Southwest Airlines raised more than $700,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities

Dallas, TX, 2013-10-17— /travelprnews.com/ — Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) raised more than $700,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities at the 28th annual LUV Classic charity golf tournament held on Oct. 11, 2013, where Employees and sponsors teed up for the cause.  The first LUV Classic was held in 1985, drawing 85 golfers and raising $35,000. Today, the tournament has become the second largest charity golf tournament in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, drawing more than 500 golfers from across the country. During the past three decades, Southwest has raised more than $14 million benefitting Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“We are proud to continue our 30-year partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities, a legacy built on our shared commitment to helping families in a time of need,” said Ginger Hardage, Southwest Airlines’ Senior Vice President Culture & Communications and Ronald McDonald House Charities Board Member.  “Our support extends far beyond fundraising; the Employees of Southwest Airlines give from the heart year-round by regularly cooking meals and volunteering at Ronald McDonald Houses across the country in the communities we serve.”

Each year, Southwest selects Ronald McDonald Houses around the nation to receive the proceeds from the tournament based on need. This year, the proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Ronald McDonald Houses of Dallas; Memphis, Tenn.;Chapel Hill, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Pensacola, Fla.; Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.; Dayton, Ohio; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, signifying Southwest’s first non-continental Unites States air service and donation to a Ronald McDonald House. To read a blog post about the 28th Annual LUV Classic, visit the NUTS About Southwest blog here

Southwest Airlines and its wholly-owned subsidiary AirTran Airways are committed to giving from the heart to the communities they serve not only at the LUV Classic, but year-round by volunteering at a variety of different nonprofit organizations.  In 2012, Southwest Employees volunteered more than 137,000 hours, which is enough time to fly from Dallas to San Juan 19,571 times.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 43rd year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 45,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually.  Southwest is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, and including wholly-owned subsidiary, AirTran Airways, operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world to serve 97 destinations in 41 states, theDistrict of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and six near-international countries. Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for its triple bottom line approach that takes into account the carrier’s performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities it serves, and its commitment to efficiency and the planet.  The 2012 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at southwest.com/citizenship.

Southwest Airlines
From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel quantified by the U.S. Department of Transportation as “The Southwest Effect,” a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves.  On every flight, Southwest offers Customers the first two pieces of checked luggage (weight and size limitations apply) and all ticket changes without additional fees. Southwest’s all Boeing fleet consistently offers leather seating and the comfort of full-size cabins, many of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi connectivity and a new, sustainable cabin interior.  With 40 consecutive years of profitability, the People of Southwest operate more than 3,200 flights a day and serve communities around 86 airports in Southwest’s network of domestic destinations.  Southwest Airlines’ frequent flights and low fares are available only at southwest.com.

AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co., offers coast-to-coast and near-international service with nearly 500 flights a day to 47 destinations.  The carrier’s high-quality product includes assigned seating and Business Class. As Southwest continues to integrate AirTran’s People, places, and planes into Southwest Airlines, Customers of both carriers may book flights at airtran.com and exchange earned loyalty points between both AirTran’s A+ Rewards® and Southwest’s Rapid Rewards® for reward travel on either airline.

www.southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines

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