Southwest Cares
- Our Communities
- Share the Spirit
- Charitable Giving: How to Request Donations
- Community Affairs & Grassroots
Our Communities
Southwest Airlines has always been devoted to each and every community that we serve. Our Employees, Customers, and neighbors make the Southwest Family the LUVing place that it is, and we are proud to offer our cities more than just friendly and affordable air service. We offer our hearts! From monetary and in-kind donations to Share the Spirit volunteer efforts, Southwest reaches out to provide help where needed.
To find out how Southwest Airlines is Doing the Right Thing, view the 2008 Southwest Cares report.
Share the Spirit
Share the Spirit defines how Southwest Employees impact a community by giving back through volunteerism, either with individual and personal efforts, serving together as teams, or corporate-wide efforts. Southwest Employees are encouraged to embrace local charitable/non-profit causes and rally their work groups around those local efforts to make a positive difference and offer a priceless contribution: their time. Share the Spirit takes many forms, and in 2008 alone, Southwest Employees reported more than 20,490 volunteer hours and conducted more than 80 Share the Spirit events across the country. Southwest Employees are continually looking for new and exciting ways to Share the Spirit in the communities where they live and work.
See how Southwest Leaders and Employees have been involved in their communities.
Charitable Giving: How to Request Donations
Last year, Southwest Airlines received 19,592 donation requests and distributed more than 15,000 tickets and $400,000 in cash in response, for a combined value of more that $6.6 million in total contributions. Charitable Giving is proud to support qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organizations within the communities we serve, especially those that fall within our areas of strategic focus:- Families Facing Serious Illnesses
Southwest understands the strain serious illnesses can put on a family, especially when necessary medical treatments are far from home, and wants to aid in easing the worries and transportation needs of these families. Our longstanding relationship with Ronald McDonald House Charities allows us to serve and support families who need that “home away from home” while their children undergo medical treatment. In addition, Southwest administers its own Medical Transportation Grant Program in conjunction with hospitals and organizations that assist individuals who must travel to receive medical care. - Military and their Families
Patriotism runs deep at Southwest Airlines, and we are proud of all those who serve, especially the Active Duty, Reservists and Veterans that are part of the Southwest Family. Southwest honors Veteran’s of all past wars through our relationship with the Honor Flight Network, and works with many other charities to support the men, women, and children who sacrifice for our country every day. - Youth Leadership and Community Involvement
We endeavor to get involved with charitable organizations that develop leadership in today’s youth—especially between the ages of 12-17—and encourages them to get involved and give back to their own communities. Southwest’s own Adopt-a-Pilot program strives to meet that challenge by passing on the leadership, values and goal setting skills intrinsic to all Southwest Employees to our future generations. - Disaster Preparedness and Response
As a Company, Safety and preparedness is of the utmost importance. We work with organizations to help the communities we serve be more prepared, and lend our support in times of need due to natural disasters. - 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.
Community Affairs & Grassroots
The Community Affairs & Grassroots Team goal is to champion causes that matter most in the communities we serve. The team’s community efforts are focused in key areas such as leadership, legislative grassroots initiatives, arts & education, and social advocacy with Customer segments including multicultural, women, entrepreneurs, and diverse lifestyles. By nurturing long term relationships and building strategic alliances with national and local organizations, the team confirms Southwest Airlines’ commitment to our communities. From supporting initiatives such as those enabling young leaders of tomorrow to attend college; serving on local/state/national boards to assist nonprofits in achieving their mission to supporting advocacy efforts for social justice, the Community Affairs & Grassroots Team is making a real impact in people’s everyday lives.
To learn more about how the Community Affairs & Grassroots Team is dedicated to building meaningful relationships in the many communities we serve, we invite you to read our quarterly e-newsletter, Mosaic. The newsletter demonstrates only a sampling of Southwest Airlines' continuing commitment to our communities from coast to coast.
