Southwest Airlines Announces "Give Your Heart Wings" Program
The "Luv Airline" is kicking off "Love Month" by making it easy for frequent flyers to give something back to their communities. The "Give Your Heart Wings" program lets Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards members donate valid unused award tickets to Southwest Airlines for distribution to nonprofit organizations in their communities.
"For several years, our Rapid Rewards members have been asking for a program like this," said Colleen Barrett, Southwest's executive vice president Customers. "It gives our frequent flyers a convenient avenue to make wonderful use of their valid unused award tickets by donating them back to the communities they live in. It puts their hearts "on the wings of LUV" - literally."
Members can donate their unused award tickets, which must be valid for at least three months from the date of donation, by calling the local marketing office for Southwest Airlines. Southwest marketing Employees in that office will review their list of charities to match the donation with a charity that has a need within the time left on the ticket. Southwest Airlines will be solely responsible for choosing the charity that will receive the ticket. Although Rapid Rewards members will not know what charitable organization received their donation, the member's quarterly statement will reflect the actual itinerary after the ticket is used.
"Members who want their ticket donation to go to a specific charity are welcome to make their donation directly to that organization, rather than sending them to our marketing office," said Barrett. "Whether members choose to donate their unused award tickets through our new program or make the donations directly to the organization, we know that the various recipient organizations across the country will appreciate the many ways these tickets will make a difference.
Southwest Airlines' primary charity is the nationwide network of Ronald McDonald Houses. Employees regularly cook dinner and offer other volunteer services to the Houses in each of the 52 cities it serves. Annually, the Company sponsors the Southwest Airlines LUV Classic golf tournament whose proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald Houses and have totaled more than $2.5 million for the past 12 years.
EDITOR'S NOTES:
1. If you wish to include information on the local Southwest Airlines area marketing office in your city, use the attached list for inclusion in your story.
2. Logo for the "Give Your Heart Wings" artwork is available to news media without charge via NewsCom, www.newscom.com, or by calling 305-448-1236. Cutline for artwork: Southwest Airlines has developed a program called "Give Your Heart Wings," which allows their frequent fliers to donate unused valid award tickets to charity.
Southwest Airlines Area Marketing Offices
| City | Phone Number | City | Phone Number |
| Albuquerque | 505-842-4022 | Amarillo | 214-792-7800 |
| Austin | 512-794-1047 | Baltimore | 410-290-7001 |
| Birmingham | 205-879-9635 | Boise | 503-221-3950 |
| Burbank | 310-215-5829 | Chicago | 773-884-3255 |
| Cleveland | 734-462-1089 | Columbus | 773-884-3255 |
| Corpus Christi | 713-622-8632 | Dallas | 214-792-7800 |
| Detroit | 734-462-1089 | El Paso | 915-779-7735 |
| Ft. Lauderdale | 954-581-8067 | Harlingen | 210-734-4781 |
| Houston | 713-622-8632 | Indianapolis | 773-884-3255 |
| Jackson | 713-622-8632 | Jacksonville | 954-581-8067 |
| Kansas City | 816-891-8223 | Las Vegas | 702-891-0093 |
| Little Rock | 314-367-3432 | Los Angeles | 310-215-5829 |
| Louisville | 314-367-3432 | Lubbock | 214-792-7800 |
| Manchester | 603-623-7338 | Midland /Odessa | 915-799-7735 |
| Nashville | 615-872-7709 | New Orleans | 504-834-2337 |
| Oakland | 510-769-6795 | Oklahoma City | 918-627-8895 |
| Omaha | 816-891-8223 | Ontario | 714-256-4911 |
| Orange County | 714-256-4911 | Orlando | 407-673-5591 |
| Phoenix | 602-304-3983 | Portland | 503-221-3950 |
| Providence | 401-739-0563 | Reno | 510-769-6795 |
| Sacramento | 916-648-9229 | St. Louis | 314-367-3432 |
| Salt Lake City | 801-366-4004 | San Antonio | 210-734-4781 |
| San Diego | 619-260-1973 | San Francisco | 510-769-6795 |
| San Jose | 408-283-5923 | Seattle | 425-450-0990 |
| Spokane | 425-450-0990 | Tampa Bay | 813-281-0882 |
| Tucson | 602-304-3983 | Tulsa | 918-627-8895 |
| Media Please Call Public Relations (214) 792-4847 |
| Customers Please Call (800) I FLY SWA or en Español (800) 221-0016 |