  Last week, Southwest donated $10,000 to the Red Cross to provide the much-needed cash to fund relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the destructive spring storms across our system. Just days after the flood waters swept through Nashville, severe weather — including tornadoes and large hail — blew through Oklahoma and Kansas. Many homes and lives were affected, and thousands of people have been left without power. When responding to a natural disaster, Southwest’s first and foremost concern is the safety and well-being of our Employees and their families. Our next step is always to reach out to disaster response organizations like the Red Cross to assess the affected community’s needs.   Southwest works yearround with the Red Cross to evaluate needs and to prepare proactive and reactive disaster response plans.  Last fall, we held a systemwide collection drive for the Red Cross providing them with 5,000 comfort kits, which are used by relief workers on the ground for every type of disaster the Red Cross responds to.  We will continue to support their ongoing requests whether it is through collecting additional items for comfort kits, or providing supplies such as water when the opportunity can best meet the need. To learn more about how you can personally prepare for any type of disaster including thunderstorms, floods, and tornadoes, you can visit www.redcross.org, go to “Preparedness and Getting Trained” and select “Preparedness Fast Facts.” If you wish to personally support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, you may donate in one of the following ways:  Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation from your mobile phone, visit www.redcross.org, or call 1-800-REDCROSS ... View more

Your mail carrier will be checking your mailbox for more than letters this Saturday.  May 8 is the 18th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) National Food Drive to “Stamp Out Hunger” when letter carriers will collect non-perishable donations from homes as they deliver mail along their postal routes. The NALC National Food Drive is the largest one-day food drive in the nation.  Carriers collected a record 73.4 million pounds of food in last year’s drive. The drive is held annually on the second Saturday in May in over 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Donations from this year’s drive are expected to push the overall total since the annual drive began 18 years ago to more than one billion pounds of food collected.  The total currently is 982.7 million pounds. Donations will also be collected by more than 1,400 local branches of the 295,000-member postal union and delivered to food banks, pantries, and shelters that serve the communities where they are collected.  Assisting in the effort are rural letter carriers and other postal employees, as well as members of other unions and thousands of civic volunteers. On the NALC web site, President Fredric V. Rolando emphasized that as successful as the food drive has been in the past, it simply must be even better this year: Millions and millions of families are suffering – struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table.  Food banks, pantries and shelters need our help more than ever this year.  As families count on them for support, they’re counting on us and we will not back off on our commitment. Rolando also noted that donations are particularly critical at this time since most school lunch programs are suspended during the summer months and millions of children must find alternate sources of nutrition. More power to you, NALC! What an awesome example of an organization using its resources to impact our communities in a positive way. As for me, my mail carrier will definitely find more than letters in my mailbox on Saturday! Join me! Together we can help stock our local foods banks and support our neighbors in need. ... View more

It’s not unusual to see characters roaming the hallways of Southwest Airline’s Headquarters. In the last year, I’ve seen Ronald McDonald, Mickey Mouse & Gang, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, and even Herb Kelleher (just kidding Herb, I’ve got nothin’ but LUV for you). But my favorite character so far is Bud E. Bee, a giant-sized bumble bee who stopped in a couple weeks ago with a very special entourage from Community Living Concepts and Community Opportunities, Inc. to deliver the "Beeing Your Best" Award to my Coworker and dear friend, Krissy Sarine Crabtree. The Beeing Your Best Award is given to volunteers and staff members of Community Opportunities, Inc. who go above and beyond to support and enhance the lives of the individuals it serves. Community Opportunities, Inc. is a nonprofit agency that provides quality of life opportunities for adults and teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Krissy’s volunteer service, spirit of giving, and passion for the intellectually and developmentally disabled community is a testament to her Servant’s Heart and an inspiration to us all. She joins the ranks of thousands of Southwest volunteers who support their communities through volunteerism every day. Many nonprofit organizations could not function without the volunteers who freely give of their time and resources. Congratulations and a heartfelt thank you to Krissy and all of our Employee Volunteers who make our communities better places to live and work. ... View more

It’s a big week at Southwest Airlines! We’re excited to join the rest of the country to recognize National Green Week and National Volunteer Appreciation Week. There is a lot to celebrate, and we’re always up for a celebration around here. This week we’ll feature blog posts related to our Green Initiatives and our outstanding Employee Volunteers.   Southwest Airlines' Commitment to the Environment: Environmental Stewardship is a responsibility Southwest takes seriously, as minimizing waste and effectively using our resources (energy, people, and materials) helps us protect our most vital resource of all—the world in which we live. Efficient operations are the hallmark of our Company and the foundation of our environmental commitment. Southwest Airlines' Commitment to Volunteerism: We know the positive impact that volunteers have on communities is remarkable, and we’re proud to support volunteers and their missions. To pay tribute to our own Employee volunteers and to further our commitment to the communities we serve, earlier this year Southwest Airlines introduced a Tickets for Time program that allows Employees to use their volunteer time to earn tickets for their favorite charity. In addition, Southwest hosts Companywide volunteer events at least twice a year, and encourages volunteer opportunities to be a part of Station openings and anniversary celebrations. For more information about Southwest’s commitment to Environment and Volunteerism, please visit southwest.com/about_swa/southwest_cares. ... View more