DALLAS, Sept. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines
(NYSE: LUV) celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and continues its
proud tradition of sponsoring nonprofit organizations dedicated to
making a positive difference in the Latino community.
"Our Employees and Customers are from diverse cultures and
backgrounds," said Ellen Torbert,
Southwest Airlines' Vice President of Diversity and
Inclusion. "Southwest is enriched because we value the unique
perspectives of our Employees and Customers, and we're proud to
continue to be a champion of the Latino community."
To learn more about Southwest Airlines' commitment to the
Hispanic community, please visit Southwest.com/vamonos.
Southwest Airlines celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month throughout
the year:
January-December | Smithsonian Institute Latino Center, Young
Ambassadors Program and Hispanic Heritage Month Family Day,
Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian Latino Center was created in 1997 to promote Latino
presence within the Smithsonian. The Center works collaboratively
with the Institution's museums and research centers, ensuring that
the contributions of the Latino community in the arts, history,
national culture, and scientific achievement are explored,
presented, celebrated, and preserved.
February-November | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
(CHCI), Congressional Internship Program, Washington, D.C.
Southwest Airlines was the official airline for the CHCI Internship
Program, which brought 78 interns from across the nation to
Washington, D.C., for an eight or
12-week internship on Capitol Hill.
March | Hispanas Organized for Political Equality
(HOPE), HOPE Youth Leadership Program, Los Angeles
Southwest Airlines sponsored the HOPE Youth Leadership Program, a
program dedicated to serving 300 low-income, first generation, high
school-age Latinas for a self-sufficient future that will allow for
economic and political parity through a college education.
March | MANA de San
Diego, Hermanitas Mentorship Program's Avanzamos Conference,
San Diego
Southwest Airlines helped MANA de San
Diego congregate more than 60
7th-12th grade Latinas to explore STEM
workshops including bioengineering, planetary science, and
chemistry.
March | TELACU Education Foundation, College Success
Program Leadership Retreat, Lake
Arrowhead, CA
This life-changing retreat enhances first-generation Latino
students' team building and communication skills;
promotes bonding with their peers and community engagement; and
develops their self-respect, self-esteem, self-discovery, and
confidence in a way that cannot be achieved through classroom-style
workshops or sessions.
March-November | Latino Leaders Network, Latino
Leaders Luncheon Series, Chicago,
Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
The Latino Leaders Luncheon Series consists of quarterly
events that provide a platform for prominent Latino leaders to
share their personal stories of overcoming obstacles to achieve
success.
April | Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) Annual
Membership Meeting: Art, Identity, and the Changing Narrative about
Latinos, San Francisco
Southwest Airlines sponsored HIP's mission to strengthen
Latino communities by increasing resources for the Latino and Latin
American civil sector; increasing Latino participation and
leadership throughout the field of philanthropy; and fostering
policy change to enhance equity and inclusiveness.
April | Valle del Sol, Golf
Fore Kids, Phoenix
Southwest Airlines is the official airline of Valle del Sol. The organization inspires
positive change by investing in health and human services to
strengthen families with tools and skills for self-sufficiency and
by building the next generation of Latino and diverse leaders.
April | Conexion Americas, A Cup of Coffee for Conexion
Americas, Nashville
Southwest Airlines sponsored
A Cup of Coffee for Conexion Americas, or el cafecito, Conexion
Americas' annual fundraising breakfast, which showcases program
participants and their successes.
April | Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, Comida, Kansas City
Southwest Airlines was a sponsor of Comida, the 2nd Annual Latin
Culinary Arts Experience. Proceeds benefitted the Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce of Greater Kansas City
and the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Collaborative.
April | South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFLHCC),
Education Enhancement Program, Miami
SFLHCC promotes the continued growth and development of the
Hispanic business community and serves as a resource center and
forum to advocate for Hispanic and minority-owned businesses.
Southwest is the exclusive sponsor of the SFLHCC Education
Program.
April-November |The Mexican American Legal Defense &
Educational Fund (MALDEF), 2015 National Awards Galas, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San
Antonio, and Los
Angeles
Southwest Airlines is the official national airline sponsor of
MALDEF's 2015 National Awards Galas, where MALDEF honors
individuals whose work has been instrumental in addressing the
issues and meeting the needs of the Latino community in the United
States.
May | Mi Casa Resource Center, Women's Empowerment Luncheon,
Denver
Southwest Airlines sponsored the Women's Empowerment Luncheon.
The luncheon highlighted inspirational stories, networking
and an introduction to the important work Mi Casa Resource Center
does to empower women.
May | Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC), Annual
Black & White Ball, Phoenix
The AZHCC serves as the primary advocate for Latino-owned
businesses statewide by offering seminars, workshops, marketing and
networking events, as well as a variety of well-established,
high-profile sponsorship opportunities for our corporate and
community partners.
May | Hispanic Metro Chamber of Portland Latino
Scholarship Program, Portland
The Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber works with all members of the
community to increase the economic advancement of Latinos in
Oregon and southwest Washington.
