Southwest Airlines Celebrates the 30th Birthday of the Ronald McDonald House(R) Program By Dedicating 'The Spirit of Hope' Aircraft
Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) is excited to announce the dedication of its newest signature aircraft, "The Spirit of Hope." Unveiled during a surprise ceremony at Boeing Field in Seattle, the special Southwest jet features original overhead bin artwork created by children from Ronald McDonald House Charities(R) (RMHC(R)) of Western Washington. The overhead bin doors inside the aircraft's cabin are uniquely embossed with brightly-colored crayon drawings of happy hearts, brilliant rainbows, oversized flowers, and smiling faces. For digital images of "The Spirit of Hope" interior and exterior artwork, please go to http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/041004_spirit_hope.html .
"The Spirit of Hope" departs Boeing Field on Friday afternoon, Oct. 8, for additional celebrations in Dallas, San Antonio, and Philadelphia. (A complete tour schedule for media interviews and photo opportunities is available at the end of this press release.) The specialty aircraft joins Southwest's permanent fleet and system-wide schedule on Oct. 11 by making its inaugural public flight from Philadelphia -- the birthplace of the first Ronald McDonald House 30 years ago this month.
The Ronald McDonald House(R) program, the cornerstone of Ronald McDonald House Charities, is the primary corporate charity of Southwest Airlines. The airline annually sponsors the Southwest Airlines LUV Classic golf tournaments in Dallas and Phoenix with proceeds that have totaled more than $6.5 million over the past 19 years to benefit various Ronald McDonald Houses.
"For 22 years, Southwest Airlines Employees have witnessed miracles happen at Ronald McDonald Houses throughout the nation," said Colleen Barrett, President of Southwest Airlines. "Today, we offer a tribute of hope and love by dedicating this aircraft as a permanent part of our fleet to the courageous staff, volunteers, and families of the 240 Ronald McDonald Houses across the globe."
The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House was founded on Oct. 15, 1974, when an unlikely partnership was formed between an NFL team, a children's hospital, and a restaurant chain. None of its original members could have imagined that their dream of a "home-away-from-home" for families of seriously ill children would grow to become an international phenomenon; they simply wanted to create a place where parents of sick children could be with others who understood each others' situations and could provide emotional support.
By 1979, ten more Houses had opened. By 1984, McDonald's restaurants and local communities founded 60 more Houses; then 53 more opened by 1989. Today, there are nearly 240 Ronald McDonald Houses in 24 countries around the world.
Southwest's involvement with Ronald McDonald Houses began when a Houston- based pilot, Captain Dick East, lost his daughter to leukemia. Following his daughter's death, Capt. East began volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House of Houston. Capt. East was so touched by the program that he began recruiting his co-workers to join him, and soon introduced Barrett and Herb Kelleher, Chairman of the Southwest Airlines Board, to the Ronald McDonald House experience. Southwest officially designated the Ronald McDonald House(R) program as its primary corporate charity in 1985 and today supports Houses in each of the 59 cities the airline serves. To honor his involvement in the creation of Southwest's long commitment to the Ronald McDonald House Program(R), Capt. East will join other key long-time Southwest volunteers to fly "The Spirit of Hope" from Dallas to San Antonio to Philadelphia (Oct. 9 - 11).
Seattle - Friday, October 8 at 10:00 a.m.
At Boeing Field, Southwest Airlines will welcome RMHC of Western Washington to celebrate the official unveiling of the new signature aircraft, "The Spirit of Hope." The overhead bin artwork was created by several children from RMHC of Western Washington as a special project for Skybrand, a licensee of The Boeing Company that creates aircraft interior murals. The child artists will sign a certificate as witnesses for the signature aircraft's official entry into service, as well as autograph a giant birthday card for the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. Children, families and key supporters are being greeted by Ronald McDonald(R) and the Southwest Airlines SPIRIT mascot, christening the new aircraft with bubbles and toasting the signature aircraft with sparkling apple juice. Supporters of RMHC of Western Washington will be the first to see this original artwork inside "The Spirit of Hope."
Dallas & San Antonio - Saturday, October 9 at 9:00 a.m. (Dallas) & 11:15 a.m. (San Antonio)
In honor of the 30th birthday of the Ronald McDonald House(R) program, 30 families from various Ronald McDonald Houses across the southwest will fly from Dallas to San Antonio for a complimentary vacation to SeaWorld San Antonio. With bon voyage festivities at Dallas Love Field Airport and a send- off celebration from San Antonio AeroSpace, the families will witness the surprise announcement and Texas unveiling of "The Spirit of Hope." In Dallas, Southwest Airlines' Barrett will announce the $500,000 in proceeds from Friday night's 19th annual Dallas LUV Classic Golf Tournament and Party benefitting the Ronald McDonald House(R) program and families will autograph the giant traveling birthday card for the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. In San Antonio, SeaWorld's Shamu mascot joins Ronald McDonald and the Southwest Airlines SPIRIT mascot as the traveling families are greeted by three additional families from Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Antonio to christen the signature aircraft with confetti before all 33 families are treated to a day of fun at SeaWorld San Antonio.
Philadelphia - Monday, October 11 at 9:00 a.m.
To conclude "The Spirit of Hope" Tour, Southwest Airlines honors Philadelphia as the birthplace of the first Ronald McDonald House with an exclusive celebration at Philadelphia International Airport. Founders and key volunteers of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House will witness the surprise announcement and East Coast unveiling of "The Spirit of Hope," as well as receive the giant birthday card signed by various Ronald McDonald House families from the Tour. In typical party fashion, children will blow out the candles of a giant 30th birthday cake before they join their families, key volunteers, House founders and staff on an exclusive 45-minute "Flying Field Trip" on "The Spirit of Hope" over the state of Pennsylvania.
"The Spirit of Hope" Tour is made possible by the generous support of The Boeing Company, Skybrand, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Dallas Love Field, San Antonio AeroSpace, Philadelphia International Airport, SeaWorld San Antonio, The Westin Seattle, The Sheraton Dallas Brookhollow, The San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk, and The Doubletree Philadelphia.
"The Spirit of Hope" - Media Interviews & Photo Opportunities
Friday, October 8 - 10:00 a.m.
"The Spirit of Hope" Surprise Dedication Ceremony
Boeing Field - 7233 Perimeter Road South, Seattle, WA
Saturday, October 9 - 9:00 a.m.
"The Spirit of Hope" Surprise Unveiling & Bon Voyage Celebration
Featuring Colleen Barrett, President of Southwest Airlines
30 Ronald McDonald House families depart for overnight vacation including
day at SeaWorld San Antonio
Dallas Love Field Airport - 800 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, TX
Saturday, October 9 - 11:15 a.m.
"The Spirit of Hope" Surprise Unveiling, Welcome, & Vacation Send-off for
33 Ronald McDonald House families
San Antonio AeroSpace - 9610 John Saunders Road, San Antonio, TX
Monday, October 11 - 9:00 a.m.
"The Spirit of Hope" Surprise Unveiling & "Flying Field Trip" for
Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House
Featuring Jim Murray (Former General Manager of the Philadelphia Eagles)
& Dr. Audrey Evans, Co-Founders of the original Ronald McDonald House in
Philadelphia along with Judy Blore, Original House Manager for the
Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House
Philadelphia International Airport - Terminal E, Philadelphia, PA
http://www.southwest.com
CONTACT: Public Relations of Southwest Airlines, +1-214-792-4847, or after hours, pager, +1-888-990-8651.