Southwest Airlines pilots to present donated vans to Ronald McDonald House in honor of Herb Kelleher

Jan. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- WHAT: Ceremony to officially donate vans to the Ronald McDonald House
Charities in honor of Herb Kelleher

WHEN: Wednesday, January 4, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in front of SWA Headquarters
2702 Love Field Dr
Dallas, TX 75235

WHO: Herb Kelleher, Gary Kelly, Colleen Barrett, SWAPA President Steve Chase, Ronald McDonald House of Dallas CEO Jill Cumnock and Board Chairwoman Vera Bangs, Southwest Airlines pilots

WHY: The Ronald McDonald House Charity has long been a focus for Herb Kelleher and
Southwest Airlines.  When Southwest pilots heard the Dallas House was in need of new transportation, SWAPA set up a donation for pilots to give in Herb’s honor and received over $100,000 to go toward new transportation for Ronald McDonald Houses in Dallas, Las Vegas, and Central Florida in addition to cash donations to be delivered to RMH locations in the San Francisco area, Phoenix, Chicago, Baltimore and Houston. Herb Kelleher’s heart for this charity, his employees, and this Company has always been admired by this pilot group and SWAPA pilots were ecstatic to be able to honor Herb in this way – by helping a cause so near to his heart.


Located in Dallas, Texas, the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA) is a non-profit employee organization representing the more than 6,100 pilots of Southwest Airlines. SWAPA works to provide a secure and rewarding career for Southwest pilots and their families through negotiating contracts, defending contractual rights and actively promoting professionalism and safety. For more information on the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association, visit www.swapa.org.      

ABOUT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DALLAS:

Established in 1981, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas has served as a home-away-from-home for more than 26,000 families of seriously ill children who have traveled to Dallas seeking medical treatment in area hospitals. By providing a caring, supportive, home-like environment, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas keeps the family intact and helps allow a family to establish a normal routine in the midst of crisis. It also provides families with the opportunity to share their concerns with other families in similar circumstances. In December 2009, a new, 60 bedroom Ronald McDonald House opened with the ability to serve twice as many families nightly.  For more information, please contact the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas at 214.631.7354, or visit the website at www.rmhdallas.org.