May | Barrio Logan College
Institute (BLCI), "Opportunity for Impact", San Diego
Southwest Airlines was a sponsor of the annual "Opportunity
for Impact" event, which raises funds for BLCI's after school
college-prep programs that begin in third grade and continue
through college completion. BLCI provides low-income,
under-represented, and first-generation college-bound students a
wide array of support services and resources including academic
tutoring, college preparation, career exploration, renewable
scholarships, parental support, mentors, field trips, and
workshops. Annually, 100 percent of BLCI's high school graduates
enroll in colleges/universities nationwide.
Summer | Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project
(CLYLP), California
Southwest Airlines is a sponsor of the Chicano Latino Youth
Leadership Project, which enhances and builds the leadership
potential of California's Chicano/Latino youth to
build communities and create a stronger, more prosperous state and
nation. Southwest supports CLYLP's four annual
conferences; Sacramento Leadership Conference, Los Angeles
Institute, San Joaquin Valley Institute, and the Bay Area
Institute.
August | Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver, Sabor,
Denver
Southwest Airlines was a supporter of the 2015 Sabor event.
Sabor is known as the largest Hispanic business event in Metro
Denver. Funding raised from Sabor will go directly to creating jobs
for Hispanics, creating business opportunities for Hispanic
businesses, and creating a thriving economic environment for
companies who do business in the Hispanic market.
August | Celebrando Latinas Conference, San Diego
Southwest Airlines is the official airline sponsor for
Celebrando. The conference is a day to empower and educate
over 1,100 Latinas in health, business and technology.
September | Southwest Airlines, The Power of Inclusion:
My Journey, Dallas
Southwest Airlines hosted its Power of Inclusion Event in honor of
Hispanic Heritage Month. This year's event focused on
highlighting the story of Deborah Acosta
Conder, Deputy Director of External Relations, NASA Johnson
Space Center. Employees joined at the Company's headquarters
to celebrate and learn together.
Sept. 17 | Hispanic Heritage
Foundation, 28th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, Washington, D.C.
Southwest Airlines is the official airline of Hispanic Heritage
Foundation and supports its annual Hispanic Heritage Awards. The
Hispanic Heritage Awards were established by The White House in
1987 to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month in
America. The Hispanic Heritage Awards are considered among the
"highest honor for Latinos by Latinos" and recognize notable
Latinos who have made a positive impact on America, and the world,
in various fields.
Sept. 18-19 | National
Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
(NALEO), 11th Annual National Summit on the
State of Latino Education: Developing a Latino College Completion
Policy Agenda, Washington,
D.C.
The NALEO 11th Annual National Summit on the State
of Latino Education is a two-day professional development
opportunity aimed at enhancing Latino policymakers' knowledge of
the most pressing and timely policy issues in the field of
postsecondary education.
Oct. 17 | Tucson Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce (THCC), Annual Noche de Exitos Gala,
Tucson
Southwest Airlines is a member and supporter of the Tucson Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce. The THCC is recognized as the largest
Latino organization in Arizona,
with more than 1,100 member businesses representing tens of
thousands of employees.
Oct. 22 | National Puerto Rican
Leadership Council Education Fund (NPRLC), Annual Summit,
Orlando
The National Puerto Rican Leadership Council Education Fund is a
Florida nonprofit corporation
created to help pass the "leadership torch" to future generations.
They inspire youth through unbiased education and exemplary
leadership. Southwest Airlines is the primary sponsor of the
annual summit.
Oct. 22 | Chicanos Por La Causa
(CPLC), 17th Annual Esperanza Latino Teacher Awards,
Phoenix
Southwest Airlines is the official airline of CPLC in both
Phoenix and Tucson, the only community development
corporation in Arizona that offers
extensive services in both urban and rural areas. The extensive
programs cover economic development, education, community
development (housing), and social services.
Nov. 6 | National Museum of
Mexican Art, Dia de los Muertos
Ball: Love Never Dies, Chicago
Southwest Airlines is the official airline of this cultural gem,
dedicated to showcasing the incredible artistic talent of Mexican
and Mexican-American artists.
Nov. 7 | Puerto Rican Arts
Alliance, National Cuatro Fest, Chicago
Southwest Airlines is the official airline of this cultural
institution dedicated to preserving Puerto Rican arts and culture.
The National Cuatro Festival celebrates the music of their national
instrument.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 45th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV)
continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with
exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 47,000 Employees
to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest
operates more than 3,600 flights a day, serving 95 destinations
across the United States and six
additional countries. Southwest service to Belize City, Belize, begins Oct.
15, 2015. Subject to foreign government approval,
service to Liberia, Costa Rica, begins Nov.
1, 2015.
Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms
of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates
the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of
which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate
connectivity while over the United States. That connectivity
enables Customers to use their personal devices to access streaming
music provided by Apple Music or to view video on-demand movies and
television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV
compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest is the only
major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first
and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply,
some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for
qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare
differences might apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a
bold new look: Heart. The new aircraft livery,
airport experience, and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest
Employees to connect Customers with what's important in their
lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new
markets. With 42 consecutive years of profitability,
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known
for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's
performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the
communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and
the planet. The 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines